The Secret of Convict Lake
Encyclopedia
The Secret of Convict Lake is a 1951
black-and-white
western film starring Glenn Ford
and Gene Tierney
. It was directed by Michael Gordon
and produced by Frank P. Rosenberg, with music by Sol Kaplan
. The film was a critical and commercial success.
The story is fiction, based on legends of Convict Lake
, located in the Sierra Nevada mountain ranges of northern California
.
The others are Canfield, Greer, Cockerell, Anderson and Maxwell. They make it to a lake called Monte Diablo, where women live in a settlement while their men are away prospecting for silver. Granny is the elder, watching over Marcia, Rachel, Harriet and Barbara.
Frightened by these men in leg irons, the women permit them to use an empty cabin. Granny hides guns where the unarmed men can't find them. Greer demands to know where the stolen money is hidden from a mine Canfield was convicted of robbing, Canfield also having been found guilty of murdering the mine's owner, Morgan.
Canfield learns that Marcia is engaged to be married to a man named Rudy Schaeffer. It was Rudy whose testimony led to Canfield being sent to the penitentiary. Canfield claims it was Rudy behind the robbery and has sworn to kill him. Marcia doesn't believe him, but she is attracted to Canfield and they kiss.
A barn catches fire due to Rachel's carelessness and the convicts help put it out. The women are grateful and treat them more kindly, but Greer takes one of Granny's guns. He also seduces Rachel.
Rudy spots a wanted poster identifying Canfield and the other fugitives. He and his men ride back to the lake. Rachel reveals to Greer where the hidden guns are. He, Cockerell and Anderson steal them.
Maxwell tries to kiss Barbara, but when she resists, he pulls a knife. Canfield fights him. The women see what's happening and kill Maxwell with a pitchfork. Canfield is beaten by Greer, who again demands the location of the hidden robbery money. Rachel finds it in a trunk belonging to Rudy. The money is given to Greer.
Rudy and his men arrive. In a gunfight, Cockerell and Anderson are shot. Greer flees and falls from a cliff to his death. Canfield finally comes face to face with Rudy and tells him to confess to the robbery and the mine owner's murder. Rudy refuses, and Canfield has to kill him in self-defense.
When the sheriff arrives, he finds graves near the lake. Granny says that the convicts are buried there, not revealing that Rudy is in one of them rather than Canfield.
1951 in film
The year 1951 in film involved some significant events.-Events:* Sweden - May Britt is scouted by Italian film-makers Carlo Ponti and Mario Soldati-Top grossing films : After theatrical re-issue- Awards :Academy Awards:...
black-and-white
Black-and-white
Black-and-white, often abbreviated B/W or B&W, is a term referring to a number of monochrome forms in visual arts.Black-and-white as a description is also something of a misnomer, for in addition to black and white, most of these media included varying shades of gray...
western film starring Glenn Ford
Glenn Ford
Glenn Ford was a Canadian-born American actor from Hollywood's Golden Era with a career that spanned seven decades...
and Gene Tierney
Gene Tierney
Gene Eliza Tierney was an American film and stage actress. Acclaimed as one of the great beauties of her day, she is best remembered for her performance in the title role of Laura and her Academy Award-nominated performance for Best Actress in Leave Her to Heaven .Other notable roles include...
. It was directed by Michael Gordon
Michael Gordon (film director)
Michael Gordon was an American stage actor and stage and film director.-Life and career:Gordon was born in Baltimore and raised in a middle class Jewish community. He was a member of the Group Theatre , and was blacklisted as a Communist in the days of McCarthyism...
and produced by Frank P. Rosenberg, with music by Sol Kaplan
Sol Kaplan
Sol Kaplan was a prolific film and television music composer.Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Kaplan worked as a successful concert pianist, including performing at Carnegie Hall in 1941. That same year, Kaplan composed his first film score. He went on to write music for dozens of films...
. The film was a critical and commercial success.
The story is fiction, based on legends of Convict Lake
Convict Lake
Convict Lake , is a lake in the Sherwin Range of the Sierra Nevada in California, USA. It is known for its fishing and the dramatic mountains that surround the lake....
, located in the Sierra Nevada mountain ranges of northern 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...
.
Plot
In 1871, six convicts escape from a Carson City prison. A posse loses them in a mountain blizzard, where one fugitive freezes to death.The others are Canfield, Greer, Cockerell, Anderson and Maxwell. They make it to a lake called Monte Diablo, where women live in a settlement while their men are away prospecting for silver. Granny is the elder, watching over Marcia, Rachel, Harriet and Barbara.
Frightened by these men in leg irons, the women permit them to use an empty cabin. Granny hides guns where the unarmed men can't find them. Greer demands to know where the stolen money is hidden from a mine Canfield was convicted of robbing, Canfield also having been found guilty of murdering the mine's owner, Morgan.
Canfield learns that Marcia is engaged to be married to a man named Rudy Schaeffer. It was Rudy whose testimony led to Canfield being sent to the penitentiary. Canfield claims it was Rudy behind the robbery and has sworn to kill him. Marcia doesn't believe him, but she is attracted to Canfield and they kiss.
A barn catches fire due to Rachel's carelessness and the convicts help put it out. The women are grateful and treat them more kindly, but Greer takes one of Granny's guns. He also seduces Rachel.
Rudy spots a wanted poster identifying Canfield and the other fugitives. He and his men ride back to the lake. Rachel reveals to Greer where the hidden guns are. He, Cockerell and Anderson steal them.
Maxwell tries to kiss Barbara, but when she resists, he pulls a knife. Canfield fights him. The women see what's happening and kill Maxwell with a pitchfork. Canfield is beaten by Greer, who again demands the location of the hidden robbery money. Rachel finds it in a trunk belonging to Rudy. The money is given to Greer.
Rudy and his men arrive. In a gunfight, Cockerell and Anderson are shot. Greer flees and falls from a cliff to his death. Canfield finally comes face to face with Rudy and tells him to confess to the robbery and the mine owner's murder. Rudy refuses, and Canfield has to kill him in self-defense.
When the sheriff arrives, he finds graves near the lake. Granny says that the convicts are buried there, not revealing that Rudy is in one of them rather than Canfield.
Cast
- Glenn FordGlenn FordGlenn Ford was a Canadian-born American actor from Hollywood's Golden Era with a career that spanned seven decades...
as Jim Canfield - Gene TierneyGene TierneyGene Eliza Tierney was an American film and stage actress. Acclaimed as one of the great beauties of her day, she is best remembered for her performance in the title role of Laura and her Academy Award-nominated performance for Best Actress in Leave Her to Heaven .Other notable roles include...
as Marcia Stoddard - Ethel BarrymoreEthel BarrymoreEthel Barrymore was an American actress and a member of the Barrymore family of actors.-Early life:Ethel Barrymore was born Ethel Mae Blythe in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the second child of the actors Maurice Barrymore and Georgiana Drew...
as Granny - Zachary ScottZachary ScottZachary Scott was an American actor, most notable for his roles as villains and "mystery men".-Life and career:...
as Johnny Greer - Ann DvorakAnn DvorakAnn Dvorak was an American film actress.Asked how to pronounce her adopted surname, she told The Literary Digest: "My name is properly pronounced vor'shack. The D remains silent...
as Rachel Shaeffer - Barbara BatesBarbara BatesBarbara Bates was an American actress best known for her role as Phoebe in the 1950 drama All About Eve.-Early life:...
as Barbara - Jack LambertJack Lambert (actor)Jack Lambert was an American character actor born in Yonkers, New York specializing in playing movie tough guys and heavies. Best known for playing the psychotic cat-loving, iron-hooked Steve "the Claw" Michael in Dick Tracy's Dilemma.Following a stint on Broadway, Lambert moved to Hollywood and...
also appears uncredited as one of the fugitives.