The Purple Hills (originally titled "The Vanishing Frontier") is a 1961 American Western film directed by Maury Dexter and written by Russ Bender and Edith Cash Pearl. The film stars Gene Nelson, Kent Taylor, Danny Zapien, Medford Salway, Russ Bender and Joanna Barnes. The film was released in November 1961, by 20th Century Fox.[1][2][3][4]

The Purple Hills
Theatrical release poster
Directed byMaury Dexter
Written byRuss Bender
Edith Cash Pearl
Produced byMaury Dexter
StarringGene Nelson
Kent Taylor
Danny Zapien
Medford Salway
Russ Bender
Joanna Barnes
CinematographyFloyd Crosby
Edited byJodie Copelan
Music byRichard LaSalle
Production
company
Distributed by20th Century Fox
Release date
  • November 1961 (1961-11)
Running time
60 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

Plot

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After killing wanted outlaw A.J. Beaumont, a claim for a $8,225 reward is put in by Gil Shepard, then also by Johnny Barnes, the dead man's partner. While the sheriff tries to decide whose claim is valid, teenaged Martin Beaumont turns up, looking to avenge his brother's death. They also meet Amy Carter, who is attracted to Shepard.

After a discovery that Beaumont had been doing business with Apaches, it's clear even to Martin that his brother was a lawbreaker. Barnes shoots the sheriff, but Shepard gets the better of him and ends up with Carter.

Cast

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Production

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The movie was one of the first three in a new eight-picture deal between API and 20th Century Fox, the others being Desire in the Dust and Freckles.[5]

The Purple Hills was a remake of a 1915 film.[6]

It was shot in Apacheland, Arizona.[7] Dexter called it "a very simple little trek Western."[8]

References

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  1. ^ "The Purple Hills (1961) – Overview". TCM.com. Retrieved September 9, 2015.
  2. ^ Sandra Brennan (2016). "The-Purple-Hills – Trailer – Cast – Showtimes". Movies & TV Dept. The New York Times. Archived from the original on March 7, 2016. Retrieved September 9, 2015.
  3. ^ "The Purple Hills". Afi.com. September 20, 1961. Retrieved September 9, 2015.
  4. ^ "PURPLE HILLS, the". Monthly Film Bulletin. Vol. 30. 1963. p. 120. ProQuest 1305833175.
  5. ^ Scheuer, P. K. (April 28, 1960). "Laughs ill-timed in college comedy". Los Angeles Times. ProQuest 167694965.
  6. ^ Collector, T. (November 8, 2007). "Setting sail with a sailor boy jar". The Berkshire Eagle. ProQuest 379867461.
  7. ^ Dexter, Maury (2012). Highway to Hollywood (PDF). p. 112.
  8. ^ Weaver, Tom (April 18, 2014). I Talked with a Zombie: Interviews with 23 Veterans of Horror and Sci-fi Films and Television. McFarland. p. 115. ISBN 9780786452682.
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