Freckles (1960 film)

Last updated
Freckles
Freckles 1960 poster.jpg
Theatrical poster
Directed by Andrew V. McLaglen
Written by Harry Spalding
Based on Freckles
by Gene Stratton-Porter
Produced byHarry Spalding
Starring Martin West
Carol Christensen
Jack Lambert
Cinematography Floyd Crosby
Edited by Harry W. Gerstad
Music by "By" Dunham
Henry Vars
Production
company
Distributed by 20th Century Fox
Release dates
  • October 19, 1960 (1960-10-19)(Bismarck, North Dakota)
[1]
Running time
83 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$250,000 [2]

Freckles is a 1960 American Western film directed by Andrew V. McLaglen. It stars Martin West and Carol Christensen. [3] [4] It was filmed in CinemaScope and DeLuxe Color, and is the fourth of five adaptations of Gene Stratton-Porter's 1904 novel of the same name.

Contents

Plot

Disabled by a missing hand since childhood, Freckles (Martin West) works for timber baron John McLean (Roy Barcroft). He rounds up a gang of lumber thieves headed by Duncan (Jack Lambert). [5] John's foreman, Duncan, gives Freckles a tour and points out the troubles they have been facing due to a gang of timber thieves, led by Jack Barbeau. Freckles begs to be a guard that requires him to be alone in a small, isolated cabin. John eventually agrees, and Freckles is quick to start patrolling a large area of land on horseback with a rifle in hand.

One day, Freckles meets a naturalist, Alice Cooper, who is photographing birds. Alice asks Freckles to watch her niece, Chris, who lives nearby. Meanwhile, Chris has fallen and hurt herself. A fisherman, who ends up being Barbeau, helps her. Freckles arrives and tells Barbeau he is on private property and must leave. Later in the day, Wessner, one of John's men who is actually secretly working for Barbeau, tries to bribe Freckles while in his cabin. Freckles refuses and a fistfight breaks out, which Freckles wins. John sees this confrontation, and is pleased with how Freckles acted and assures him that he will always have a job.

A few days later, Chris and Freckles spend more time getting to know one another. While on the job, Freckles is approached by Barbeau, who tells him that his family was in the woods long before John, and they only cut what they need. He tells Freckles that he is working for the wrong side. When Freckles tells Duncan about this encounter, Duncan tells him not to listen to Barbeau's story.

The next day, Freckles learns from Alice that Chris's parents are sending her to college. Freckles stops by Chris's house and meets her father. At this point, Freckles and Chris are in love, and Freckles is worried that college will change her. They fight, and Freckles leaves. He returns to the Limberlost, where Barbeau and his men are cutting down trees. Freckles gathers MacLean and his crew to confront the lumber thieves, but they are too late. Freckles blames himself for both the theft and the thieves' escape.

This story of love, competition, and rivalry ends with the death of Barbeau, guilt, and the union of Freckles and Chris. [6]

Cast

Production

The film was made by Robert L. Lippert's Associated Producers Inc. [7] It was filmed on location in San Bernardino National Forest.

See also

Related Research Articles

Andrew Victor McLaglen was a British-born American film and television director, known for Westerns and adventure films, often starring John Wayne or James Stewart.

<i>Freckles</i> (novel) 1904 novel by Gene Stratton-Porter

Freckles is a 1904 novel written by the American writer and naturalist Gene Stratton-Porter. It is primarily set in the Limberlost Swamp area of Indiana, with brief scenes set in Chicago. The title character also appears briefly in Porter's A Girl of the Limberlost. The novel is marked by its frequent, detailed, and loving descriptions of the flora and fauna of the wilderness through the eyes of its innocent protagonist.

<i>Swamp Thing</i> (1982 film) 1982 film by Wes Craven

Swamp Thing is a 1982 American superhero film written and directed by Wes Craven, based on the DC Comics character of the same name created by Len Wein and Bernie Wrightson. It tells the story of scientist Alec Holland who is transformed into the monster known as Swamp Thing through laboratory sabotage orchestrated by the evil Anton Arcane. Later, he helps a woman named Alice Cable and battles the man responsible for it all, the ruthless Arcane. The film did well on home video and cable and was followed by a sequel, The Return of Swamp Thing, in 1989.

<i>The Cabinet of Caligari</i> 1962 American horror film

The Cabinet of Caligari is a 1962 American horror film directed by Roger Kay, starring Glynis Johns, Dan O'Herlihy, and Richard Davalos, and released by 20th Century Fox.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Robert L. Lippert</span> American film producer

Robert Lenard Lippert was an American film producer and cinema chain owner. He was president and chief operating officer of Lippert Theatres, Affiliated Theatres and Transcontinental Theatres, all based in San Francisco, and at his height, he owned a chain of 139 movie theaters.

<i>Desire in the Dust</i> 1960 film by William F. Claxton

Desire in the Dust is a 1960 American neo noir crime film released by the Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation, directed by William F. Claxton, produced by Robert L. Lippert and starring Raymond Burr, Martha Hyer and Joan Bennett. The screenplay was written by Charles Lang based on a novel by Harry Whittington.

The Secret of The Purple Reef is a 1960 20th Century Fox CinemaScope DeLuxe Color film based on a short story by Dorothy Cottrell entitled "The Silent Reefs". It starred soon-to-be-famous actors Richard Chamberlain and Peter Falk. It is a Caribbean-based mystery involving the disappearance of a ship called the Cloud.

The Rookie is a 1959 American comedy film directed by George O'Hanlon in CinemaScope. It was the first film starring the comedy team of Tommy Noonan and Peter Marshall, they also appeared together in the 1962 film Swingin' Along.

The Abductors is a 1957 American film noir crime film directed by Andrew McLaglen and starring Victor McLaglen, George Macready and Gavin Muir. It was produced by Regal Films.

<i>The Little Shepherd of Kingdom Come</i> (1961 film) 1961 film by Andrew V. McLaglen

The Little Shepherd of Kingdom Come is an American CinemaScope Western film directed by Andrew V. McLaglen. It stars Jimmie Rodgers and Luana Patten and includes the film debut of George Kennedy.

<i>A Dog of Flanders</i> (1959 film) 1960 film

A Dog of Flanders is a 1960 American drama film directed by James B. Clark, with stars David Ladd, Donald Crisp and Theodore Bikel. It is based on the 1872 novel of the same name by Ouida. It was released on March 17, 1960, by 20th Century Fox in CinemaScope and Color by De Luxe.

The Big Show is a 1961 DeLuxe Color and CinemaScope drama film directed by James B. Clark, starring Esther Williams and Cliff Robertson. The cast also includes Robert Vaughn, Margia Dean, Nehemiah Persoff and David Nelson, who was best known to audiences of the time for The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet television show.

<i>The Houston Story</i> 1956 Crime Drama film

The Houston Story is a 1956 American crime film noir directed by William Castle and starring Gene Barry, Barbara Hale and Edward Arnold. It was produced by Sam Katzman for distribution by Columbia Pictures.

<i>Freckles</i> (1917 film) 1917 American film

Freckles is a lost 1917 American drama silent film directed by Marshall Neilan and written by Gene Stratton-Porter and Marion Fairfax. The film stars Jack Pickford, Louise Huff, Hobart Bosworth, Lillian Leighton, William Elmer and Guy Oliver. The film was released on May 28, 1917, by Paramount Pictures.

<i>The Oregon Trail</i> (1959 film) 1959 film

The Oregon Trail is a 1959 American CinemaScope and DeLuxe Color Western film directed by Gene Fowler Jr. and starring Fred MacMurray, William Bishop and Nina Shipman.

<i>Tess of the Storm Country</i> (1960 film) 1960 film by Paul Guilfoyle

Tess of the Storm Country is a 1960 American drama film directed by Paul Guilfoyle, written by Charles Lang and starring Diane Baker, Jack Ging, Lee Philips, Archie Duncan, Nancy Valentine and Bert Remsen. It is based on the novel with the same title by Grace Miller White and its adaptation for the stage by Rupert Hughes. The film was released on December 8, 1960 by 20th Century-Fox.

<i>The Sad Horse</i> 1959 film by James B. Clark

The Sad Horse is a 1959 American drama film directed by James B. Clark, written by Charles Hoffman and starring David Ladd, Chill Wills, Rex Reason, Patrice Wymore, Gregg Palmer and Eve Brent. One of API's first films, it was released in March 1959 by 20th Century Fox.

Battle of Broadway is a 1938 American comedy film directed by George Marshall and written by Lou Breslow and John Patrick. The film stars Victor McLaglen, Brian Donlevy, Gypsy Rose Lee, Raymond Walburn, Lynn Bari and Jane Darwell. The film was released on April 22, 1938, by 20th Century Fox.

<i>The Long Rope</i> (1961 film) 1961 film by William Witney

The Long Rope is a 1961 American Associated Producers Inc Western film directed by William Witney and written by Robert Hamner. The film stars Hugh Marlowe, Alan Hale, Jr., Robert J. Wilke, Chris Robinson, William Kerwin and Jeff Morris. The film was released in February 1961, by 20th Century Fox.

Man Crazy is a 1953 American film noir drama film directed by Irving Lerner and starring Neville Brand, Christine White, Irene Anders, Colleen Miller and John Brown.

References

  1. Stinson, C. (Dec 16, 1960). "'Wizard of baghdad' pleasant little spoof". Los Angeles Times. ProQuest   167781933.
  2. Scheuer, Philip K. (Sep 5, 1960). "Showman Divulges First-Aid Program: 'Forgotten Fans in Sticks' Have Champion in Lippert". Los Angeles Times. p. 25.
  3. "Freckles (1960) - Andrew V. McLaglen | Synopsis, Characteristics, Moods, Themes and Related". AllMovie . Retrieved 15 November 2021 via www.allmovie.com.
  4. "FRECKLES". Monthly Film Bulletin. Vol. 27. 1960. p. 170. ProQuest   1305819340.
  5. "Freckles (1960) - Andrew V. McLaglen | Synopsis, Characteristics, Moods, Themes and Related". AllMovie . Retrieved 15 November 2021.
  6. "AFI|Catalog". Catalog.afi.com. Retrieved 15 November 2021.
  7. Scheuer, P. K. (Apr 28, 1960). "Laughs ill-timed in college comedy". Los Angeles Times. ProQuest   167694965.