- Night Passage (film)
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Night Passage 
1957 theatrical poster by Reynold BrownDirected by James Neilson Produced by Aaron Rosenberg Written by Norman A. Fox
Borden ChaseStarring James Stewart Music by Dimitri Tiomkin
Ned WashingtonCinematography William H. Daniels Editing by Sherman Todd Distributed by Universal Pictures Release date(s) July 24, 1957 Running time 90 minutes Country United States Language English 
DVD Cover
Night Passage (1957) is a Western starring James Stewart and Audie Murphy.
Contents
Production background
This film is reminiscent of the popular western collaborations between Stewart and director Anthony Mann. This is largely because the project was slated to be their sixth collaboration. Mann backed out of the project before production due to other obligations and a disagreement over the casting of Audie Murphy. Aaron Rosenberg, who produced many of the Stewart-Mann collaborations, stayed on as producer with new director James Neilson.
Dimitri Tiomkin scored the film, and co-wrote the songs "Follow the River" and "You Can't Get Far Without a Railroad" with Ned Washington, which were performed by James Stewart himself. The film also offered Stewart the rare opportunity to play the accordion, an instrument he had played since childhood. The film was the first to utilize the Technirama process by Technicolor. This process helped make the blue skies crisper and brighten the autumn footage photographed by cinematographer William H. Daniels. The railroad scenes were filmed at the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad in Durango, Colorado, using Denver & Rio Grande Western Railroad K-28 Class steam locomotive #476 which still operates in excursion service today.[1] Though not as memorable as other Stewart-Mann films, Night Passage was a commercial success upon its release and has become a staple of cable television.
Plot
On the way to meet his former boss, railroad tycoon Ben Kimball (Jay C. Flippen), Grant McLaine (Stewart) rescues a young boy, Joey Adams (Brandon De Wilde), from Concho (Robert J. Wilke). Ben informs Grant that his payroll has been robbed several times already by a gang led by Whitey Harbin (Dan Duryea) and the Utica Kid (Murphy). If Ben's workers don't get paid soon, they will all leave. Grant accepts the job of taking $10,000 to them by train.
When the train is held up again, Grant hides the money in a shoebox carried by Joey. The ploy works, but the young boy turns out to be friends with the Utica Kid, who takes him along with him. When the robbers cannot find the money, they take Ben's wife Verna (Elaine Stewart) to hold for ransom. Concho, a member of the gang, knocks out Grant for revenge, and the train leaves without him.
When Grant wakes up, he trails the gang to a ghost town. He boldly asks to join up, revealing that he is the Kid's older brother [interestingly, the Kid's given name is Lee]. Utica is suspicious of his heretofore honest sibling, so Whitey (who dislikes the Kid) accepts him. Concho tries to shoot Grant unexpectedly, but Grant is faster to the draw. Afterwards, he tells the Kid where the money is, in an attempt to reform his brother. It doesn't work. The Kid gives Grant ten minutes to leave before he tells the gang, but Grant calls his bluff.
Then, railroad employee Will Renner (Herbert Anderson) shows up to collect his share of the loot. He had been Whitey's informer. He recognizes Grant (by the song he sings and plays on his accordion) as the man assigned to deliver the payroll, and a gunfight ensues. Grant, Verna and Charlotte "Charlie" Drew (Dianne Foster), the Kid's girlfriend, are pinned down in a building. Grant sends Verna to safety in a tram, but Charlie refuses to leave. Meanwhile, the Kid is planning to quietly leave with Joey and the money.
However, Joey rushes to Grant's side, and the Kid reluctantly joins forces with his brother. They kill all the gang members except Whitey. When Whitey sneaks up and shoots at Grant, the Kid steps in and takes the bullet, and Grant kills Whitey.
Cast
Actor/Actress Role James Stewart Grant McLaine Audie Murphy The Utica Kid Dan Duryea Whitey Harbin Dianne Foster Charlotte Drew Elaine Stewart Verna Kimball Brandon De Wilde Joey Adams Jay C. Flippen Ben Kimball Herbert Anderson Will Renner Robert J. Wilke Concho Hugh Beaumont Jeff Kurth Jack Elam Shotgun Tommy Cook Howdy Sladen Paul Fix Clarence Feeney Olive Carey Miss Vittles James Flavin Tim Riley Donald Curtis Jubilee Ellen Corby Mrs. Feeney John Daheim Latigo Kenny Williams O'Brien Frank Chase Trinidad Harold Goodwin Pick Gannon Harold Hart Tommy Shannon Jack C. Williams Dusty Boyd Stockman Torgenson Henry Wills Pache Chuck Roberson Roan Willard W. Willingham Click Polly Burson Rosa Patsy Novak Linda Ted Mapes Leary Edwin C. Johnson Telegraph Operator near beginning of movie William Phillips Blacksmith/livery stable owner Ben Welden Pete References
External links
- Night Passage at the TCM Movie Database
- Night Passage at the Internet Movie Database
Categories:- 1957 films
- American films
- English-language films
- Universal Pictures films
- 1950s Western films
- Films directed by James Neilson
- Western film stubs
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