The Painted Hills
Encyclopedia
The Painted Hills, also known as Lassie's Adventures in the Goldrush, is a 1951 action film
produced by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
(MGM) and directed by Harold F. Kress
. Adapted by True Boardman
from Alexander Hull's novel Shep of the Painted Hills, the film stars Paul Kelly
, Ann Doran
, and dog actor Pal
(as "Lassie
") in a story about a collie named Shep who seeks revenge after his master is murdered. The Painted Hills was the seventh, and final, MGM Lassie film released.
), whose faithful companion is a rough collie
named Shep, looks after the family of his late partner, Martha Blake (Ann Doran
) and her son Tommy (Gary Gray). After years of digging in the hills of California
(where the movie was shot), he finally strikes gold. However, before he can share it with the Blakes, his greedy partner Lin Taylor (Bruce Cowling
) kills Jonathan and attempts to lay claim on the gold. He poisons Shep, who nearly dies, and nearly kills Tommy, but ultimately Shep recovers and leads Lin into the mountains, where he falls off a cliff to his death.
and has been released to VHS
and DVD
by a variety of companies.
Action film
Action film is a film genre where one or more heroes is thrust into a series of challenges that require physical feats, extended fights and frenetic chases...
produced by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Inc. is an American media company, involved primarily in the production and distribution of films and television programs. MGM was founded in 1924 when the entertainment entrepreneur Marcus Loew gained control of Metro Pictures, Goldwyn Pictures Corporation and Louis B. Mayer...
(MGM) and directed by Harold F. Kress
Harold F. Kress
Harold F. Kress was an American film editor best known for the 1962 film How the West Was Won and the 1974 film The Towering Inferno.-Biography:...
. Adapted by True Boardman
True Boardman
True Boardman was an American film actor of the silent era. He appeared in 137 films between 1911 and 1919 before falling victim to the 1918 flu pandemic.-True Boardman:...
from Alexander Hull's novel Shep of the Painted Hills, the film stars Paul Kelly
Paul Kelly (actor)
Paul Michael Kelly was an American child actor who later as an adult became a stage, film, and television actor.-Child actor:...
, Ann Doran
Ann Doran
Ann Lee Doran was an American character actress.-Early life and career:Born in Amarillo, Texas, Doran began acting at the age of four. She appeared in hundreds of silent films under assumed names to keep her father's family from finding out about her work...
, and dog actor Pal
Pal (dog actor)
Pal was a Rough Collie actor and the first in a line of such dogs to portray the fictional female collie Lassie in film and television. Pal was born in California in 1940 and eventually brought to the notice of Rudd Weatherwax, a Hollywood animal trainer. In 1943, the dog was chosen to play Lassie...
(as "Lassie
Lassie
Lassie is a fictional collie dog character created by Eric Knight in a short story expanded to novel length called Lassie Come-Home. Published in 1940, the novel was filmed by MGM in 1943 as Lassie Come Home with a dog named Pal playing Lassie. Pal then appeared with the stage name "Lassie" in six...
") in a story about a collie named Shep who seeks revenge after his master is murdered. The Painted Hills was the seventh, and final, MGM Lassie film released.
Plot
A prospector named Jonathan Harvey (Paul KellyPaul Kelly (actor)
Paul Michael Kelly was an American child actor who later as an adult became a stage, film, and television actor.-Child actor:...
), whose faithful companion is a rough collie
Rough Collie
The Rough Collie is a long coated breed of medium to large size dog that in its original form was a type of collie used and bred for herding in Scotland. Originating in the 1800's, it is now well known through the works of author Albert Payson Terhune, and through the Lassie novel, movies, and...
named Shep, looks after the family of his late partner, Martha Blake (Ann Doran
Ann Doran
Ann Lee Doran was an American character actress.-Early life and career:Born in Amarillo, Texas, Doran began acting at the age of four. She appeared in hundreds of silent films under assumed names to keep her father's family from finding out about her work...
) and her son Tommy (Gary Gray). After years of digging in the hills of California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
(where the movie was shot), he finally strikes gold. However, before he can share it with the Blakes, his greedy partner Lin Taylor (Bruce Cowling
Bruce Cowling
Bruce Cowling was a film and television actor in the 1940s and 1950s. The Coweta, Oklahoma-born actor appeared in twenty films including Battleground and Cause for Alarm! .-External links:...
) kills Jonathan and attempts to lay claim on the gold. He poisons Shep, who nearly dies, and nearly kills Tommy, but ultimately Shep recovers and leads Lin into the mountains, where he falls off a cliff to his death.
Cast
- PalPal (dog actor)Pal was a Rough Collie actor and the first in a line of such dogs to portray the fictional female collie Lassie in film and television. Pal was born in California in 1940 and eventually brought to the notice of Rudd Weatherwax, a Hollywood animal trainer. In 1943, the dog was chosen to play Lassie...
(credited as Lassie) as Shep - Paul KellyPaul Kelly (actor)Paul Michael Kelly was an American child actor who later as an adult became a stage, film, and television actor.-Child actor:...
as Jonathan Harvey - Bruce CowlingBruce CowlingBruce Cowling was a film and television actor in the 1940s and 1950s. The Coweta, Oklahoma-born actor appeared in twenty films including Battleground and Cause for Alarm! .-External links:...
as Lin Taylor - Gary Gray as Tommy Blake
- Ann DoranAnn DoranAnn Lee Doran was an American character actress.-Early life and career:Born in Amarillo, Texas, Doran began acting at the age of four. She appeared in hundreds of silent films under assumed names to keep her father's family from finding out about her work...
as Martha Blake - Art Smith as Pilot Pete
- Andrea Virginia Lester as Mita
- Chief YowlachieChief YowlachieChief Yowlachie was a Native American actor from the Yakama tribe in the state of Washington, known for playing supporting roles and bit parts in numerous films....
as Bald Eagle - Brown Jug Reynolds as Red Wing
Release
Along with seven other MGM films released the first half of 1951, the copyright on The Painted Hills lapsed after MGM neglected to file the necessary renewal applications. As such, the film is now part of the public domainPublic domain
Works are in the public domain if the intellectual property rights have expired, if the intellectual property rights are forfeited, or if they are not covered by intellectual property rights at all...
and has been released to VHS
VHS
The Video Home System is a consumer-level analog recording videocassette standard developed by Victor Company of Japan ....
and DVD
DVD
A DVD is an optical disc storage media format, invented and developed by Philips, Sony, Toshiba, and Panasonic in 1995. DVDs offer higher storage capacity than Compact Discs while having the same dimensions....
by a variety of companies.