Firecreek
Encyclopedia
Firecreek is a 1968
western movie directed by Vincent McEveety
and starring James Stewart
and Henry Fonda
in his second role as an antagonist that year. The film is similar to High Noon
in that it features an entire town refusing to help a peace officer against outlaws, showing no backbone. Stewart plays an unlikely hero, forced into action when his conscience will not permit evil to continue.
Stewart and Fonda's first film together had been the musical comedy On Our Merry Way
two decades earlier, and they made The Cheyenne Social Club
two years after Firecreek. They had also both appeared in How the West Was Won
but had no scenes together despite playing best friends.
) decides to avenge the death of a young man against gunmen led by Bob Larkin (Henry Fonda
).
Cobb has a lot on his mind, particularly with his wife Henrietta (Jacqueline Scott
) is about to give birth. He is a peace-loving farmer whose childishly made sheriff's badge is practically an honorary one.
Larkin's men ride into town and disrupt the peace. Earl (Gary Lockwood
), Norman (Jack Elam
), and Drew (James Best
) run roughshod over the local citizens and Larkin has no inclination to stop it, despite Cobb's requests. Larkin is more interested in getting to know an attractive widow named Evelyn (Inger Stevens
).
The only person in town willing to help Cobb is a slow-witted stable boy named Arthur (Robert Porter). When the boy is murdered by Larkin's men, a terrified and outgunned Cobb decides to stand up to them alone.
1968 in film
The year 1968 in film involved some significant events.-Events:* October 30 - The film The Lion in Winter, starring Katharine Hepburn, debuts.* November 1 - The MPAA's film rating system is introduced.-Top grossing films :- Awards :...
western movie directed by Vincent McEveety
Vincent McEveety
Vincent Michael McEveety is an American director and producer.- Career :TelevisionVince McEveety has directed numerous Emmy Award winning television series, including The Untouchables, Gunsmoke, six Star Trek , Magnum, P.I., How the...
and starring James Stewart
James Stewart (actor)
James Maitland Stewart was an American film and stage actor, known for his distinctive voice and his everyman persona. Over the course of his career, he starred in many films widely considered classics and was nominated for five Academy Awards, winning one in competition and receiving one Lifetime...
and Henry Fonda
Henry Fonda
Henry Jaynes Fonda was an American film and stage actor.Fonda made his mark early as a Broadway actor. He also appeared in 1938 in plays performed in White Plains, New York, with Joan Tompkins...
in his second role as an antagonist that year. The film is similar to High Noon
High Noon
High Noon is a 1952 American Western film directed by Fred Zinnemann and starring Gary Cooper and Grace Kelly. The film tells in real time the story of a town marshal forced to face a gang of killers by himself...
in that it features an entire town refusing to help a peace officer against outlaws, showing no backbone. Stewart plays an unlikely hero, forced into action when his conscience will not permit evil to continue.
Stewart and Fonda's first film together had been the musical comedy On Our Merry Way
On Our Merry Way
On Our Merry Way is an American comedy film, produced by Benedict Bogeaus and Burgess Meredith, and released by United Artists. At the time of its release, King Vidor and Leslie Fenton were credited with its direction, although the DVD lists John Huston and George Stevens, who assisted with one of...
two decades earlier, and they made The Cheyenne Social Club
The Cheyenne Social Club
The Cheyenne Social Club is a 1970 Western comedy film written by James Lee Barrett and directed and produced by Gene Kelly, starring James Stewart, Henry Fonda, and Shirley Jones....
two years after Firecreek. They had also both appeared in How the West Was Won
How the West Was Won
How the West Was Won may refer to:* How the West Was Won * How the West Was Won * How the West Was Won * How the West Was Won * How the West Was Won...
but had no scenes together despite playing best friends.
Plot
After years of backing away from criminals and gunfights, one resident of the small western town of Firecreek decides to fight back. Part-time sheriff Johnny Cobb (James StewartJames Stewart (actor)
James Maitland Stewart was an American film and stage actor, known for his distinctive voice and his everyman persona. Over the course of his career, he starred in many films widely considered classics and was nominated for five Academy Awards, winning one in competition and receiving one Lifetime...
) decides to avenge the death of a young man against gunmen led by Bob Larkin (Henry Fonda
Henry Fonda
Henry Jaynes Fonda was an American film and stage actor.Fonda made his mark early as a Broadway actor. He also appeared in 1938 in plays performed in White Plains, New York, with Joan Tompkins...
).
Cobb has a lot on his mind, particularly with his wife Henrietta (Jacqueline Scott
Jacqueline Scott
Jacqueline Scott is an American actress who has appeared in several films and television programs as well as guest starring in over one hundred television shows...
) is about to give birth. He is a peace-loving farmer whose childishly made sheriff's badge is practically an honorary one.
Larkin's men ride into town and disrupt the peace. Earl (Gary Lockwood
Gary Lockwood
Gary Lockwood is an American actor probably best known for his iconic 1968 role as the astronaut Dr. Frank Poole in 2001: A Space Odyssey.-Early life:...
), Norman (Jack Elam
Jack Elam
William Scott "Jack" Elam was an American film actor best known for his numerous roles as villains in Western films and, later in his career, comedies .-Early life:...
), and Drew (James Best
James Best
James Best is an American actor best known for his role as bumbling Sheriff Rosco P. Coltrane in the CBS television series The Dukes of Hazzard. He has also worked as an acting coach, artist, and musician.-Early years:...
) run roughshod over the local citizens and Larkin has no inclination to stop it, despite Cobb's requests. Larkin is more interested in getting to know an attractive widow named Evelyn (Inger Stevens
Inger Stevens
Inger Stevens was a Swedish-American movie and TV actress.- Early life :Inger Stevens was born Inger Stensland in Stockholm, Sweden. She was an insecure child and was often ill. When she was nine, her parents divorced and she moved with her father to New York City...
).
The only person in town willing to help Cobb is a slow-witted stable boy named Arthur (Robert Porter). When the boy is murdered by Larkin's men, a terrified and outgunned Cobb decides to stand up to them alone.
Cast
- James StewartJames Stewart (actor)James Maitland Stewart was an American film and stage actor, known for his distinctive voice and his everyman persona. Over the course of his career, he starred in many films widely considered classics and was nominated for five Academy Awards, winning one in competition and receiving one Lifetime...
as Johnny Cobb - Henry FondaHenry FondaHenry Jaynes Fonda was an American film and stage actor.Fonda made his mark early as a Broadway actor. He also appeared in 1938 in plays performed in White Plains, New York, with Joan Tompkins...
as Bob Larkin - Inger StevensInger StevensInger Stevens was a Swedish-American movie and TV actress.- Early life :Inger Stevens was born Inger Stensland in Stockholm, Sweden. She was an insecure child and was often ill. When she was nine, her parents divorced and she moved with her father to New York City...
as Evelyn Pittman - Jacqueline ScottJacqueline ScottJacqueline Scott is an American actress who has appeared in several films and television programs as well as guest starring in over one hundred television shows...
as Henrietta Cobb - Gary LockwoodGary LockwoodGary Lockwood is an American actor probably best known for his iconic 1968 role as the astronaut Dr. Frank Poole in 2001: A Space Odyssey.-Early life:...
as Earl - Dean JaggerDean JaggerDean Jagger was an Academy Award winning American film actor.-Career:Born Ira Dean Jagger in Columbus Grove, Ohio, Jagger made his film debut in The Woman from Hell with Mary Astor...
as Whittier - Ed BegleyEd BegleyEdward James Begley, Sr. was an Academy Award-winning American actor.-Biography:Born in Hartford, Connecticut, Begley began his career as a Broadway and radio actor while in his teens. He appeared in the hit musical Going Up on Broadway in 1917 and in London the next year. He later acted in...
as Preacher Broyles - Jay C. FlippenJay C. FlippenJay C. Flippen is an American character actor who often played police officers or weary criminals in many films of the 1940s/'50s....
as Mr. Pittman - Jack ElamJack ElamWilliam Scott "Jack" Elam was an American film actor best known for his numerous roles as villains in Western films and, later in his career, comedies .-Early life:...
as Norman - James BestJames BestJames Best is an American actor best known for his role as bumbling Sheriff Rosco P. Coltrane in the CBS television series The Dukes of Hazzard. He has also worked as an acting coach, artist, and musician.-Early years:...
as Drew - Barbara LunaBarbara LunaBarBara Ann Luna is an American actress with an extensive list of roles in film, television, and shows. Notable roles included Five Weeks in a Balloon and Lt. Marlena Moreau in the classic Star Trek episode "Mirror, Mirror"...
as Meli - Brooke BundyBrooke BundyBrooke Bundy is an American actress who has appeared in a number of films and television shows.-Movie:She is perhaps best known for her role as Elaine Parker in the 1987 hit horror film A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors and its sequel, A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master...
as Leah - Robert Porter as Arthur
- Morgan WoodwardMorgan WoodwardMorgan Woodward is an American actor.He is probably best known for his recurring role in Dallas as Marvin "Punk" Anderson...
as Willard - John QualenJohn QualenJohn Qualen was a Canadian-American character actor of Norwegian heritage who specialized in Scandinavian roles....
as Hall