Thunder Pass

1954's "Thunder Pass" is a formula Western from low budget Lippert Pictures, naturally shot at the ubiquitous Bronson Canyon. Fresh from two Hammer thrillers in Britain, veteran Dane Clark would soon concentrate solely on television work in series like WIRE SERVICE and BOLD VENTURE. The year is 1876, the Kiowa and Comanche have joined forces to drive the white men from their lands, so Clark's Captain Dave Stone and his cavalry must lead the settlers of Buffalo Valley to safety through Thunder Pass, so named by the Indians who fear it. The fine cast keeps things afloat, as there's precious little action until the rousing climax. Andy Devine is surprisingly sober, Raymond Burr gets to play a good guy, while veteran baddie John Carradine is instantly revealed to be the villainous gunrunner Bergstrom, claiming otherwise as he joins the party, keeping a watchful eye on the injured man blamed for selling Winchester rifles to the Kiowa. Carradine's last Western villain was in 1944's MGM feature "Barbary Coast Gent," and while his work in horror/sci fi would eclipse his frontier movie career, he would be far busier out west on the small screen.