Release calendarTop 250 moviesMost popular moviesBrowse movies by genreTop box officeShowtimes & ticketsMovie newsIndia movie spotlight
    What's on TV & streamingTop 250 TV showsMost popular TV showsBrowse TV shows by genreTV news
    What to watchLatest trailersIMDb OriginalsIMDb PicksIMDb SpotlightFamily entertainment guideIMDb Podcasts
    OscarsEmmysSan Diego Comic-ConSummer Watch GuideBest Of 2025 So FarDisability Pride MonthSTARmeter AwardsAwards CentralFestival CentralAll events
    Born todayMost popular celebsCelebrity news
    Help centerContributor zonePolls
For industry professionals
  • Language
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
Watchlist
Sign in
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
Use app
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
IMDbPro

The Barefoot Mailman

  • 1951
  • Approved
  • 1h 23m
IMDb RATING
5.9/10
145
YOUR RATING
Jerome Courtland, Robert Cummings, and Terry Moore in The Barefoot Mailman (1951)
AdventureComedy

A 19th-century con artist flees to the wilds of Florida to elude the law.A 19th-century con artist flees to the wilds of Florida to elude the law.A 19th-century con artist flees to the wilds of Florida to elude the law.

  • Director
    • Earl McEvoy
  • Writers
    • Theodore Pratt
    • James Gunn
    • Francis Swann
  • Stars
    • Robert Cummings
    • Jerome Courtland
    • Terry Moore
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    5.9/10
    145
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Earl McEvoy
    • Writers
      • Theodore Pratt
      • James Gunn
      • Francis Swann
    • Stars
      • Robert Cummings
      • Jerome Courtland
      • Terry Moore
    • 4User reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • Photos7

    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    + 2
    View Poster

    Top cast56

    Edit
    Robert Cummings
    Robert Cummings
    • Sylvanus Hurley
    Jerome Courtland
    Jerome Courtland
    • Steven Pierton
    Terry Moore
    Terry Moore
    • Adie Titus
    John Russell
    John Russell
    • Theron
    Will Geer
    Will Geer
    • Dan Paget - Miami Mayor…
    Arthur Shields
    Arthur Shields
    • Ben Titus
    Trevor Bardette
    Trevor Bardette
    • Oat McCarty
    Arthur Space
    Arthur Space
    • Piggot
    Victor Adamson
    Victor Adamson
    • Theron Henchman
    • (uncredited)
    Robert Anderson
    Robert Anderson
    • Theron Henchman
    • (uncredited)
    Jessie Arnold
    Jessie Arnold
    • Townswoman
    • (uncredited)
    Gertrude Astor
    Gertrude Astor
    • Townswoman
    • (uncredited)
    Mary Bayless
    • Townswoman at Dance
    • (uncredited)
    Bob Burns
    Bob Burns
    • Townsman at Dance
    • (uncredited)
    James Bush
    James Bush
    • Guard
    • (uncredited)
    Nora Bush
    • Townswoman at Dance
    • (uncredited)
    Heinie Conklin
    Heinie Conklin
    • Townsman at Dance
    • (uncredited)
    Ellen Corby
    Ellen Corby
    • Miss Della
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • Earl McEvoy
    • Writers
      • Theodore Pratt
      • James Gunn
      • Francis Swann
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews4

    5.9145
    1
    2
    3
    4
    5
    6
    7
    8
    9
    10

    Featured reviews

    6moonspinner55

    Palm trees, red sunsets, gator wrasslin', and Terry Moore covered in mud...

    Theodore Pratt's book becomes somewhat uncertain comedy-drama-adventure taking place in 1890 Miami, with land owner/confidence man Robert Cummings spreading word amongst the residents that a railroad will soon be running through South Florida. Jerome Courtland is the mail courier for the U.S. government who doesn't buy Cummings' story, especially after both men begin vying for the affections of runaway teen Terry Moore. Initially fluff-headed nonsense turns serious by the second half, with murderous scavengers trying to halt the progress, and swampland alligators giving everyone the bite. Cummings, talking as fast as Robert Preston in "The Music Man", looks every inch the dapper scoundrel, yet the writing doesn't give him a whole lot to work with (the script is plot-heavy without ironing out the characters). The overlit, occasionally gloppy color photography isn't helped by sequences that change from location shoots to studio replicas in the blink of an eye, and the wavering tone is disconcerting, yet director Earl McEvoy manages to keep everyone's spirits up and the picture is seldom dull. **1/2 from ****
    6blanche-2

    love that Bob

    Robert Cummings, Terry Moore, and Jerome Courtland star in "The Barefoot Mailman" from 1951.

    Cummings is Sylvanus, who blows into town after inheriting some land. The land turns out to be a swamp. He also learns that the townspeople have been socking away their money because they don't have much to spend it on. Sylvanus lets it be known he wants to build a railroad and is ready to invest. He goes into partnership with Dan Paget (Will Geer).

    Sylvanus needs to travel, so he signs on as foot traffic with the mailman (Courtland) who follows a dangerous route that often includes robber interference, led by John Russell. A 12-year-old runaway (Moore) is desperate to get to her father and begs to be taken along. They agree, not realizing she is a beautiful 19-year-old. Both men become interested in her, which sets up a rivalry.

    Sylvanus' plan is to collect everyone's money, split it with Paget, and leave town. Before he can do that, problems ensue.

    Cummings plays a Music Man/Harold Hill type conman. He does a good job. Terry Moore is adorable. I love when she comes crashing into the bedroom in a blue, off the shoulder dress, surprising the woman who is helping her unpack and can't understand what a 12-year-old is doing with such sexy clothes.

    All in all, pleasant film.
    6boblipton

    Bob Cummings, Comedian

    This is a pleasant enough comedy set in turn-of-the-century Miami as Bob Cummings plays a swindler who's been swindled: he's been given a deed to a large plot of mangrove swamp in the out-of-the-way community. So he decides to con the locals, some of whom are not as honest as he....

    There are a few good points to this movie, including some nice scenery, both around the mangrove swamps and Terry Moore. Will Geer has a nice role as mayor-postmaster-sheriff, and probably Lord High Poobah and Arthur Shields slides easily through his role as Terry Moore's father. But Bob Cummings is a little too one note in his performance to make this more than average good.

    More like this

    The Chase
    6.4
    The Chase
    For Heaven's Sake
    6.4
    For Heaven's Sake
    The First Time
    6.1
    The First Time
    Marry Me Again
    7.1
    Marry Me Again
    How to Be Very, Very Popular
    5.2
    How to Be Very, Very Popular
    Paid in Full
    6.1
    Paid in Full
    Free for All
    6.2
    Free for All
    The Petty Girl
    6.0
    The Petty Girl
    Flesh and Fantasy
    6.9
    Flesh and Fantasy
    You Came Along
    6.6
    You Came Along
    Forever and a Day
    6.9
    Forever and a Day
    Promise Her Anything
    5.2
    Promise Her Anything

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The first time that Will Geer and Ellen Corby, who would later play the grandparents on The Waltons (1972), were castmates. Twenty-one years later, they would co-star in another movie, Napoleon and Samantha (1972), before the series would take off later that same year. The show's pilot TV movie The Homecoming: A Christmas Story (1971) from the previous year had a much different cast including Corby in her role but with Edgar Bergen in the Grandpa Walton role.

    Top picks

    Sign in to rate and Watchlist for personalized recommendations
    Sign in

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • December 3, 1951 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Strandräuber in Florida
    • Filming locations
      • Naples, Florida, USA
    • Production company
      • Robert Cohn Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 23 minutes
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.37 : 1

    Contribute to this page

    Suggest an edit or add missing content
    Jerome Courtland, Robert Cummings, and Terry Moore in The Barefoot Mailman (1951)
    Top Gap
    By what name was The Barefoot Mailman (1951) officially released in India in English?
    Answer
    • See more gaps
    • Learn more about contributing
    Edit page

    More to explore

    Recently viewed

    Please enable browser cookies to use this feature. Learn more.
    Get the IMDb App
    Sign in for more accessSign in for more access
    Follow IMDb on social
    Get the IMDb App
    For Android and iOS
    Get the IMDb App
    • Help
    • Site Index
    • IMDbPro
    • Box Office Mojo
    • License IMDb Data
    • Press Room
    • Advertising
    • Jobs
    • Conditions of Use
    • Privacy Policy
    • Your Ads Privacy Choices
    IMDb, an Amazon company

    © 1990-2025 by IMDb.com, Inc.