SHAKESPEARE

Synopsis

Feature film post-war western, based on a story by W.R. Burnett and with parallels to The Tempest. Tells the story of an outlaw leader, Stretch (Peck), who takes refuge in a frontier ghost town. The only inhabitants are an elderly gentleman (Barton) and his granddaughter, Mike (Baxter). Barton reveals that there’s gold hereabouts, prompting a few of Stretch’s companions—especially Dude (Widmark)—to plot the old man’s death and claim the treasure for themselves. Stretch offers to split fifty-fifty with Barton. Dissension, hostility and gunplay ensue, culminating in a standoff between Stretch and Dude.

Language

English

Country

United States

Medium

Film

Technical information

Black-and-white / Sound

Year of release

1948

Duration

99 mins; 8,873 feet

Credits

Director

William A. Wellman

Producer

Lamar Trotti

Cinematographer

Joe MacDonald (2)

Screenplay

Lamar Trotti

Music

Alfred Newman

Cast

Anne Baxter	Mike
Gregory Peck	Stretch
James Barton	Grandpa
Richard Widmark	Dude

Additional Details

Production type

Fiction Films

Plays

Tempest, The

Subjects

Drama

Keywords

Shakespeare, William (1564-1616); westerns

Notes

General

Adapted by Lamar Trotti from a novel by W.R. Burnett. The film was remade in 1967 as THE JACKALS with Vincent Price and Dana Ivarson, and the action relocated to South Africa. The success of the film also spawned a radio adaptation, starring Peck and hosted by director William A. Wellman, which was broadcast on Screen Directors’ Playhouse on NBC Radio on July 15, 1949.

Reviews

Harlan Kennedy ‘Prospero’s Flicks’, Film Comment. Jan-Feb 1992, pp 45-9.

Production Company

Name

20th Century Fox

Archive

Name

BFI National Archive

Web

http://www.bfi.org.uk/archive-collections/searching-access-collections/research-viewing-services External site opens in new window

Phone

020 7255 1444

Fax

020 7436 0165

Address

21 Stephen Street
London
W1T 1LN

Online Retailer

Name

amazon.com

Web

http://www.amazon.com External site opens in new window