Montana Belle

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Montana Belle
Montana Belle FilmPoster.jpeg
Directed by Allan Dwan
Screenplay by Horace McCoy
Norman S. Hall
Story byM. Coates Webster
Howard Welsch
Produced byHoward Welsch
Starring Jane Russell
Cinematography Jack A. Marta
Edited by Arthur Roberts
Music by Nathan Scott
Production
company
Fidelity-Vogue Pictures
Distributed by RKO Radio Pictures
Release dates
  • November 7, 1952 (1952-11-07)(Premiere-New York City) [1]
  • November 11, 1952 (1952-11-11)(US) [1]
Running time
82 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Box office$1 million (US) [2]

Montana Belle is a 1952 American Trucolor Western film directed by Allan Dwan and starring Jane Russell. It is one of several fictionalized movies about outlaw Belle Starr. The story is set in Oklahoma, where the real Starr was killed. The word "Montana" in the title refers to the part of the plot in which Starr, wanted by the law, alters her appearance, poses as a widow from Montana and becomes a saloon singer.

Contents

Plot

Oklahoma outlaw Belle Starr meets the Dalton gang when she is rescued from lynching by Bob Dalton, who falls for her. So do gang member Mac and wealthy saloon owner Tom Bradfield, who's enlisted in a bankers' scheme to trap the Daltons. Dissension among the gang and Bradfield's ambivalence complicate the plot, as Belle demonstrates her prowess with shootin' irons, horses, and as a saloon entertainer.

Cast

Production

Shot between late October and late November 1948, this film was intended to be issued by Republic Pictures. In April 1949, Howard Welsch, who had produced the movie for his company, Fidelity Pictures, sold the negative to RKO for $875,000, about $225,000 above the picture's cost. Finally, this Western obtained a Manhattan debut at the Broadway Palace Theatre on November 7, 1952.

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References

  1. 1 2 "Montana Belle: Detail View". American Film Institute. Retrieved May 18, 2014.
  2. 'The Top Box Office Hits of 1953', Variety, January 13, 1954