The Bushwhackers (1952)
Plot here has Confederate veteran Jeff Waring arriving in Independence, Missouri shortly after the Civil War, and intending never again to use a gun. He finds that rancher Artemus Taylor, an arthritic despot, and his henchies, Sam Tobin and Cree, are forcing out the settlers in order to claim their land for the incoming railroad. The plot nearly predates "The Great Train Robbery" in age, but the gritty execution, and well-acted performances, take it out of the norm, way out, in a couple of instances. Brassy Myrna Dell is on hand as Taylor's independent daughter, only slightly less meaner than her father, and the always welcome Dorothy Malone is the pretty school marm on the side of good. Ireland's passive outlook on life changes before the end.
A town so wild and tough it was a full time job to keep alive!
Jefferson Waring: I can't feel a thing for ya, Taylor. You're a beaten old man and I'm not sorry. You've ruined so many lives yours isn't even a down payment.
General Service Studios - 1040 N. Las Palmas, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA
(Studio)
Jack Ingram Ranch - 22255 Mulholland Drive, Woodland Hills, Los Angeles, California, USA
Warner Brothers Burbank Studios - 4000 Warner Boulevard, Burbank, California, USA
(western street)
Columbia Pictures - 1020 W. Washington Blvd., Culver City, California, USA
(western street)
Universal Studios - 100 Universal City Plaza, Universal City, California, USA
(Studio)
Directorial debut of Rod Amateau.
George Washington said "To be prepared for war is one of the most effectual means of preserving peace" during his First Annual Address, to both houses of Congress on Friday, 1/8/1790.
The Alexander Pope quote "You should never be ashamed to admit you have been wrong. It only proves you are wiser today than yesterday" is from Pope's "Thoughts on Various Subjects" (1727), which was published in Jonathan Swift's "Miscellanies" (1727).
The John Milton quotes spoken by Sharpe are from "Paradise Lost: Book IX" ('"O fairest of all creation, last and best/ Of all God's works...') and "Paradise Lost: Book XI" ('... the morn, / All unconcern'd with our unrest, begins / Her rosy progress smiling...')
The Bible quote, "And He shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people; and they shall beat their swords into plough-shares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore" is from Isaiah, Chapter 2, Verse 4.
Revealing mistakes
The opening battle scene breaches one of the conventions of film-making. The opening shot shows Union cavalry charging from the left of screen to the right. This is followed by shots of Confederate Infantry on the right of the screen firing to the left. There follow some other shots, some showing troops charging directly at the camera, others showing Union cavalry coming from the left of screen. The final shots of the battle show the Confederate infantry retreating to the left of screen pursued by Union infantry coming from the right. The convention would dictate that the Union troops should always come from the left, and that the Confederate troops should have retreated to the right of screen.