The Phantom Stagecoach

Last updated

The Phantom Stagecoach
The Phantom Stagecoach (1957) poster.jpg
Theatrical release poster
Directed by Ray Nazarro
Written byDavid Lang
Produced by Wallace MacDonald
Starring William Bishop
Kathleen Crowley
Richard Webb
Hugh Sanders
John Doucette
Frank Ferguson
Cinematography Henry Freulich
Edited byEdwin H. Bryant
Production
company
Distributed byColumbia Pictures
Release date
  • April 1, 1957 (1957-04-01)
Running time
69 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

The Phantom Stagecoach is a 1957 American Western film directed by Ray Nazarro and starring William Bishop, Kathleen Crowley, Richard Webb, Hugh Sanders, John Doucette, and Frank Ferguson. The film was released by Columbia Pictures on April 1, 1957. [1] [2] [3]

Contents

Plot

A stagecoach with sole passenger, Glen Hayden, is being driven at breakneck speed by driver Sam, when it is stopped by 3 masked men. The driver refuses to hand over the freight "again" and is shot. The stagecoach horses bolt with the bandits in pursuit while Hayden tries to keep out of sight inside. Just before they stop the stage he jumps out unseen. When the bandits start to open the stage to get the freight Hayden starts shooting. The wounded driver kills one but is fatally wounded by another. The two remaining bandits ride off. Hayden loads the dead bandit into the stage and drives it to town.

Stage line owner Joe Patterson tells the passenger it is the third holdup in 2 months. The townspeople don't recognize the dead bandit. Freight office owner Martin Maroon and henchman Harry Farrow, who are behind the robberies, watch from the freight office. Maroon is concerned that if Patterson's line is a success he will be bought out by Wells Fargo it will mean the end of his business. Patterson offers Hayden a job as stagecoach driver which he accepts. Hayden suggests to the sheriff Ned Riordan, that the dead bandit's horse, which he brought with the stage, might lead them to the gang's hideout. Riordan says he will try later that afternoon. This possibility is clearly of concern to Maroon and Farrow. Patterson's two other drivers, Tom Bradley and Maroon's niece Fran, arrive and are told of the holdup and Sam's death. Bradley takes an instant dislike to Hayden who is attracted to Fran. Farrow sneaks into the stable and kills the bandit's horse. Hayden and some townspeople run to the stable and Hayden has a shootout with Farrow who eventually escapes, running past Bradley who later claims to have seen nothing. Bradley and Maroon have an "understanding" and Bradley is upset that Sam was killed which Maroon says was an accident.

At the gangs hideout they are building a stagecoach covered with metal plate. This was Bradley's idea. Maroons plan is to run Patterson out of business and control the freight and passenger services. Bradley is the inside man who gives the Maroon information about the stages. He will put some of his own freight on the next stage that Bradley is driving, and reminds him that when it is held up to do exactly as the bandits say. Farrow is unsure of Bradley's loyalty but Maroon says that if anything goes wrong, they can blame Bradley. Bradley intends to become rich and marry Fran, but Fran isn't as keen on the idea as he is. When Maroon puts some of his freight on the stage the townsfolk are reassured about the future of Patterson's business. At the last minute Patterson tells Bradley that Hayden will be riding shotgun. Maroon takes Bradley aside and tells him they won't have to prevent the holdup.

On the trip, Bradley tells Hayden he does not like killing and that his shotgun isn't even loaded. When he tells Hayden he intends to marry Fran and go and work for Maroon, Hayden suspects he may be involved in the plot to put Patterson out of business. Before they reach the site of the holdup, Bradley distracts Hayden and throws his shotgun off the stage. When the holdup, using a phantom coach, starts, Hayden takes over the stage and they escape, but they lose all the freight and passenger Mrs Wiggins is slightly wounded. Mr and Mrs Wiggins want to return home and Hayden agrees, despite Bradley's protests. In town, Hayden is suspicious of Maroon and says so. When he gets too personal with Fran there is a fight between him and Bradley which the sheriff breaks up. Hayden wants to go back to the scene of the holdup, but the sheriff wants to wait until morning. Hayden takes a fast horse and heads off. Maroon tells Bradley he is going to fetch the gang and they will kill Hayden. Bradley wants no part of the killing, but can't stop Maroon leaving.

When sheriff Riordan changes his mind and goes after Hayden, Bradley follows. Riordan finds Hayden who tells him he is really an agent for Wells Fargo. When a dozen bandits approach and start shooting, Riordan recognizes them as Maroon's men. During the following chase Riordan insists on leading the bandits away while Hayden goes for help. Riordan is wounded and captured. Bradley finds Maroon at the hideout and tells him the phantom coach is certain evidence against them if it is discovered. Farrow and the other bandits return to the hideout with Riordan. Maroon says they will have to get rid of Riordan but Bradley wants no part of it. Farrow starts to beat Riordan to death but when he pulls a knife, Bradley intervenes and disarms him. In the confusion Riordan tries to escape and Farrow shoots him. Maroon tells Bradley he can't back out or he'll get the same as Riordan. Bradley apparently changes his mind.

The bandits move the phantom coach to Maroon's farm and remove all the evidence from the hideout. Maroon's plan is to put the coach on a wagon and transfer it across state lines. Maroon sends Fran into town with some horses that need shoeing. She arrives just as a posse is about to leave. She finds out that the sheriff is missing and that Farrow is involved. Hayden and Patterson suspect Maroon and when the posse heads to his farm to question him, Fran accompanies them. Maroon's wagons leave the farm, with the coach, and the concealed phantom coach driven by Bradley, who is under guard as Maroon still doesn't trust him. Maroon tells Bradley that once they cross the state line he needn't come back. Bradley manages to push his guard off the wagon and heads for town. Maroon chases after him in another wagon with Farrow while the remaining wagons carry on. Both sets of wagons are spotted by the posse which splits and follows each separately.

Bradley's wagon overturns and he is dragged for a short distance by the loose horses. Farrow and Maroon stop and take cover behind the upturned wagon. When Bradley approaches he is shot in the arm by Farrow, who is then shot and killed. While Maroon continues to fire at the posse, Bradley sneaks up and manages to knock him out. When the posse and Fran arrive he admits everything. Hayden says his recent actions will count in his favor. In town, while Maroon, Bradley and the rest of the gang are taken to jail, Paterson says he is selling to Wells Fargo, but only if they hire Hayden as office manager. Hayden agrees, and asks Fran to stay, but she says she is going back east.

Cast

Critical reception

Author and film critic Hal Erickson wrote in AllMovie that the film "is almost refreshingly old-fashioned" and that "amusing moments are provided by those grand old troupers Percy Helton and Maudie Prickett." [4] Critic Mark Franklin described the film as "far short of great, but not as bad as the title might imply," noting that it is "marred by some silliness" but that "the smoky voiced Crowley makes for a feisty leading lady." [5]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Glenn Strange</span> American actor (1899–1973)

George Glenn Strange was an American actor who appeared in hundreds of Western films. He played Sam Noonan, the bartender on CBS's Gunsmoke television series, and Frankenstein's monster in three Universal films during the 1940s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tom London</span> American actor (1889–1963)

Tom London was an American actor who played frequently in B-Westerns. According to The Guinness Book of Movie Records, London is credited with appearing in the most films in the history of Hollywood, according to the 2001 book Film Facts, which says that the performer who played in the most films was "Tom London, who made his first of over 2,000 appearances in The Great Train Robbery, 1903. He used his birth name in films until 1924.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hank Patterson</span> American actor and musician (1888–1975)

Elmer Calvin "Hank" Patterson was an American actor and musician. He is known foremost for playing two recurring characters on three television series - stableman Hank Miller on Gunsmoke and farmer Fred Ziffel on both Petticoat Junction and Green Acres.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tom Tyler</span> American actor (1903–1954)

Tom Tyler was an American actor known for his leading roles in low-budget Western films in the silent and sound eras, and for his portrayal of superhero Captain Marvel in the 1941 serial film The Adventures of Captain Marvel. Tyler also played Kharis in 1940's The Mummy's Hand, a popular Universal Studios monster film.

<i>Black Bart</i> (film) 1948 film by George Sherman

Black Bart is a 1948 American Western Technicolor film directed by George Sherman and starring Yvonne De Carlo, and Dan Duryea as the real-life stagecoach bandit Charles E. Boles, known as Black Bart. The movie was produced by Leonard Goldstein with a screenplay written by Luci Ward, Jack Natteford and William Bowers. The film, also known under the alternate title Black Bart, Highwayman, was released by Universal Pictures on March 3, 1948.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tom Chatterton</span> American actor (1881–1952)

Tom Chatterton was an American actor and director.

<i>Seven Men from Now</i> 1956 film by Budd Boetticher

Seven Men from Now is a 1956 American Western film directed by Budd Boetticher and starring Randolph Scott, Gail Russell and Lee Marvin. The film was written by Burt Kennedy and produced by John Wayne's Batjac Productions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dan White (actor)</span> American actor (1908–1980)

Dan White was an American actor, well known for appearing in Western films and TV shows.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Robert J. Wilke</span> American actor (1914–1989)

Robert Joseph Wilke was an American film and television actor noted primarily for his roles as villains, mostly in Westerns.

<i>Sagebrush Trail</i> 1933 film

Sagebrush Trail is a 1933 American Pre-Code Western film with locations filmed at Bronson Canyon starring John Wayne and featuring Lane Chandler and Yakima Canutt. It was the second Lone Star Productions film released by Monogram Pictures. It was shown as An Innocent Man in the UK, and this version was later released in a colorized version on home video.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eddy Waller</span> American actor (1889–1977)

Edward Waller was an American stage, film and television actor.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">William Desmond (actor)</span> American actor (1878–1949)

William Desmond was an American actor. He appeared in more than 200 films between 1915 and 1948. He was nicknamed "The King of the Silent Serials."

<i>Go West, Young Lady</i> 1941 film by Frank R. Strayer

Go West, Young Lady is a 1941 American comedy western film directed by Frank R. Strayer and starring Penny Singleton, Glenn Ford and Ann Miller. It was produced and distributed by Columbia Pictures.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Cason (actor)</span> American actor (1918–1961)

John Lacy Cason, also credited as Bob Cason and John L. Cason, was an American actor active in both films and television. During his 20-year career he appeared in over 200 films and television shows. He is best known for his work on the television program The Adventures of Kit Carson, where he appeared in several roles from 1951 to 1953.

<i>Great Stagecoach Robbery</i> 1945 film by Lesley Selander

Great Stagecoach Robbery is a 1945 American Western film directed by Howard Bretherton starring Wild Bill Elliott in the role of Red Ryder and costarring as Little Beaver, actor (Bobby) Robert Blake. It was the sixth of twenty-three Red Ryder feature films that would be produced by Republic Pictures. The picture was shot on the studio's back lot along with outdoor locations at Iverson Ranch, 1 Iverson Lane, Chatsworth, Los Angeles, CA, USA.

<i>Lone Texas Ranger</i> 1945 film by Spencer Gordon Bennet

Lone Texas Ranger is a 1945 American Western film directed by Spencer Gordon Bennet starring Wild Bill Elliott in the role of Red Ryder and costarring as Little Beaver, actor (Bobby) Robert Blake. It was the eighth of twenty-three Red Ryder feature films that would be produced by Republic Pictures. The picture was shot on the studio’s back lot along with outdoor locations at Iverson Ranch, 1 Iverson Lane, Chatsworth, Los Angeles, CA, USA.

<i>Phantom of the Plains</i> 1945 film by Lesley Selander

Phantom of the Plains is a 1945 American Western film directed by Lesley Selander starring Wild Bill Elliott in the role of Red Ryder and costarring as Little Beaver, actor (Bobby) Robert Blake. It was the ninth of 23 'Red Ryder' feature films that would be produced by Republic Pictures. The picture was shot on the studio’s back lot along with outdoor locations at Iverson Ranch in Chatsworth, Los Angeles, CA, USA.

<i>The Plunderers</i> (1948 film) 1948 film by Joseph Kane

The Plunderers is a 1948 American Western film directed by Joseph Kane and written by Gerald Geraghty and Gerald Drayson Adams. The film stars Rod Cameron, Ilona Massey, Lorna Gray, Forrest Tucker, George Cleveland and Grant Withers. The film was released on October 31, 1948, by Republic Pictures.

<i>Stage to Mesa City</i> 1947 film directed by Ray Taylor

Stage to Mesa City is a 1947 American Western film directed by Ray Taylor and starring Lash La Rue, Al St. John, Jennifer Holt, George Chesebro, Buster Slaven, and Marshall Reed. The film was released by Producers Releasing Corporation on September 13, 1947.

<i>Stage to Tucson</i> 1950 film by Ralph Murphy

Stage to Tucson is a 1950 American Western film directed by Ralph Murphy and written by Robert Creighton Williams, Frank Burt and Robert Libott. It is based on the 1948 novel Lost Stage Valley by Frank Bonham. The film stars Rod Cameron, Wayne Morris, Kay Buckley, Sally Eilers, Carl Benton Reid and Roy Roberts. The film was released in December 1950, by Columbia Pictures and remade by them in 1956 as The Phantom Stagecoach, reusing extensive footage from the earlier film and changing it from Technicolor to black and white.

References

  1. "The Phantom Stagecoach". afi.com. Retrieved July 6, 2018.
  2. "The Phantom Stagecoach". AllMovie. Retrieved July 6, 2018.
  3. "The Phantom Stagecoach". TCM.com. Retrieved July 6, 2018.
  4. Erickson, Hal. "The Phantom Stagecoach (1957)". AllMovie. Netaktion LLC. Retrieved October 3, 2023.
  5. Franklin, Mark. "The Phantom Stagecoach (1957)". Once Upon a Time in a Western. Retrieved October 3, 2023.