Bells of Coronado | |
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![]() Theatrical release poster | |
Directed by | William Witney |
Written by | Sloan Nibley |
Produced by | Edward J. White |
Starring | Roy Rogers Trigger Dale Evans |
Cinematography | John MacBurnie |
Edited by | Tony Martinelli |
Music by | R. Dale Butts |
Production company | Republic Pictures |
Distributed by | Republic Pictures |
Release date |
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Running time | 67 minutes |
Country | United States |
Language | English |
Bells of Coronado is a 1950 American Trucolor Western film directed by William Witney starring Roy Rogers, Trigger the horse, and Dale Evans.
The owner of the El Coronado Mine is ambushed on the road into town by thieves, who steal a wagon full of uranium ore. The owner is found by linemen of the Coronado Light & Power Company, but dies at the town's doctor's office before regaining consciousness.
The insurance company who has insured the ore, hires Roy to find out whether the wagon accidentally went off the road and if the ore fell into the Coronado Dam reservoir. Roy goes undercover. With the help of the town's doctor who Roy has known for years, he gets a job as a lineman, working for the power company, which supplies electricity to the mine.
The thieves tie up the mine workers and try to steal a second wagon load of uranium, but Roy gives chase and is able to get the ore away from the thieves. The thieves make a second attempt and steal the second load of ore after it had been taken to the warehouse. Roy finds out that the uranium will be delivered to a dry lake bed where a foreign government is going to land an airplane to pick up the uranium. Roy has to rush to try to stop the plane from taking off with the uranium. [1]
Director William Witney remains a favorite of director Quentin Tarantino. In a New York Times interview, Tarantino spoke eloquently about Witney's prowess as a director, specifically mentioning Witney's work with Roy Rogers programmers. He detailed how Witney gradually moved Rogers into more naturalistic costumes such as jeans and flannel shirts, and how occasionally the camera would follow Rogers' horse Trigger for much of a film, going off and having adventures with other animals before returning to Rogers. Tarantino and a reporter screened Witney's Roy Rogers movie The Golden Stallion together during the aforementioned interview. [2]
Roy Rogers, nicknamed the King of the Cowboys, was an American singer, actor, television host, and rodeo performer.
Dale Evans Rogers was an American actress, singer, and songwriter. She was the third wife of singing cowboy film star Roy Rogers.
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William Nuelsen Witney was an American film and television director. He is best remembered for the action films he made for Republic Pictures, particularly serials: Dick Tracy Returns, G-Men vs. the Black Dragon, Daredevils of the Red Circle, Zorro's Fighting Legion, and Drums of Fu Manchu. Prolific and pugnacious, Witney began directing while still in his 20s, and continued working until 1982.
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Trail of Robin Hood is a 1950 American Trucolor Western film directed by William Witney and starring Roy Rogers. Filmed in the San Bernardino Mountains and Big Bear Lake California, it is notable for featuring a large cast of Western stars and the last film that Roy Rogers filmed in Trucolor. Despite the title, there is no reference to Robin Hood in the film.
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The Bonnie Parker Story is a 1958 crime film directed by William Witney. The movie is loosely based on the life of Bonnie Parker, a well-known outlaw of the 1930s. The film stars Dorothy Provine as Parker; Parker's actual historical partner, Clyde Barrow, is renamed Guy Darrow for the film's story, and played by Jack Hogan. The film was released by American International Pictures as a double feature with Machine Gun Kelly starring Charles Bronson in his first leading role.
Darktown Strutters is a 1975 blaxploitation musical comedy film from New World Pictures. Despite having mixed reviews at the time of its release, it has gained cult status over the years with praise from film director Quentin Tarantino. Tarantino called it "a ridiculous satire".
The Golden Stallion is a 1949 American Western film directed by William Witney and starring Roy Rogers, Dale Evans and Estelita Rodriguez. The film was part of the long-running series of Roy Rogers films produced by Republic Pictures.
The Roy Rogers Show was a 30-minute Western radio program in the United States. It began in 1944, ended in 1955, and was carried on more than 500 stations. Because of demands on Rogers' time for personal appearances and making films, the show was one of the first radio series to be transcribed.
Canyon Crossroads is a 1955 American Western film directed by Alfred L. Werker and stars Richard Basehart, Phyllis Kirk and Stephen Elliott.