Hoppy, Holt, Rogers, Ford, Palance, Marvin return to Silver Screen
22nd Film Fest program presents excellent sampling of Lone Pine, Death Valley and Eastern Sierra film history The film program for this year, devised by Packy Smith, Woody Wise, Dick Bann and Chris Langley, offers a balanced sampling of the diverse film history of Lone Pine, Death Valley and the Eastern Sierra. It includes films most fans have never seen on the big screen and films never before shown at the Festival. The selections offer a Hoppy, an Autry and a Holt, as in past years, plus a film from Death Valley and one made in the Eastern Sierra near Mammoth. Besides Saturday filled with B Westerns being shown on 16 mm, there are several cinemascope films, and a Roy Rogers film – in honor of his 100th anniversary – never available before in its original color version. Finally, a repeat of a very rare William Wyler film with live musical accompaniment will screen on Sunday. On Friday afternoon there are the five television episodes, yet to be announced, which will a great pleasure for any fan of the small screen. One could spend the whole weekend in the dark and never once be disappointed by the film screenings available. Repeating a Film Festival tradition (kicking off with a Hoppy, Autry or Holt), “Outlaws Of The Desert” will be screening. A film primed for study in the tradition of Professor Said’s
“I Died A Thousand Times”
“Border Treasure” concept of “Orientalism,” the film has Hoppy and his sidekicks at work in the sands of Arabia, certainly a unique concept. That will be followed by “Beyond The Purple Hills,” with Gene Autry and Hugh O’Brian. O’Brian is under suspicion for the murder of the sheriff. The wide screen first comes into use this weekend with “Seven Men From Now,” a scope film starring Randolph Scott. The afternoon will be filled with television episodes, which were shot locally. Be sure the check the full schedule when you get to town. “Border Treasure,” starring
“Seven Men Now” Tim Holt and Richard Martin, tells the story of a relief operation being organized after a Mexican earthquake. The Hacienda set at
Anchor Ranch, once just down the street from the Film Museum, is used. Smith Ballew comes next with music, singing in “Western Gold.” Shown on Saturday on 16 mm film, it is accompanied by “Fiddlin’ Buckaroo,” starring Ken Maynard, who also directed the film. Other films being offered on Saturday afternoon are “Secret Valley” with Richard Arlen and “Freighters of Destiny” with Tom Keene. Both offer glimpses of the Lubken Ranch location. The afternoon is capped off with a Film Festival premier of “Robinson Crusoe On Mars,” filmed in Death Valley, and our only science fiction film for the year. It is a new take on the classic story, but this time Friday is being chased by alien enemies. The color and cinematography is great if the story a bit of a stretch. The
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“Bad Day at Black Rock”
“Violent Men”
“Stolen Ranch” Hallmark film this year is “I Died a Thousand Times,” a remake of “High Sierra,” with Jack Palance and Shelley Winters. Lee Marvin and Earl Holliman are also
LONE PINE FILM FESTIVAL | 2011
featured. While Jack Palance is no Humphrey Bogart, he brings his own style of menace and the cinemascope images are magnificent. The opening
sequence shot at Keeler looking west is breathtaking in this new print. “Springtime In The Sierras” closes out the busy day of film with Roy Rogers in color as originally intended. For any fan, it is worth staying out late to see. What better way to start a Sunday than with three cinemascope treasures back to back: “The Violent Men,” “Ride The High Country” filmed north of Lone Pine and the classic “Bad Day At Black Rock.” “The Violent Men” stars Glenn Ford. His son, Peter Ford, will be at the Festival speaking about his dad and sharing more memories in his newly published book about him. Thinking he had retired after completing “Comanche Station” in Lone Pine, Randolph Scott was talked back to work by Joel McCrea for this early Sam Peckinpah effort. It is a great to see the two pros doing on screen what they did best. “Bad Day”
may not need any introduction, but with beautiful Anne Francis, whom we lost this past year, it is a must for any fan. There is also Spenser Tracy, Lee Marvin and Ernest Borgnine, to mention a few of the stellar cast. For those who missed “Stolen Ranch” last year, directed by master William Wyler in his early years, and starring Fred Humes, we end the Festival with the film. Again, we see the first Lubken Ranch location in the film, and besides its historic importance, it just happens to be a very entertaining film. Again Bill Schuck brings his original music to the screening. A strong program of films already. Be sure to check for the television episode titles to be included when you get to Lone Pine. The movie program schedule will be printed separately, as in past years, with all new notes and will be available at the door, and at the Ticket Office.
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