Curtain Call at Cactus Creek

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Curtain Call at Cactus Creek
Curtain call at cactus creek.jpg
Film poster
Directed by Charles Lamont
Screenplay byHoward Dimsdale
Story byHoward Dimsdale
Stanley Roberts
Produced by Robert Arthur
Starring Donald O'Connor
Gale Storm
Vincent Price
Eve Arden
Cinematography Russell Metty
Edited byFrank Gross
Music by Walter Scharf
Production
company
Universal Pictures
Distributed by Universal Pictures
Release dates
  • January 1950 (1950-01)(Australia) [1]
  • January 25, 1950 (1950-01-25)(Fayette, Iowa) [2]
  • September 21, 1950 (1950-09-21)(New York) [3]
Running time
86 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$620,000-$850,000 (est). [4]

Curtain Call at Cactus Creek is a 1950 American Western comedy film starring Donald O'Connor and Gale Storm. The plot concerns a traveling entertainer (O'Connor) who becomes involved with bank robbers.

Contents

Plot

A traveling troupe of entertainers arrives in Cactus Creek, Arizona to perform. The act's stars are singer Lily Martin, her niece Julie and the flamboyant actor Tracy Holland, while Eddie Timmons, who is in love with Julie, handles the lighting, sound effects and other duties, although his ambition is to perform on stage.

The bandit Rimrock Thomas arrives with his gang to rob a bank. While watching Lily perform, Rimrock concocts a plan to time the robbery to coincide with the next show. When an explosion is heard from the direction of the bank, the audience and entertainers flee.

Rimrock hides in Eddie's wagon and keeps the show as a front, teaching Eddie how to become a successful outlaw. After Eddie is caught by a sheriff, Rimrock helps him escape from jail. When he is cornered, Rimrock arranges it so that it appears that Eddie had captured him. Eddie collects a $26,000 reward and vows to abandon crime, but Rimrock expects to see him again soon.

Cast

Release

Before the film's American premiere, Curtain Call at Cactus Creek opened in Australia in early January 1950. [1] The film was also screened in a limited engagement in Fayette, Iowa at the end of January [2] in advance of a general release in June.

Reception

In a contemporary review for The New York Times , critic Bosley Crowther wrote: "The comical misadventures of a stagehand with a one-horse theatre troupe that is traveling the Western frontier circuit back in the blood-and-thunder days are recounted with moderate good humor, but no marked originality ... However, those who have a fondness for Donald O'Connor, if such there be, may find it more amusing than others, for there is plenty of Mr. O'Connor in this film. ... The best to be said for this picture is that it has a few bright burlesque spots, is in color and comes to a finish in a reasonable length of time." [3]

References

  1. 1 2 "Guide to Theatres". The Voice . Hobart, Australia. January 14, 1950. p. 6.
  2. 1 2 "Fayette Theatre (Advertisement)". Fayette County Leader. Fayette, Iowa. January 25, 1950. p. 3.
  3. 1 2 Crowther, Bosley (September 22, 1950). "The Screen". The New York Times . p. 35.
  4. ↑ "U's $1,470,000 Average Prod Cost Pared to 740G Per Pic in 49". Variety. April 27, 1949. p. 6.


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