Kit Carson is a 1940 Western film directed by George B. Seitz and starring Jon Hall as Kit Carson, Lynn Bari as Delores Murphy, and Dana Andrews as Captain John C. Frémont . This picture was filmed on location at Cayente (Kayenta), Arizona[1] and was one of the early films to use Monument Valley as a backdrop. The supporting cast features Ward Bond as a character named "Ape", future Lone Ranger Clayton Moore without his mask, and Raymond Hatton as Jim Bridger.
Kit Carson | |
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Directed by | George B. Seitz John E. Burch (assistant) |
Written by | Evelyn Wells |
Screenplay by | George Bruce |
Based on | newspaper serial by Evelyn Wells |
Produced by | Edward Small |
Starring | Jon Hall Lynn Bari Dana Andrews |
Cinematography | John J. Mescall Robert Pittack |
Edited by | William F. Claxton Fred R. Feitshans Jr. |
Music by | Edward Ward |
Production company | Edward Small Productions |
Distributed by | United Artists |
Release date |
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Running time | 97 minutes |
Country | United States |
Language | English |
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Kit Carson (Jon Hall) and his two saddle pals, Ape (Ward Bond) and Lopez (Harold Huber) are attacked by Indians. They manage to escape unscathed and make their way to Fort Bridger, where Captain John Fremont (Dana Andrews) hires Carson to guide a wagon train westward to California south along the Oregon Trail. Both Carson and Fremont fall in love with pretty Dolores Murphy (Lynn Bari), on her way to her father's hacienda in Monterey. Meanwhile, General Castro (C. Henry Gordon), the Mexican Governor General of California, arms the Shoshoni Indians in an effort to keep the Americans out of California.[2]
The movie was one of several Edward Small made for United Artists. Victor McLaglen was originally announced for the title role,[3] and then Randolph Scott.[4] Joel McCrea and Henry Fonda were also named.[5]
Jon Hall had just made South of Pago Pago for Edward Small and was borrowed from Samuel Goldwyn Productions. Lynn Bari was borrowed from 20th Century Fox. Filming started on March 10, 1940.[6] It was shot on location in Kayenta, Arizona.[7]
The film was later remade as Frontier Uprising (1961).