California

The movie is a stab at an epic western that simply fails to gel. The best part is the "moving west" scenes of wagon trains convoying across the open southwestern terrain. These achieve an epic feel that the dramatics unfortunately fail to duplicate. The screenplay itself is pretty crowded, telling the story of California's becoming a state, no less. From settlers to gold rush to saloons to political intrigue, the story is traced out mainly through Milland, Stanwyck, and Coulouris, with Fitzgerald as a salt-of-the-earth anchor.

Now, that might work, except director Farrow has little feel for the material. The various parts come across in rather limp, unexciting fashion. It's as if he's content to simply film the script without bringing its many conflicts to dramatic life. Thus, the drama is conveyed in words instead of characters. Then too, Oscar winner Milland appears either miscast or uninspired. His role really calls for a bigger personality than Milland's generally low-key wagon master. (He may have viewed a western as a comedown after his award winning role in The Lost Weekend.) Stanwyck is of course Stanwyck even though she's dolled-up to suit Technicolor filming and crowded around by the packed screenplay . Too bad the guy who could have enlivened the action remains in supporting background, namely, the commanding Albert Dekker (Pike).

Anyway, I guess I now know why this epic western remains so obscure, despite its Paramount pedigree and marquee cast.

Definitely NOT a great movie, but very enjoyable, especially if one is a Stanwyck fan. Cinematography bounced back and forth from lush, to "quick, get it done" shots.

Ray Milland did not quite cut it as the hardened trail boss and buffalo hunter. But maybe that's because his character really is not-he deserted from the army for getting involved with a married woman. Stanwyck shines as the self-reliant lady gambler and flirt who has been tossed around her whole life, with a few exceptions.

Yes the movie is rather corny, but let's face it the movie industry was right in the middle of the Macarthy era and needed safe material to work with. It DID give a rather honest perspective of how many lost sight of what they really had set out for, and how others took advantage, at any cost.

"California" was an ambitious film from Director John Farrow and Paramount Pictures. In spite of its lavish Technicolr photography and a music score from Victor Young, it falls flat as a big budget movie.

The film is basically divided into three parts, the wagon train sequence, the arrival in California sequence and the fight for statehood sequence.

Wagon master Jonathon Trumbo (Ray Milland) is leading a wagon train of settlers to the promised land of California in the late 1840s. In one of the towns he meets "saloon gird;" Lily Bishop (Barbara Stanwyck) who is being run out of town by the ladies of the town. She asks to accompany the wagon train and wine maker Michael Fabian (Barry Fitzgerald agrees to take her along. When news of a gold strike in California reaches the wagons, the farmers catch gold fever and desert Trumbo and the train.

Later in California Trumbo arrives to find Lily in 'the employ" of ex slaver Captain Pharoh Coffin (George Coulouris) who has ambitions to take over the whole of California by blocking its bid for statehood. Trumbo recognizes Coffin and confronts him only to be beaten up by his brutish henchman Pike (albert Dekker). Although Lily loves Trumbo she still plans to marry Coffin (for his money of course).

The fight for statehood follows with Fabian representing the pro statehood side and Coffin leading the anti-statehood faction. Naturally, the pro statehood faction carries the day. Coffin attempts to force his will with arms, a blazing gun battle ensues and...................................

This movie, although it has its moments, plays more like a "B" movie, especially in the middle, than any thing else. One expects Zorro or The Cisco Kid to ride in at any moment. I mean a villain named Pharoh Coffin, come on. The shots of the wagon train are impressive (probably due to stock footage) and the shots of the landscape are equally appealing in glorious color. But the movie falls flat.

Ray Milland is not really that convincing as a hard nosed wagon master. Stanwyck, always better than her material, gives a good performance as the gold digging Lily. Coulouris' villain is melodramatic and fits more into a "B" movie than an "A" big budget feature. Dekker's brutish henchman is good, but he would have made a better Coffin than colorless Coulouris. Others in the cast include Anthony Quinn, Frank Faylen, Eduardo Ciannelli and Agentina Brunetti. To add to the "B" look of the film several "B" movie veterans appear in small supporting roles.

A better script, some casting changes and we could have had a much more memorable movie.

The Casting of Barry Fitzgerald as a Dirt Farmer/Politician/Saint.

And George Coulouris as a Former Slave Trader and Devil Incarnate.

Almost Ruin a Sprawling Technicolor Production.

Ray Milland and Barbara Stanwyck are Stalwart as in On Again-Off Again Romance Trying Desperately to Inject some Suspense and Intrigue in this Hopelessly Overblown Story.

John Farrow's Direction is Pedestrian with Few Flourishes that Make the Movie come to Life as it just Hops Around from One Direction to the Next.

A Huge Disappointment Considering.

The First Act with a Wagon Train that Stampedes as soon as the Word Arrives that Gold was Discovered in the Titled Territory.

The Second Act is a Gambling Hall with Stanwick and Coulouris being Infiltrated as Milland Shows Up.

Then there's Talk about California becoming a State.

The Third Act is Political and an Attempted Empire Building by Coulouris.

Buy this Time the Film has Worn Out its Welcome and Scenes Come and Go with Little Gravitas.

It just Runs its Course to the Predictably Flat Ending.

Worth a Watch with Very Low Expectations.

Epic account of how California became a state, featuring a wagon train full of settlers that joins Wicked" Lily Bishop (Barbara Stanwick) expeled from a town , to go California, led by Michael Fabian (Barry Fitzgerald) and Johnnny Trumbo (Ray Milland) . However , news of the Gold Rush scatters the caravan and subsequently taking on evil profiteers . But worse troubles are ahead : California is inching toward statehood and corrupt politicians wish other personal and mean purports .

Awesome epic Western with giant cast , gorgeous photography and wonderful scenarios . Turbulent and mighty story about an epic saga set against the background of Gold Rush and historical deeds ; covering several decades of Westward expansion in the nineteenth century--including the Gold Rush, and usual political confrontation . And of course , the building of the California State with certain politicians who want to make it their private empire ; among other epic events . The picture gets great action , expansive Western settings , shootouts , love stories , it is quite entertaining and there some some scenes still rate with the best of the West , including marvelous moments along the way . It efficiently describes an attractive panoramic view of the American Western focusing on the tribulations , trials and travels of settlers and adventurers . It's a big budget film with good actors , technicians, production values and pleasing results . Breathtakng as well as spectacular scenes such as the long Wagon Train , and the final attack sequences , among others . Particularly supreme for its all-star cast list with some actors epitomising the spirit of the early West , at least as Hollywood saw it , including the indomit wicked saloon queen Barbara Stanwick , the tough wagon train guide Ray Milland and his colleague the always sympathetic Barry Fitzgerald .And a splendid support cast as George Coulouris as the powerful storekeeper , former slaver Pharaoh Coffin , Albert Dekker , Anthony Quinn , Eduardo Ciannelli and Frank Faylen.

Impressive cinematography filmed in big screen by Ray Rennahan , and photographed in splendorous Technicolor , though it loses much of its overwhelming visual impact on TV but otherwise holds up pretty well . This star-studded, epic Western adventure is a really old style Hollywood film well directed by John Farrow . At his begining he stayed in Hollywood as a screenwriter, from A Sailor's Sweetheart (1927) through Tarzan escapes (1936). He married Tarzan's Jane, Maureen O'Sullivan, in 1936. He began directing in 1937 Men in Exile and West of Shanghai (1937). He was injured while serving as a Lieutenant Commander in the Royal Navy in World War II. After that he converted to Catholicism and wrote a biography of Thomas More, a history of the Papacy, a Tahitian/English dictionary and several novels. And directing notorious films as Wake island , This kind of woman , Hondo , Calcuta , China , The big clock , Red, Hot and Blue ,Alias Nick Beal , Beyond glory , Hitler Gang and several others . He collaborated in the writing of several of his films and shared the Academy Award for Around the world in 80 days (1956). Rating : 6.5/10 , essential and indispensable watching . It's a magnificent example of the kind of old-fashioned blockbuster just don't make anymore .