Warner Bros. ROCKY MOUNTAIN (1950) is something of an underrated western! Based on a real incident in 1865 and from a short story by Alan LeMay the screenplay was written by LeMay and Winston Miller. William Jacobs was producer and the solid direction was by William Keighley.
Errol Flynn stars as a Confederate officer (his first time to do so) who with a small contingent of seven men travel 2000 miles to California to rendezvous with an outlaw who has promised to provide 500 men to join with them in the south's faltering struggle. But things don't quite work out as planned when after they rescue a girl from a stagecoach being attacked by marauding Indians they then have to contend with the girl's fiancé (a Union cavalry officer) leading a troop out to search for her. Following a series of complications Flynn - sacrificing himself and his men - divert the attacking Indians away so that the girl can be saved. The picture ends with Flynn and his meager army taking on and being overwhelmed by a large band of hostiles. The final chase and battle with the Indians in a blind canyon is marvellously executed and is the highlight of the movie! "They've seen our backs - let's show them our faces" declares Flynn. Then, greatly outnumbered, and assuming cavalry formation the valiant eight charge the advancing Indian horde only to be wiped out one by one. It is a powerful, spine-tingling and unforgettable sequence!
Although somewhat subdued Flynn gives a good and likable performance! This was to be his last appearance in a western and it was a good one to finish with. The female lead was taken by newcomer Patrice Wymore (in her second film) who replaced Lauren Bacall. Three weeks after the film wrapped Miss Wymore would become the third Mrs. Flynn. The film is fully fleshed out with splendid characters! Excellent is Scott Forbes as the formidable Union officer and the girl's fiancé, Slim Pickens in his first movie, Sheb Wooley, the likable Chubby Johnson as the Stage driver and Howard Petrie as the dubious and distrustful outlaw Cole Smith.
Beautifully photographed in Monochrome by ace cinematographer Ted McCord ("Treasure Of The Sierra Madre"/ "The Hanging Tree") in amazing location sites in and around Gallup, New Mexico the picture also boasts a brilliant score by the great Max Steiner. His music for the Indian sequences is nothing short of breathtaking especially for the stagecoach chase scene. And not forgetting his clever and utterly engaging music for the dog of one of Flynn's men, scored for Piccolo, Flute and strings, as it races after its owner who is at full gallop on horseback.
So all round a fine enjoyable movie that is nice to have on a DVD of exceptional picture quality. Extras include a commentary by one Thomas McNulty, the usual dispensable Warner Night At The Movies material but it does have trailers for "Rocky Mountain" and surprise...surprise the elusive and yet to be released (will it ever?) "The Breaking Point". "Rocky Mountain" is also part of a four movie western box set of Flynn which also contains "San Antonio", "Montana" and the excellent "Virginia City".
Nice one - Warner Home Video but where oh where is "Silver River"??
Errol Flynn stars as a Confederate officer (his first time to do so) who with a small contingent of seven men travel 2000 miles to California to rendezvous with an outlaw who has promised to provide 500 men to join with them in the south's faltering struggle. But things don't quite work out as planned when after they rescue a girl from a stagecoach being attacked by marauding Indians they then have to contend with the girl's fiancé (a Union cavalry officer) leading a troop out to search for her. Following a series of complications Flynn - sacrificing himself and his men - divert the attacking Indians away so that the girl can be saved. The picture ends with Flynn and his meager army taking on and being overwhelmed by a large band of hostiles. The final chase and battle with the Indians in a blind canyon is marvellously executed and is the highlight of the movie! "They've seen our backs - let's show them our faces" declares Flynn. Then, greatly outnumbered, and assuming cavalry formation the valiant eight charge the advancing Indian horde only to be wiped out one by one. It is a powerful, spine-tingling and unforgettable sequence!
Although somewhat subdued Flynn gives a good and likable performance! This was to be his last appearance in a western and it was a good one to finish with. The female lead was taken by newcomer Patrice Wymore (in her second film) who replaced Lauren Bacall. Three weeks after the film wrapped Miss Wymore would become the third Mrs. Flynn. The film is fully fleshed out with splendid characters! Excellent is Scott Forbes as the formidable Union officer and the girl's fiancé, Slim Pickens in his first movie, Sheb Wooley, the likable Chubby Johnson as the Stage driver and Howard Petrie as the dubious and distrustful outlaw Cole Smith.
Beautifully photographed in Monochrome by ace cinematographer Ted McCord ("Treasure Of The Sierra Madre"/ "The Hanging Tree") in amazing location sites in and around Gallup, New Mexico the picture also boasts a brilliant score by the great Max Steiner. His music for the Indian sequences is nothing short of breathtaking especially for the stagecoach chase scene. And not forgetting his clever and utterly engaging music for the dog of one of Flynn's men, scored for Piccolo, Flute and strings, as it races after its owner who is at full gallop on horseback.
So all round a fine enjoyable movie that is nice to have on a DVD of exceptional picture quality. Extras include a commentary by one Thomas McNulty, the usual dispensable Warner Night At The Movies material but it does have trailers for "Rocky Mountain" and surprise...surprise the elusive and yet to be released (will it ever?) "The Breaking Point". "Rocky Mountain" is also part of a four movie western box set of Flynn which also contains "San Antonio", "Montana" and the excellent "Virginia City".
Nice one - Warner Home Video but where oh where is "Silver River"??