West of the Pecos *** (1945, Robert Mitchum, Barbara Hale, Richard Martin) – Classic Movie Review 8774

Director Edward Killy’s 1945 Western movie West of the Pecos is another film lifted by its stars Robert Mitchum and Barbara Hale, and its stalwart cast, but also by Killy’s brisk, competent, no-nonsense direction.

RKO Radio Pictures remakes its own 1935 movie West of the Pecos as another enjoyable B-Western, from a Zane Grey novel, this time with Robert Mitchum starring as cowboy Pecos Smith, with Richard Martin as his buddy Chito Rafferty, saving Colonel Lambeth (Thurston Hall)’s daughter Rill Lambeth (Barbara Hale), who is masquerading as a boy, from bandits while lost in the desert.

The Colonel hires Pecos and Chito, but Pecos has killed the brother of Sawtelle, who leads a team of vigilantes after him.

Also in the cast are Rita Corday, Russell Hopton, Bill Williams, Harry Woods, Bruce Edwards, Martin Garralaga, Perc Launders, Bryant Washburn, Philip Morris and Jack Gargan.

It is a remake of director Phil Rosen’s 1935 film West of the Pecos with Richard Dix.

West of the Pecos is directed by Edward Killy, runs 68 minutes, is made and released by RKO Radio Pictures, is written by Milton Krims, John Twist (1935 screenplay) and Norman Houston (1935 screenplay), from a Zane Grey novel, is shot in black and white by Harry J Wild, is produced by Sid Rogell (executive producer) and Herman Schlom and is scored by Paul Sawtell and Constantin Bakaleinikoff (musical director), with Art Direction by Lucius O Croxton and Albert S D’Agostino.

No doubt cashing in on Mitchum’s popularity, it was re-released by RKO Radio Pictures in 1951.

It was shot at Alabama Hills, Lone Pine, California.

Barbara Hale (1922–2017) was married to actor Bill Williams, and their son is the actor William Katt.

© Derek Winnert 2019 Classic Movie Review 8774

Check out more reviews on http://derekwinnert.com