Carbine Williams (1952)
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- Unrated
- 1h 32min
- Biography, Crime
- May 1952 (USA)
- Movie
David Marshall Williams is sent to a prison farm where he works in the tool shop and eventually develops the precursor of the famous M-1 Carbine automatic rifle used in World War II.
Director:
Stars:
Photos and Videos
Cast verified as complete
| James Stewart | ... |
Marsh Williams
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| Jean Hagen | ... |
Maggie Williams
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| Wendell Corey | ... |
Capt. H.T. Peoples
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| Carl Benton Reid | ... |
Claude Williams
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| Paul Stewart | ... |
'Dutch' Kruger
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| Otto Hulett | ... |
Mobley
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| Rhys Williams | ... |
Redwick Karson
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| Herbert Heyes | ... |
Lionel Daniels
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| James Arness | ... |
Leon Williams
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| Porter Hall | ... |
Sam Markley
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| Fay Roope | ... |
District Attorney
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| Ralph Dumke | ... |
Andrew White
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| Leif Erickson | ... |
Feder
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| Henry Corden | ... |
Bill Stockton
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| Frank Richards | ... |
Truex
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| Howard Petrie | ... |
Sheriff
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| Stuart Randall | ... |
Tom Vennar
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| Dan Riss | ... |
Jesse Rimmer
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| Robert Hyatt | ... |
David Williams
(as Bobby Hyatt)
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| Rest of cast listed alphabetically: | |||
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Bob Alden | ... |
Messenger (uncredited)
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| Fred Aldrich | ... |
Prisoner (uncredited)
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| Jimmy Ames | ... |
Trusty (uncredited)
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Gordon Armitage | ... |
Prisoner (uncredited)
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Walter Bacon | ... |
Courtroom Spectator (uncredited)
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Sam Bagley | ... |
Prisoner (uncredited)
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| Baynes Barron | ... |
Whipped Convict (uncredited)
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Harry Baum | ... |
Prisoner (uncredited)
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Arthur Berkeley | ... |
Courtroom Spectator (uncredited)
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Oscar Blank | ... |
Prisoner (uncredited)
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| Willis Bouchey | ... |
Joseph Mitchell (uncredited)
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| Marshall Bradford | ... |
Board Member (uncredited)
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| Lovyss Bradley | ... |
Courtroom Spectator (uncredited)
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Margaret Brayton | ... |
Secretary (uncredited)
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| Morgan Brown | ... |
Juror (uncredited)
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| George Bruggeman | ... |
Joe (uncredited)
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Nora Bush | ... |
Wedding Guest (uncredited)
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Roy Butler | ... |
Newton (uncredited)
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Douglas Carter | ... |
Prisoner (uncredited)
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| Harry Cheshire | ... |
Judge Kerr (uncredited)
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| Ken Christy | ... |
Bailiff (uncredited)
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| Heinie Conklin | ... |
Courtroom Spectator (uncredited)
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Norma Jean Cramer | ... |
Mary Ruth Williams (uncredited)
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James Cronan | ... |
Prisoner (uncredited)
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| Jordan Cronenweth | ... |
Will Williams (uncredited)
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| Wade Crosby | ... |
Guard (uncredited)
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| Lillian Culver | ... |
Mrs. Laura Williams (uncredited)
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Russell Custer | ... |
Courtroom Spectator (uncredited)
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| Sayre Dearing | ... |
Prisoner (uncredited)
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Billy Dix | ... |
Prisoner (uncredited)
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| John Doucette | ... |
Gavrey (uncredited)
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Watson Downs | ... |
Foreman (uncredited)
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Michael Dugan | ... |
Frank Gregory (uncredited)
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| Roy Engel | ... |
Prisoner (uncredited)
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Tony Epper | ... |
Wesley Williams (uncredited)
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Joe Evans | ... |
Juror (uncredited)
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| Sam Flint | ... |
Board Member (uncredited)
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| Robert Foulk | ... |
Chain Gang Guard (uncredited)
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Jon Gardner | ... |
Wesley Williams (uncredited)
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| James Gonzalez | ... |
Prisoner (uncredited)
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| Herman Hack | ... |
Prisoner (uncredited)
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| Jonathan Hale | ... |
Judge Lane (uncredited)
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James Harrison | ... |
Trusty (uncredited)
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| Al Haskell | ... |
Prisoner (uncredited)
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Truman Herron | ... |
Shelton Williams (uncredited)
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Harry Hines | ... |
Prisoner (uncredited)
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| Jimmie Horan | ... |
Juror (uncredited)
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| Charles Horvath | ... |
Prisoner (uncredited)
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| Whitey Hughes | ... |
Prisoner (uncredited)
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| Dick Johnstone | ... |
Wedding Guest (uncredited)
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| Fred Kohler Jr. | ... |
Lathe Worker (uncredited)
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| Paul Kruger | ... |
Guard (uncredited)
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| Anne Kunde | ... |
Wedding Guest (uncredited)
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| Nolan Leary | ... |
Board Member (uncredited)
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| Bert LeBaron | ... |
Guard (uncredited)
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| George Lloyd | ... |
Mess Hall Trusty (uncredited)
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James Logan | ... |
Guard (uncredited)
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Marlene Lyden | ... |
Mary Eloise Williams (uncredited)
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Harry Macklin | ... |
John Williams (uncredited)
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Thomas Martin | ... |
Juror (uncredited)
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| John Maxwell | ... |
Dr. McDonald (uncredited)
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John McKee | ... |
Worker (uncredited)
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| David McMahon | ... |
Prison Guard (uncredited)
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| Emile Meyer | ... |
Head Guard (uncredited)
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Louis Nicoletti | ... |
Giacosi (uncredited)
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Erik Nielsen | ... |
Gordon Williams (uncredited)
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Fiona O'Shiel | ... |
Mrs. Rimmer (uncredited)
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George Pembroke | ... |
Board Member (uncredited)
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Lee Phelps | ... |
Guard (uncredited)
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Marilee Phelps | ... |
Mrs. Gregory (uncredited)
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Ford Raymond | ... |
Courtroom Spectator (uncredited)
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| Richard Reeves | ... |
Guard in Cage (uncredited)
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| Dick Rich | ... |
Trusty (uncredited)
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James A. Robertson | ... |
Black Assistant (uncredited)
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Robert Robinson | ... |
Prisoner (uncredited)
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| Gene Roth | ... |
Section Boss (uncredited)
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| John Roy | ... |
Prisoner (uncredited)
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Ralph Smiley | ... |
The Ferrett (uncredited)
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| John Smith | ... |
Bob Williams (uncredited)
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| Robert R. Stephenson | ... |
Prisoner (uncredited)
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| Leonard Strong | ... |
Robak (uncredited)
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Arthur Tovey | ... |
Courtroom Spectator (uncredited)
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| William Vedder | ... |
Minister (uncredited)
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| Emmett Vogan | ... |
Mr. Swanson (uncredited)
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Bennie Washington | ... |
Black Woman (uncredited)
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| Robert J. Wilke | ... |
Guard on Train (uncredited)
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| Guy Wilkerson | ... |
Prisoner (uncredited)
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Ward Wood | ... |
Prisoner (uncredited)
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| Duke York | ... |
Guard (uncredited)
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Directed by
| Richard Thorpe | ||
Written by
| Art Cohn | ... | (screenplay) |
| Art Cohn | ... | (story) |
Produced by
| Armand Deutsch | ... | producer |
Music by
| Conrad Salinger | ||
Cinematography by
| William C. Mellor | ... | director of photography (as William Mellor) |
Editing by
| Newell P. Kimlin | ||
Art Direction by
| Cedric Gibbons | ||
| Eddie Imazu | ||
Set Decoration by
| Ralph S. Hurst | ... | (as Ralph Hurst) |
| Edwin B. Willis | ||
Costume Design by
| Walter Plunkett | ||
Makeup Department
| Sydney Guilaroff | ... | hair stylist |
| John Truwe | ... | makeup artist |
| William Tuttle | ... | makeup designer |
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
| Al Jennings | ... | assistant director (uncredited) |
Sound Department
| Douglas Shearer | ... | recording supervisor |
| Ralph A. Pender | ... | sound (uncredited) |
Special Effects by
| A. Arnold Gillespie | ... | special effects |
| Warren Newcombe | ... | special effects |
Stunts
| Charles Horvath | ... | stunts (uncredited) |
| Stubby Kruger | ... | stunts (uncredited) |
| Bert LeBaron | ... | stunts (uncredited) |
| Ted Mapes | ... | stunts (uncredited) |
| Duke York | ... | stunts (uncredited) |
Camera and Electrical Department
| Neal Beckner | ... | camera operator (uncredited) |
| Bobby Moreno | ... | assistant camera (uncredited) |
| William Riley | ... | assistant camera (uncredited) |
| Bill Thomas | ... | still photographer (uncredited) |
Music Department
| Robert Franklyn | ... | orchestrator (uncredited) |
| Johnny Green | ... | orchestrator (uncredited) |
Additional Crew
| Howard Dietz | ... | publicity director (uncredited) |
| David Marshall Williams | ... | technical advisor (uncredited) |
Production Companies
Distributors
- Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (1952) (United States) (theatrical)
- Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (1952) (United Kingdom) (theatrical)
- Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (1953) (Austria) (theatrical)
- Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (1953) (Sweden) (theatrical)
- Metro (1953) (Norway) (theatrical)
- Warner Home Video (2009) (United States) (DVD)
Special Effects
Other Companies
Storyline
| Plot Summary |
This is the story of David Marshall 'Marsh' Williams, the real life inventor of the world famous M-1 Carbine automatic rifle used in WWII. It all started when Marsh, who was one to do things his way, was caught distilling moonshine, and was accused and convicted of shooting a federal officer in the process. This at first placed him in the chain gang which labeled him as a hard case. Later, to make room for those more deserving, he was moved to a prison farm, where he came under the direction of Captain H.T. Peoples. The Captain was a mild mannered warden, who did not shy from discipline when necessary, but also believed that given the opportunity, most men will respond to good. Believing that Marsh was just such a person, the Captain gave him every opportunity to reform, so much so, that he eventually allowed Marsh to work in the tool shop on his spare time to develop and build by hand, a working rifle, inside the prison farm itself.
Written by Bill Walch |
| Plot Keywords | |
| Taglines | James Stewart as Carbine Williams See more » |
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| Parents Guide | View content advisory » |
| Certification |
Additional Details
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Box Office
| Budget | $1,111,000 (estimated) |
Did You Know?
| Trivia | In the film, all of the men working on the still with Williams were white. But in reality, it was five African-American men, all of whom testified against Williams at trial. See more » |
| Movie Connections | Referenced in Sid & Judy (2019). See more » |
| Crazy Credits | EPILOGUE: "The film concludes with the following written acknowledgment: 'Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer gratefully acknowledges the cooperation of the North Carolina prison authorities and wishes to state that the penal system existing in North Carolina today has been improved immeasurably over conditions depicted in the picture.'" See more » |
| Quotes |
Marsh Williams:
But there isn't enough time Maggie. You can have enough of everything else. You can enough food, you can enough land, you can even have enough money, but you never can have enough time, because it's the only thing you can't save. See more » |