Red Mountain ** (1951, Alan Ladd, Lizabeth Scott, Arthur Kennedy, John Ireland, Jeff Corey, James Bell) – Classic Movie Review 13,927

The 1951 Technicolor US Civil War action Western film Red Mountain stars Alan Ladd, Lizabeth Scott, Arthur Kennedy and John Ireland.

Director William Dierterle’s 1951 Paramount Pictures Technicolor Western film Red Mountain stars Alan Ladd, Lizabeth Scott, Arthur Kennedy and John Ireland, with Jeff Corey and James Bell.

This modest but effective US Civil War action Western provides a smooth ride for star Alan Ladd. He plays Captain Brett Sherwood, a gunslinger who escapes from a concocted murder charge, joins up with baddie General William Quantrill (John Ireland), then finds out how nasty he is and sets about trying to shoot him down.

Though the plot gets a bit messy, the film is quick paced, smartly acted by an excellent cast, is nicely shot in Technicolor on location in New Mexico by Charles Lang Jr, and builds through some dramatic highlights  to a satisfying all-action climax.

Shooting took place near the town of Gallup in New Mexico.

The working title was Quantrill’s Raiders, rejected here but eventually used for the 1958 Steve Cochran film Quantrill’s Raiders.

When William Dieterle fell ill, an uncredited John Farrow replaced him.

Oddly, it premiered in the UK at the Plaza cinema in London on 3 August 1951 before its New York debut on 25 April 1952.

Cast: Alan Ladd as Captain Brett Sherwood, Lizabeth Scott as Chris, Arthur Kennedy as Lane Waldron, John Ireland as General William Quantrill, Jeff Corey as Sgt Skee, James Bell as Dr Terry, Bert Freed as Sgt Randall, Walter Sande as Benjie, Neville Brand as Dixon, Carleton Young as Morgan, Francis McDonald as Marshal Roberts, Whit Bissell, Jay Silverheels, Iron Eyes Cody, Dan White, Ralph Moody,

Red Mountain is directed by William Dierterle, runs 84 minutes, is made by Hal Wallis Productions, is released by Paramount, is written by John Meredyth Lucas, George W George and George F Slavin, based on a story by George W George and George F Slavin, is shot in Technicolor by Charles Lang Jr, is produced by Hal B Wallis, and is scored by Franz Waxman.

© Derek Winnert 2026 – Classic Movie Review 13,927

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