Pat Hogan Movies

After rescuing a horse from thieves, a Native American teen befriends the animal, and together they share a number of adventures. ~ Jason Ankeny, Rovi

The "official" title of this film is Hemingway's Adventures of a Young Man; its screenplay is adapted from semi-autobiographical "Nick Adams" stories written by Ernest Hemingway. Played by Richard Beymer (West Side Story), Nick Adams is a young Michigan boy who sets out in the early 1900s to learn about life and to pursue a journalistic career. No sooner is he on his way than he gets his first taste of "real life" by being thrown off a train by a railroad agent. He attempts to secure newspaper work, but is laughed out of the office due to his inexperience. He gains valuable insight on the human condition while serving in the Italian army during World War One, where (in Farewell to Arms fashion) a star-crossed romance develops between Nick and a Red Cross nurse (Susan Strasberg). Nick returns to America determined to pursue his destiny by writing of his now-vast experiences. Long and somewhat poky, Adventures of a Young Man is enlivened by the cameo appearance of Paul Newman as a pathetic, punch drunk boxer. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Critics consistently consider this historical drama one of the worst films Disney ever made. It is the true-tale of ten heroes from the Civil War who ride down the raging Colorado in hopes of mapping it. The mission is led by the Major John Wesley Powell who lost an arm during the war. Their fateful 1869 river trip is arduous and long and in the end only six make it out of the Grand Canyon alive. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi

In the 12th episode of Walt Disney's 17-part miniseries Tales of Texas John Slaughter, widower John (Tom Tryon) has finally wed the lovely Viola Howell (Betty Lynn), thus providing a mother for his children Willie (Brian Corcoran) and Addy (Patricia Gorman). En route to register his land claim, John rescues his old friend Ashley Carstairs (Darryl Hickman) from ambushers. Having returned to Tombstone to deliver the two Kentucky Thoroughbred horses that he promised John a few episodes back, Ashley proves to be much more short-tempered and quicker to use his guns than before. Fueling Ashley's anger is the fact that he himself was once in love with John's new bride Viola. "Kentucky Gunslick" first aired as part of the Walt Disney Presents anthology. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Though the film's title may suggest otherwise, Seventh Cavalry takes place after Custer's Last Stand. Randolph Scott stars as Cavalry officer Tom Benson, who is branded a coward after supposedly deserting at the Little Big Horn. Benson hopes to redeem himself by personally leading a burial detail to the battlefield, despite the fact that the Indians haven't exactly left the premises. The excitement level in the closing reels more than justifies the slow, steady buildup to the finale. Innovative direction by the reliable Joseph H. Lewis enlivens this verbose western. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Pillars of the Sky is the lyrical title bestowed upon this cinemadaptation of Will Henry's novel Frontier Fury. Jeff Chandler stars as Sgt. Emmett Bell, whose job it is to put down an Indian uprising. Since converting to Christanity, the local tribe has done its best to keep the peace. But Chief Kamiakan (Michael Ansara), understandably angered over an impending government plan to build a road through his territory, intends to break that peace, despite the strenuously pacifistic efforts of missionary Joseph Holden (Ward Bond). A subplot involves a romantic triangle between Bell, Calla Gaxton (Dorothy Malone), and Calla's husband Tom (Keith Andes), Bell's superior officer. Magnificently photographed in Technicolor, Pillars of the Sky is a better-than-average Universal oater. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Cashing in on the surprise success of his 1954 Davy Crockett TV miniseries (first presented on the weekly anthology Disneyland), Walt Disney assembled the three hour-long "Crockett" episodes into a 93 minute theatrical feature. While the re-editing process has created a few noticeable continuity gaps, the results are by and large satisfying: certainly audiences in 1955 were satisfied, if box office returns are any indication (and, of course, they are). Fess Parker plays Davy Crockett, Tennessee-born frontiersman, while Buddy Ebsen (Disney's original choice for Crockett) co-stars as Davy's sidekick George Russell. The film is divided into three long episodes, each separated by a title card. Part one shows Crockett the Indian fighter (politically correct? Of course not!); part two finds Davy winning a seat in the Nashville legislature, where his heroism is rather cynically exploited by presidential candidate Andrew Jackson (Basil Ruysdael); and part three concludes at the Alamo, with a discreet cutaway just before Davy meets his doom at the hands of Mexican general Santa Anna. Also appearing in this jerry-built film are Hans Conried as Thimblerig and Helene Stanley as Davy's wife Polly. And who could forget "The Ballad of Davy Crockett"--not to mention those neato coonskin caps? Davy Crockett, King of the Wild Frontier was followed in 1956 by a "prequel" (likewise cobbled together from three Disneyland episodes), Davy Crockett and the River Pirates. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Dana Andrews plays Cavalry deserter Brett Halliday in the compact Universal western Smoke Signal. Cavalry captain Harper (William Talman) is determined to bring Halliday to justice, but first he must lead his men and a handful of Indian-massacre survivors to safety through hostile, uncharted territory. Halliday's sympathies are with the Indians, whom he believes have resorted to violence only because of the cruelty of certain white officers. Piper Laurie co-stars as Laura Evans, the romantic bone of contention between Halliday and Lt. Wayne Ford (Rex Reason). Though the plotline of Smoke Signal is pedestrian, the film's action highlights are well-worth the price of admission. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Barbara Rush is at her most exotically beautiful in the lush costumer Kiss of Fire. Based on Jonreed Lauritzen's novel The Rose and the Flame, the film stars Ms. Rush as Lucia, princess of Spain, who while residing in New Mexico discovers that the king is dying and that she must return home immediately to save her throne from pretenders. Escorting Lucia westward to the Pacific Ocean is former Spanish nobleman El Tigre (Jack Palance). In spite of themselves, the Princess and El Tigre fall in love. But before they can act upon their impulses, hero and heroine must face various and sundry dangers in the wild Southwest. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Masked crimefighter El Latigo fights the baddies and works for justice in this wild western. Man with a Steel Whip was a popular 1950s Republic studio serial. ~ Jonathan Crow, Rovi

Originally shot in 3-D, Gun Fury opens with wealthy rancher Ben Warren (Rock Hudson) and his fiancée Jennifer Ballard (Donna Reed) aboard a stagecoach bound for California. Having recently fought in the Civil War, Ben is looking forward to returning to a peaceful life with his soon-to-be wife. Unfortunately, the coach is set upon by embittered ex-Confederate soldier Frank Slayton Philip Carey) and his gang. In the ensuing conflict, Ben is shot and left for dead, while Jennifer is kidnapped by Slayton, who claims her for his own interests. Ben recovers from his wounds and sets off to find Jennifer, trying to enlist the aid of others in his fight against Slayton. Most are unwilling to help, a fact which impresses upon Ben the responsibility every man must have in protecting society from people like Slayton. Eventually he succeeds in putting together a team of his own -- including a former member of Slayton's gang and a Native American with a grudge against the crooks -- and sets off for the border to bring about justice. ~ Craig Butler, Rovi

The action in this loose adaptation of a popular 1925 silent tells the galloping (and largely untrue) tale if the formation of the U.S. rapid transcontinental mail system with a focus on the adventures of Buffalo Bill Cody (Charlton Heston) and Wild Bill Hickock (Forrest Tucker). ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi

Virile leading man Phil Carey heads the cast of the 3D western The Nebraskan. Carey plays U.S. Army scout Wade Harper, assigned to keep his Native American aide Wingfoot (Maurice Jara) in protective custody. Accused of killing an Indian chief, Wingfoot is dearly coveted by the dead man's tribe, who'd like to exact their own brand of justice. Stirring up trouble among the whites is the scurrilous Reno (Lee Van Cleef), who gives psychos a bad name. The film's tiny budget is able to accommodate a few gratuitous "comin' at ya" 3D effects, which do little to enhance the overall quality of the film. More fascinating is the presence of Richard Webb, TV's stalwart "Captain Midnight", as a craven coward. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi