The Painted Hills
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
1930 novel
by Alexander Hull
Chester M. Franklin
| The Painted Hills | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Harold F. Kress |
| Screenplay by | True Boardman |
| Based on | Shep of the Painted Hills 1930 novel by Alexander Hull |
| Produced by | Kenneth Bennett Chester M. Franklin |
| Starring | Pal (credited as Lassie) Paul Kelly Bruce Cowling Gary Gray |
| Cinematography | Alfred Gilks Harold Lipstein |
| Edited by | Newell P. Kimlin |
| Music by | Daniele Amfitheatrof |
| Distributed by | Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer |
Release date |
|
Running time | 68 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $667,000[2] |
| Box office | $1,085,000[2] |
The Painted Hills, also known as Lassie's Adventures in the Goldrush, is a 1951 Western drama film produced by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer and directed by Harold F. Kress. The Painted Hills is the seventh and final MGM Lassie film.
Adapted by True Boardman from Alexander Hull's novel Shep of the Painted Hills, the film stars Paul Kelly, Bruce Cowling, Ann Doran and canine actor Pal (credited as Lassie) in a story about a collie named Shep who seeks retribution after her master is murdered. Technical advisor Nipo T. Strongheart worked with the Miwok people for their role in the film.[3]
Prospector Jonathan Harvey, whose faithful companion is a rough collie and a descendant of Lassie named Shep, is a friend of his deceased partner Martha Blake's family, including her son Tommy. After years of digging in the hills of California, he finally strikes gold. However, before he can share it with the Blakes, his greedy partner Lin Taylor kills him and attempts to lay claim to the gold. Lin poisons Shep, who nearly dies, and nearly kills Tommy, but Shep recovers and leads Lin into the mountains, where he falls from a cliff to his death.
Cast
- Pal as Shep (credited as Lassie)
- Paul Kelly as Jonathan Harvey
- Bruce Cowling as Lin Taylor
- Gary Gray as Tommy Blake
- Ann Doran as Martha Blake
- Art Smith as Pilot Pete
- Andrea Virginia Lester as Mita
- Chief Yowlachie as Bald Eagle
- Brown Jug Reynolds as Red Wing
Production
Bruce Cowling sustained serious injuries from a fall while on location during production. He underwent a hernia operation and was forced to withdraw from his next scheduled project, Across the Wide Missouri.[4]
Music
In 2010, Film Score Monthly released the complete scores of the seven Lassie feature films produced by MGM between 1943 and 1955, as well as Elmer Bernstein’s score for It's a Dog's Life (1955), in the CD collection Lassie Come Home: The Canine Cinema Collection, which was limited to 1,000 copies.[5] Composed by Daniele Amfitheatrof, the score for The Painted Hills is contained on Disc 5 with a running time of 47:37, and includes the following tracks:
- Main Title / He's a Millionaire (2:43)
- I Need Your Help / Christmas / Hairy Present / Shep's Longing (4:36)
- Back to Jonathan / Montage (1:28)
- Visitor / Pilot Pete (1:43)
- Holy Pete / Good Girl / Foul Play / Shep Follows Jonathan (9:55)
- Hat / He Won't Be Back (3:08)
- Poison / Indians Find Shep (4:09)
- Rescue (2:04)
- Incantation / Shep Lives / Shep Came Back (3:37)
- Tommy Finds the Grave / Taylor Pursues Tommy / Tommy Is Hurt / The Hole / Thy Heavenly Kingdom (4:55)
- Come Along, Son / The Chase—Revised / Freezing Up / Taylor Dies / Happy Ending & End Title (8:59)
Nearly half of the masters have been lost, so the scores were reconstructed and restored from the best available sources.[6]
Release
The Painted Hills opened in Los Angeles at the Loew's State and Grauman's Egyptian theaters on April 20, 1951 as the second feature to Soldiers Three.[1]
Reception
Critic Edwin Schallert of the Los Angeles Times wrote that the film "will compensate all those who have found Lassie one of the most interesting of screen acquisitions".[1]
According to MGM records, the film earned $783,000 in the U.S. and Canada, and $302,000 elsewhere, resulting in a loss of $122,000.[2]