Trooper Hook is a 1957 American Western film directed by Charles Marquis Warren and starring Joel McCrea as the title character and Barbara Stanwyck as the woman he frees from the Indians. The fact that during her captivity she has had a son by a much-feared chief makes her situation very difficult.
| Trooper Hook | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Charles Marquis Warren |
| Screenplay by | David Victor Martin Berkeley Herbert Little, Jr. |
| Story by | Jack Schaefer |
| Based on | His short story |
| Produced by | Sol Baer Fielding |
| Starring | Joel McCrea Barbara Stanwyck |
| Cinematography | Ellsworth Fredricks |
| Edited by | Fred W. Berger |
| Music by | Gerald Fried |
Production companies | Filmaster Productions Sol Bear Fielding |
| Distributed by | United Artists |
Release date |
|
Running time | 82 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
Plot
editLed by First Sergeant Clovis Hook, the US cavalry captures Apache warriors and torches an Apache village, rounding up the women and children. Cora Sutcliff, an unresponsive and silent white woman, is spotted among the prisoners. Cora had been taken captive in a raid years before, while travelling to join her rancher husband Fred. She has a child named Quito. The cavalrymen return to their fort with Cora and the prisoners. Among the prisoners is Apache Chief Nanchez, Quito's father.
Hook is eventually assigned to escort Cora and Quito to Fred. The next day, Cora and Quito wait for him at the general store while Hook arranges for their stagecoach tickets. A man insults mother and son and grabs Quito. Cora hits the man with a shovel, threatening to kill anyone who lays hands on Quito, the first words she has spoken since her rescue. Hook arrives and they set off in a stage.
At a stop, Cora and Quito are barred from Wilson's Restaurant by its owner, so Hook buys sandwiches, and they have a picnic by a stream. Meanwhile, Nanchez escapes, rounds up Apache warriors, and begins tracking the stage.
The stagecoach picks up and drops off other passengers, including the young Jeff Bennett, whom everyone calls simply “Cowboy". Rancher Charlie Travers eventually boards, flush with money he won in a poker game.
At the swing station, Cowboy learns that Nanchez has escaped and is likely after Quito. Cowboy sets out on a borrowed horse to warn Hook and catches up with the stagecoach.
After learning why Nanchez is stalking them, every passenger but Travers supports Cora's decision to keep Quito. While marching at a breakneck pace, the stage hits a rock and overturns; its suspension is damaged. Nanchez appears and offers a deal: The stage and its passengers will be allowed to proceed if they surrender Quito. Hook refuses the deal. They are forced to spend the night in the desert while the coach's driver, Mr. Trude, makes repairs.
In the morning, Travers offers Cora money to surrender Quito. When Cora remains undeterred, Travers sneaks off to try to bribe Nanchez to spare the group. Nanchez kills him, leaving his money untouched. Surrounded, Hook has Trude restrain Cora and makes Cowboy hold a gun to Quito's head within sight of Nanchez, instructing Cowboy to shoot if Hook drops his arm as a signal during his parley with Nanchez. Hook says that Quito's life will be forfeit if Nanchez attacks. Thwarted, Nanchez orders his band to retreat.
The repaired stagecoach reaches San Miguel, but Fred is not there to meet her. Hook rents a buckboard to take them to Fred's ranch. When they arrive, Fred makes it clear that he is willing to take Cora back, but not Quito. Cora decides to leave with Quito. Fred points a rifle at Hook, affirming that Cora belongs to him, but that he and Quito can leave. Cora tells Fred that their marriage is over and asks Hook to take her and Quito back to town.
Nanchez and his band appear and attack. Hook, Cora, Quito, and Fred pile onto the buckboard and run for it. A chase ensues. Hook drives the buckboard, while Fred rides in the back, firing at the Apaches. Fred kills Nanchez, but gets shot and dies. Seeing Nanchez fall, the Apaches give up the chase, preferring to take no action until a new chief is chosen. Hook stops to bury Fred before continuing to town.
Returning to San Miguel, Hook tells Cora that he will be retiring in four months, if she will have him. She accepts.
Cast
edit
- Joel McCrea as First Sergeant Clovis Hook
- Barbara Stanwyck as Cora Sutliff
- Earl Holliman as Jeff Bennett
- Edward Andrews as Charlie Travers
- John Dehner as Fred Sutliff
- Susan Kohner as Consuela
- Royal Dano as Mr. Trude
- Celia Lovsky as Señora Sandoval
- Stanley Adams as Heathcliff
- Terry Lawrence as Quito
- Rodolfo Acosta as Nanchez (as Rudolfo Acosta)
- Richard Shannon as Trooper Ryan
- Sheb Wooley as Townsman
- Jeanne Bates as Weaver's daughter
- Patrick O'Moore as Col. Adam Weaver
- Cyril Delevanti as Junius
- Rush Williams as Cpl. Stoner
- Alfred Linder
- Paul Newlan as Mr. Wilson
- Dee J. Thompson as Tess (as D. J. Thompson)
- Mary Gregory
- Charles Gray as Soldier
Production
editParts of the film were shot in Kanab Canyon, Three Lakes and the Gap in Utah.[1]
References
edit- ^ D'Arc, James V. (2010). When Hollywood Came to Town: A History of Moviemaking in Utah (1st ed.). Layton: Gibbs Smith. p. 289. ISBN 978-1-4236-0587-4. Wikidata Q123575108.
External links
edit- Trooper Hook at IMDb
- Trooper Hook at the TCM Movie Database