George Montgomery Movies
Strappingly handsome Geo Montgomery was the son of a Russian immigrant who settled in the American Northwest. Montgomery attended University of Washington, intending to make a career of interior decorating, but his athletic prowess sidetracked him into a film career. Billed as George Letz, he starred in the 1939 serial The Lone Ranger as one of the five men suspected of being the Masked Man. When 20th Century Fox decided to inaugurate a B-Western series in the 1940s, they hired George Montgomery (as he was then known) for that purpose. The Western series fell by the wayside, but Montgomery was retained by Fox for romantic leading roles, including a courageous but unsuccessful try at Raymond Chandler's urban p.i. Philip Marlowe in 1947's The Brasher Doubloon. Montgomery returned to Westerns at Columbia in the 1950s, and was equipped with Stetson, six-gun, and steed on the 1958 TV series Cimarron City. In the early '60s, Montgomery enjoyed fair success as producer/director of several inexpensive Philippine-based actioners. He was married for 19 years to singer Dinah Shore; they remained friendly long after the divorce, with Montgomery frequently showing up as a guest star on Dinah's TV talkfest of the 1970s. By that time, however, George Montgomery was an actor no more, but a highly successful furniture designer. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide- 1957
George Montgomery stars in Pawnee as Paul, a white man raised by Indians. Upon attaining adulthood, Paul finds himself rejected by both the Pawnee tribe and the white community. He manages to attain a job as a wagon train scout, but even in this position of respect and authority he is treated with hostility and suspicion. When Wise Eagle (Ralph Moody), the Pawnee chief who raised Paul as his own son, dies, the tribe is taken over by Paul's lifelong enemy Crazy Fox (Charles Horvath). Thus, when the wagon train is attacked by Indians, Paul has no qualms about aligning himself with the passengers. Featured in the cast as Dancing Fawn is Charlotte Austin, the cult-favorite star of such horror cheapies as The Man Who Turned to Stone. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- George Montgomery, Bill Williams, (more)
- 1957
This action-filled police drama chronicles the difficult first year of a rookie cop. The trouble begins on his very first day on the beat when he has a conflict with the criminally connected owner of the local tavern. Against the more moderate advice of his experienced partner, the rookie insists on strictly enforcing every law on the books. His unbending toughness creates hard feelings with the neighborhood toughs and soon he becomes their target. He becomes quite upset when a drunken woman leaps from his window to her death. He is then suspended. Later he redeems himself by solving a murder and bringing the corrupt tavern owner to justice. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Geraldine Brooks, Nehemiah Persoff, (more)
- 1957
Last of the Badmen gets started in 1880 Chicago, as detective Dan Barton (George Montgomery) prepares to head westward. Barton intends to round up a gang of stagecoach bandits, whose modus operandi is to spring criminals from jail in return for their services. In order to infiltrate the gang, Barton poses as an incarcerated crook with a huge price on his head. What he doesn't know is that gang leader Hawkins (Douglas Kennedy) invariably kills the bad guys that he's freed from jail in order to collect the reward money. For the most part an ordinary western, Last of the Badmen is elevated by its novel premise. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- George Montgomery, James Best, (more)
George Montgomery both produced and starred in the psychological western Black Patch. Written by character actor Leo Gordon (who also appears on screen), the story revolves around one-eyed marshal Clay "Black Patch" Morgan (Montgomery). The marshal is delighted to find out that his old buddy Hank Danner (Leo Gordon) is riding into town, but less than thrilled to learn that Danner is now a wanted outlaw. Reluctantly throwing his friend into jail, Morgan sets off a chain reaction of terror, beginning with a jailbreak engineered by crooked saloonkeeper Frenchy De Vere (a particularly vicious performance by Sebastian Cabot) and culminating in a showdown between the marshal and Danner's young protégé Flytrap (Tom Pittman). This is the sort of film in which a rape is represented by the symbolic opening and closing of a screen door. Black Patch seems pretentious when seen today, but in 1957 a western never lost money at the box-office. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- George Montgomery, Diane Brewster, (more)
- 1956
Adapted by Stirling Silliphant from his own novel, Huk was filmed on location in the Philippines. George Montgomery heads the cast as a plantation owner who struggles to fend off native insurrectionists (the "Huks" of the title). He is aided in this effort by fellow planter John Baer, whose wife Mona Freeman harbors a secret love for Montgomery. The thrill-packed conclusion finds Montgomery and Baer working shoulder to shoulder to save a boatland of women and children from the Huk guerillas. Ramio Barri portrays the Huk leader as a villain pure and simple, making it easy for the audience to sort out the good and bad guys in this somewhat jingoistic endeavor. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- George Montgomery, Mona Freeman, (more)
- 1956
Canyon River stars George Montgomery as trail boss Steve Patrick. Reversing the procedure usually depicted in westerns of this nature, Patrick is assigned to guide a cattle drive from the west-coast state of Oregon to the wilds of Wyoming. En route, our hero must fend off attacks from both rustlers and Indians. He is also being undermined from within by foreman Bob Andrews (Peter Graves), who dearly covets Patrick's job. The romantic interest is provided by widowed camp cook Janet Hale (Marcia Henderson). Canyon River was produced by Richard Heermance, who, for the record, was (a) the brother of announcer Bud Collyer and actress June Collyer and (b) the brother-in-law of comedian Stu Erwin. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- George Montgomery, Marcia Henderson, (more)
- 1955
There's a surprising lack of action in the Sam Katzman-produced western Seminole Uprising. George Montgomery heads the cast as Army lieutenant Cam Elliot, who is assigned to round up a group of renegade Seminoles who've left their Florida reservation and have escaped to Texas. Along the way, Elliot rekindles his romance with Susan Hannah (Karin Booth), who'd previously rejected him because she thought he was part Indian (this is not the most sympathetic heroine in screen history). Elliot proves his worth by rescuing Susan when she's kidnapped by Seminole leader Black Cat (Steve Ritch). Seminole Uprising is based on Bugle's Wake, a novel by Curt Brandon. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- George Montgomery, Karin [Katharine] Booth, (more)
- 1955
The 1955 western Robbers' Roost was the second film version of the venerable Zane Grey yarn. George Montgomery stars as a taciturn outlaw who lands an honest job on the spread managed by physically disabled Bruce Bennett. When Bennett's sister Sylvia Findley is kidnapped by crooked Richard Boone and Peter Graves, Montgomery, seeing an opportunity to redeem himself, rides to her rescue. Fortunately for our hero, Boone and Graves are already at each other's throats, thereby weakening their resistance. Gorgeously photographed, Robbers' Roost suffers visually when seen in the faded color prints currently available to TV. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- George Montgomery, Richard Boone, (more)
- 1954
There are few surprises in The Lone Gun--and few lulls, either. Things get under way when ex-marshal George Montgomery rides into a wide-open Texas town. Montgomery intends to bring three cattle-rustling brothers to justice. Since those siblings are played by Neville Brand, Douglas Kennedy and Robert Wilke, one suspects that Our Hero's task will not be accomplished within the film's first twenty minutes. Taking over a cattle ranch run by Dorothy Malone and her brother Skip Homeier, the villains inaugurate a deadly game of cat and mouse with Montgomery. Frank Faylen scores in an uncharacteristic performance as a dude gambler. The Lone Gun was produced by Edward Small for United Artists. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- George Montgomery, Dorothy Malone, (more)
- 1954
George Montgomery heads the virile cast of the B-plus western Battle of Rogue River. Montgomery plays Cavalry major Frank Archer, assigned to protect the settlers in Oregon territory. Archer tries to find out why the previously peaceful Indians have suddenly become warlike. What he doesn't know is that duplicitous settler Stacey Wyatt (Richard Denning), working in concert with crooked land speculator Matt Parrish (Charles Evans), has been deliberately aggravating the Indians so that the other whites will be erased from the territory, thereby allowing Wyatt and his chums to plunder the land's rich mineral deposits. Curiously, the film's titular battle never takes place! Martha Hyer provides a dash of feminity to the otherwise all-male proceedings. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- George Montgomery, Richard Denning, (more)
- 1954
Long before he devoted his life to gimmicky horror epics, director William Castle turned out a series of compact westerns for Columbia. One of the best of the batch was Masterson of Kansas, starring George Montgomery as dandified gunslinger Bat Masterson. The screenplay, by future Maverick mainstay Douglas Heyes, contrives to unite Masterson, Wyatt Earp (Bruce Cowling) and Doc Holliday (James Griffith) together in a common cause. The three protagonists intend to protect an impending land exchange between honest rancher Merrick (John Maxwell) and peace-seeking Indian chief Yellow Hawk (Jay Silverheels) against the crooked chicanery of land baron Clay Bennett (David Bruce). The most interesting characterization is provided by James Griffith, who portrays Doc Holliday as a borderline psychotic with a death wish. Nancy Gates provides the feminine angle as Merrick's daughter Amy. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- George Montgomery, Nancy Gates, (more)
- 1953
Technically a "B" western, Gun Belt is a notch or two above the norm. George Montgomery stars as former outlaw Billy Ringo, whose bank-robbing brother Matt (John Dehner) implicates him in a recent holdup. When Matt is killed in a shootout, Matt's son Chip (Tab Hunter) holds Billy responsible. When not trying to clear his name and patch up his family problems, Billy finds time to romance requisite leading lady Helen Westcott. The most tangible asset of Gun Belt is the superb Technicolor photography, courtesy of William Howard Greene. The film was one of several budget-conscious 1950s productions turned out by producer Edward Small for United Artists release. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- George Montgomery, Tab Hunter, (more)
- 1953
Flying in the face of Hollywood tradition, this cinemadaptation of James Fennimore Cooper's The Pathfinder features genuine Native Americans in several principal "Indian" roles. Set during the French-Indian wars of the 18th century, the film stars George Montgomery as The Pathfinder, an Indian scout in the employ of the British. The Pathfinder is sent to a French encampment to do a little secret-agent work, accompanied by Welcome Alison (Helena Carter), an English lass posing as a Frenchwoman. Their identities revealed, Pathfinder and Welcome are imprisoned and slated for execution -- and for a long, long while, it looks as though the Great Lakes region will be claimed by the French. Co-starring in The Pathfinder are Jay "Tonto" Silverheels as Chingachgook, Rodd Redwing as hostile Mingo chief Arrowhead, and Chief Yowlachie as Eagle Feather. Adhering to the usual Hollywood casting process, however, the role of Indian maiden Lokawa is essayed by Anglo-Latino actress Elena Verdugo. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- George Montgomery, Helena Carter, (more)
- 1953
Jack McCall, the man who shot Wild Bill Hickok in the back, is presented in a sympathetic light in this "revisionist" western. During the Civil War, McCall (George Montgomery) is falsely accused of treason. He escapes to prove his innocence, but vengeful union sergeant Will Bill Hickok (Douglas Kennedy) won't let him. It's Les Miserables, western style, not to mention once of the few cinematic depictions of Hickok as an unregenerate villain: Wild Bill even participates in the murder of McCall's parents! Thus, the death of Hickok is seen as a justifiable act of revenge, with Jack McCall living happily ever after with Rose Griffith (Angela Stevens)--and never mind that the real McCall was hanged shortly after plugging Hickok during that fateful poker game. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- George Montgomery, Angela Stevens, (more)
- 1953
Future horror-film entrepreneur William Castle warmed the director's chair for Fort Ti. Set in the 18th century, the film recounts the exploits of Rogers' Rangers, a band of adventurers devoted to seeking out a "northwest passage" through Canada. At this juncture, however, Major Rogers (Howard Petrie) is more concerned with helping the British forces at Fort Ticonderoga during a series of French and Indian raids. Top billing is bestowed upon George Montgomery as Captain Pedediah Horn, Rogers' right-hand man. The film boasts two leading ladies: Joan Vohs, as a suspected French spy, and Phyllis Fowler as a married Indian woman who falls in love with Captain Horn. Fort Ti was filmed in 3D, and in typical William Castle fashion the stereoscopic gimmick is exploited to the hilt. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- George Montgomery, Joan Vohs, (more)
- 1952
Cripple Creek is an excellent example of Columbia's "A-minus/B-plus" Technicolor westerns of the 1950s. Government agent Bret Ivers (George Montgomery) goes undercover to infiltrate a gang of gold smugglers. Ivers and his two partners (Jerome Courtland and Richard Egan) face exposure and sudden death at every turn; indeed, one of the federal agents meets his demise before the film is a third over. The villains are the erudite-but-deadly Denver Jones (John Dehner) and the just-plain-deadly Silver Kirby (William Bishop). With so much already in its favor, Cripple Creek hardly needs a romantic interest, but Columbia had to keep contract actress Karin Booth busy, thus she shows up briefly as a flashy saloon gal. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- George Montgomery, Karin [Katharine] Booth, (more)
- 1951
Sword of Monte Cristo picks up where the Dumas original leaves off. The titular sword is not only valuable in itself, but also provides clues to the whereabouts of the Count of Monte Cristo's missing fortune. The conniving chief minister of France (Berry Kroeger) will stop at nothing to gain possession of the sword. He is challenged by an officer (George Montgomery) loyal to emperor Louis Napoleon (David Bond). Aiding the officer is a beautiful countess (Paula Corday), whose true intentions are in doubt until the final scenes. Sword of Monte Cristo was produced independently by Edward Alperson and released by 20th Century-Fox. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- George Montgomery, Berry Kroeger, (more)
- 1951
Columbia's Colorado Uprising was neither expensive enough to qualify as an "A" picture nor inexpensive enough to qualify as a "B." It was simply a "programmer," and as such was eminently suitable for solo playdates or double-feature berths. George Montgomery stars as cavalry captain McCloud, whose job it is to keep the peace between Indians and Whites. McCloud's efforts are undermined by gold speculators Alsop (Hugh Sanders) and Taggert (Douglas Kennedy), whose underhanded activities foment the Indian uprising of the title. Placed under house arrest by Indian-hating Major Stark (Robert Shayne), McCloud escapes, racing against time to mollify Geronimo (Miguel Inclan) and prevent an all-out massacre. Indian Uprising was one of several economical Columbia films produced by Edward Small, who'd been one of the founders of the studio back in the mid-1920s before striking out on his own as an "independent." ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- George Montgomery, Audrey Long, (more)
- 1951
Not a remake of the 1936 film of the same name, The Texas Rangers is an enjoyable second-echelon western from the Columbia Pictures mill. George Montgomery stars as Johnny Carver, a former outlaw serving a life sentence in prison. Carver is given a second chance by the Texas government. Here's the deal: if Carver will deliver his old gang to justice, he'll be set free for good. But Carver is more interested in exacting vengeance against The Sundance Kid (Ian McDonald), the gunslinger responsible for his arrest. When this personal vendetta results in the death of his own brother, Carver vows to "play straight" and complete his original mission. Future TV-favorite Gale Storm co-stars as a feisty female newspaper editor. In addition to the Sundance Kid, other real-life outlaws depicted in The Texas Rangers include Butch Cassidy (John Doucette), Sam Bass (William Bishop) and John Wesley Hardin (John Dehner). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- George Montgomery, Gale Storm, (more)
- 1950
Although Marie Windsor plays the title role in Dakota Lil, she is shunted away to third billing, right after male leads George Montgomery and Rod Cameron. Montgomery is cast as a secret service agent Tom Horn, sent West to round up a gang of counterfeiters. He starts by gaining the confidence of dance-hall girl Lil (Windsor), one of the ringleaders. She, in turn, leads Horn to the brains of the operation, Harve Logan
(Cameron). When Lil finds out that Horn is a Fed, she's tempted to fill him full of holes; instead, having fallen in love with him, she tries to help him get the goods on Logan. Dakota Lil was based on a story by Frank Gruber, later one of the leading lights of the TV-western craze. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
(Cameron). When Lil finds out that Horn is a Fed, she's tempted to fill him full of holes; instead, having fallen in love with him, she tries to help him get the goods on Logan. Dakota Lil was based on a story by Frank Gruber, later one of the leading lights of the TV-western craze. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- George Montgomery, Rod Cameron, (more)
- 1950
Iroquois Trail (British title: The Tomahawk Trail) could be classified as a western, but for the fact that the story is set in 1775. Based on James Fenimore Cooper's Leatherstocking Tales, the film stars George Montgomery as Cooper's stalwart Indian scout Hawkeye. Hoping to avenge his brother's death at the hands of the French, Hawkeye offers his services to the British. During the course of events, he breaks up a spy ring, fights a hostile Indian chief to the death, and rescues the daughter (Brenda Marshall) of a British colonel (Paul Cavanaugh). Featured in the cast are Monte Blue (who was part Cherokee Indian) as Hawkeye's companion Sagramore, and Sheldon Leonard (who had no Indian blood whatsoever!) as fierce Chief Ogane. Auteurist fans of director Phil Karlson are welcome to search for any vestiges of Karlson's "signature" in Iroquois Trail. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- George Montgomery, Brenda Marshall, (more)
- 1950
Davy Crockett, king of the wild frontier, didn't become a nationwide craze (and merchandising cash cow) until Disney got hold of him in 1954. In the meantime, however, there was Columbia's Davy Crockett, Indian Scout, which in fact had little to do with the famed frontiersman. George Montgomery stars as Crockett's same-named nephew, a military scout assigned to insure safe passage for wagon trains. Someone has been tipping off the Indians as to the trains' movements, and Crockett wants to find out who before more blood is spilled. Suspicion immediately falls upon Davy's Tonto-like Indian companion Red Hawk (Philip Reed), but the answer lies somewhere else in the supporting cast. Also appearing in Davy Crockett, Indian Scout are Ellen Drew as the mixed-blood heroine, Robert Barrat as a muscular Indian chief and Paul Guilfoyle as a heavily disguised undercover agent. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- George Montgomery, Ellen Drew, (more)
- 1948
The Girl From Manhattan is a minor but watchable variation on the old "mortgage-on-the-farm" plot device. The girl of the title is Carol Maynard (Dorothy Lamour), who after several years in the Big Apple returns to her home town, where her uncle, boarding-house manager Homer Purdy (Ernest Truex) faces eviction. The villain of the piece at first seems to be brash young minister Tom Walker (Robert Montgomery), who wants to build a church on Truex's property. But after reviewing the sitaution, Carol and Tom figure out that they have a common enemy: dishonest financier Sam Griffin (Howard Freeman), who intends to use the old church property for his own crooked purposes. Saving the film from wallowing in its own bathos is the timely arrival of Charles Laughton as a cherubic Bishop. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Dorothy Lamour, George Montgomery, (more)
- 1948
In this musical drama set at the turn-of-the-century, a saloon singer marries a wealthy attorney and then begins fooling around with a series of lovers, including a boxier, his manager, and a powerful owner of a railroad who takes her to New York where she becomes a Broadway star. Unfortunately, her happiness is short-lived when her sordid past catches up with her, and she is shot. Songs included the title song "Sweetie Pie," "I'd Be Lost Without You," "Ace in the Hole," and "Sweetheart of the Blues." ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Dorothy Lamour, George Montgomery, (more)
