Carbine Williams (1952)
- Starring:
- James Stewart, Jean Hagen, (more)
- Director(s):
- Richard Thorpe
- Theatrical MPAA Rating:
- NR
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The tougher postwar screen image of James Stewart is given a good workout in the fact-based Carbine Williams. In 1952, the world at large knew Marsh Williams as the developer of the US Army's M-1 carbine rifle. The film builds up to this event by detailing Williams' previous existence as a bootlegger and embittered prison inmate, sentenced to 30 years at hard labor for killing a revenue agent. After enduring the rigors of chain-gang life and solitary confinement, Williams (Stewart) gets his mind off his troubles by dreaming up a new type of automatic-gun piston. He is encouraged in this endeavor by prison warden H. T. Peoples (Wendell Corey), previously Williams' bitterest enemy. As Williams continues to develop his innovative weaponry notions, his wife Maggie (Jean Hagen) and Warden Peoples try to overcome penal bureaucracy to win a pardon for Williams. Some TV prints of Carbine Williams have been colorized by computer; despite this artistically offensive practice, the strong dramatic and human values of the story still shine. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Complete Cast:
- James Stewart - Marsh Williams
- Wendell Corey - Capt. H.T. Peeples
- Paul Stewart - "Dutch" Kruger
- Rhys Williams - Redwick Karson
- James Arness - Leon Williams
- Fay Roope - District Attorney
- Leif Erickson - Feder
- Frank Richards - Truex
- Stuart Randall - Tom Venner
- Bobby Hyatt - David Williams
- Marlene Lyden - Mary Eloise Williams
- Bert LeBaron
- James Harrison - Trusty
- Richard Reeves - Guard
- Fiona O'Shiel - Mrs. Rimmer
- Robert Foulk - Torchy
- Lillian Culver - Mrs. Laura Williams
- Nolan Leary
- Harry V. Cheshire - Judge
- Jean Hagen - Maggie Williams
- Carl Benton Reid - Claude Williams
- Otto Hulett - Mobley
- Herbert Heyes - Lionel Daniels
- Porter Hall - Sam Markley
- Ralph Dumke - Andrew White
- Henry Corden - Bill Stockton
- Howard Petrie - Sheriff
- Dan Riss - Jesse Rimmer
- Willis B. Bouchey - Mitchell
- Jon Gardner - Mac Williams
- Bob Alden - Messenger
- Duke York
- George Pembroke - Board Member
- Erik Nielsen - Child at Wedding
- Sam Flint
- Emile G. Meyer - Head Guard
- Marshall Bradford
- Director(s):
- Richard Thorpe
- Writer(s):
- Art Cohn
- Producer(s):
- Armand Deutsch
- Theatrical MPAA Rating:
- NR(Suitable for Children)
- Closed Captioning:
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- Subtitles:
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