1950s Westerns Part 2 Trivia Quiz

Answer: Hondo

The movie "Hondo" is from an original story by Louis L'Amour, "The Gift of Cochise" retitled "Hondo" by scriptwriter James E Grant. "Hondo" was a big hit at the time notwithstanding the fact it was filmed in the then new 3D process. The movie starred John Wayne, Geraldine Page, Ward Bond, James Arness, and as Cochise, Australian actor Michael Pate. For her performance Geraldine Page obtained her first of eight Academy Award nominations. "Hondo" is on my personal top ten list of favourite westerns.

Answer: Vera Cruz

"Vera Cruz" is a very good western made in 1954. It was one of the first westerns to be filmed entirely in Mexico. The film stars Burt Lancaster, Gary Cooper and Denise Darcel, with reliable support from Ernest Borgnine, Cesar Romero, Jack Elam, Charles Bronson (still being billed as Buchinsky) and George Macready. The film details the exploits of a disparate group in the employ of Emperor Maximillian.

To go into too much detail would give too many spoilers, so it's enough to say "Vera Cruz" is well worth 90 minutes of your time.

Answer: 3:10 to Yuma

Glenn Ford and Van Heflin star in "3:10 to Yuma". Van Heflin plays the rancher in need of money who agrees to escort the amiable but deadly outlaw, played by Glenn Ford, to Yuma for the reward. This is a very good movie although a little bleak at times.

The story and the cast move things along quite quickly. Highly recommended. The 2007 remake with Russell Crowe and Christian Bale is not in the same league as the original.

Answer: Shane

A stranger stops at a homesteaders' ranch to water his horse and becomes involved in a rancher vs. settler dispute. This is the premise of "Shane" with Alan Ladd in the title role and Van Heflin, Jean Arthur and Brandon De Wilde as the family of homesteaders.

The villains are played by Emile Meyer, Ben Johnson, and in his first western Jack Palance. This movie always features in critics' top ten westerns of all time. Interestingly this was Jean Arthur's last movie and Brandon De Wilde's first.

Answer: Ride Lonesome

Randolph Scott made 26 movies in the 1950s. "Ride Lonesome" was one of the best.
Co-starring in the film are Pernell Roberts, Karen Steele, James Best, James Coburn and Lee Van Cleef. Scott excels as a lone bounty hunter after Lee Van Cleef in this now classic western.

Answer: Ride Clear of Diablo

This is a very likable western starring Audie Murphy and Dan Duryea. Audie is a railroad employee whose father and brother are killed. He sets out to bring the killers to justice and is aided by semi honest Whitey Kincaid, played superbly by Dan Duryea. Also in the cast are perennial western actors Jack Elam and Denver Pyle.

Answer: The Naked Spur

"The Naked Spur" (1953) is a superb western. James Stewart stars in this absorbing story of a bounty hunter bringing in a prisoner. The rest of the cast consisting only of four other actors all give first rate performances. The full cast is Stewart, Janet Leigh, Robert Ryan, Millard Mitchell and Ralph Meeker. To explain the plot further would include spoilers. Suffice to say this is a highly recommended movie. "The Naked Spur" was directed by Anthony Mann and marked the third of eight collaborations between Mann and Stewart.

Their movies together are westerns "Winchester '73", "The Far Country", "The Naked Spur", "The Man from Laramie" and "Bend of the River", and dramas "The Glenn Miller Story", "Thunder Bay" and "Strategic Air Command".

Answer: The King and Four Queens

"The King of Hollywood in 'The King and Four Queens'," so said the publicity for this movie in 1956. By 1956 Clark Gable was no longer king of Hollywood and was showing his age. This however does not detract from this interesting western which co-starred Jo Van Fleet as the mother of four dead outlaws.

In a smallish role is the ever reliable Jay C Flippen who managed to appear in 38 feature films and many TV series episodes in the 1950s.

Answer: Warlock

"Warlock", an 'adult' western, stars Henry Fonda, Anthony Quinn, Richard Widmark and the often underrated Dorothy Malone. The story focuses on the town of Warlock being terrorised by a gang of outlaw cowboys and Fonda as the sheriff/gunfighter brought in to quell the trouble. The lead actors are all good but Anthony Quinn steals the picture, playing Henry Fonda's partner.

Answer: River of No Return

Marilyn Monroe and Robert Mitchum star in "River of No Return". The two lead actors are ably supported by Rory Calhoun in a rare bad guy role and Tommy Rettig. The star of the movie is the river, unnamed in the movie but set in the Rocky Mountains. The raft trip scenes are the best in the movie.

Not viewed as a great western on its release, it has in retrospect become somewhat more respected. It is worth a viewing.