The Barefoot Mailman

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The Barefoot Mailman
Baremailpos.jpg
Directed by Earl McEvoy
Written by James Gunn
Alfred Lewis Levitt
Francis Swann
Based onThe Barefoot Mailman by Theodore Pratt
Produced byRobert Cohn
Starring Robert Cummings
Terry Moore
Jerome Courtland
Cinematography Ellis W. Carter
Edited by Aaron Stell
Music by George Duning
Production
company
Robert Cohn Productions
Distributed by Columbia Pictures
Release date
  • November 5, 1951 (1951-11-05)
Running time
83 minutes
CountryUnited States
Language English

The Barefoot Mailman is a 1951 American historical comedy adventure film directed by Earl McEvoy and starring Robert Cummings, Terry Moore and Jerome Courtland. It was distributed by Columbia Pictures. The film was based on the 1943 novel The Barefoot Mailman by Theodore Pratt. Filmed in Super Cinecolor on location in Florida where the events take place, it features many elements of the Western. [1]

Contents

Plot

Set in 1895, Robert Cummings plays a con man, Sylvanus Hurley, who is trying to raise the selling price of land he owns by convincing the residents of Miami that a railroad is coming to town. Jerome Courtland plays the barefoot mailman, Steven Pierton, who leads Sylvanus along the beach from Palm Beach to Miami, and who is skeptical of Sylvanus's scheme. Terry Moore is a run-away teenager, Adie Titus, who joins Sylvanus and Steven on their walk by impersonating a child. John Russell plays Theron, a swamp gang leader who tries to carry Adie away.

Cast

Production

The film was based on a novel by Theodore Pratt published in 1943. The New York Times called it "salty and colorful." [2]

In April 1950 Columbia reported that Alfred Lewis Levitt was writing a screenplay based on the book for the studio. [3] In September, Columbia said they would film the bulk of the movie in Florida starting October 3. [4]

Cummings was cast in November 1950. [5]

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References

  1. BAREFOOT MAILMAN, The Monthly Film Bulletin; London Vol. 19, Iss. 216, (Jan 1, 1952): 49.
  2. Special Delivery: THE BAREFOOT MAILMAN. By Theodore Pratt. 215 pp. New York: Duell, Sloan & Pearce Company. $2.50. By WILLIAM DU BOIS. New York Times 25 July 1943: BR6.
  3. WARNERS FEUDING WITH TALENT UNIT New York Times 27 Apr 1950: 47.
  4. UNIVERSAL TO FILM CALIFORNIA DRAMA New York Times 11 Sep 1950: 27.
  5. U.I. STUDIOS LIST TWO NEW MOVIES New York Times 9 Nov 1950: 43.