Firecreek

For other uses, see Fire Creek (disambiguation).
Firecreek

Theatrical release poster
Directed by Vincent McEveety
Produced by Philip Leacock
John Mantley
Written by Calvin Clements Sr.
Starring James Stewart
Henry Fonda
Music by Alfred Newman
Cinematography William H. Clothier
Edited by William H. Ziegler
Distributed by Warner Bros.-Seven Arts
Release dates
  • January 24, 1968 (1968-01-24)
Running time
 104 minutes
Language English
Box office $1,100,000 (US/ Canada)[1]

Firecreek is a 1968 western movie[2] directed by Vincent McEveety and starring James Stewart and Henry Fonda in his second role as an antagonist that year. The film is similar to High Noon in that it features an entire town of cowards refusing to help a peace officer against outlaws. Stewart plays an unlikely hero, forced into action when his conscience will not permit evil to continue.

Offscreen close friends Stewart and Fonda's first film together had been the musical comedy On Our Merry Way two decades earlier, and they made The Cheyenne Social Club two years after Firecreek. They had also both appeared in How the West Was Won but had no scenes together despite playing best friends.

Plot

After years of backing away from criminals and gunfights, one resident of the small western town of Firecreek decides to fight back. Part-time sheriff Johnny Cobb (James Stewart) decides to avenge the death of a young man against gunmen led by Bob Larkin (Henry Fonda).

Cobb has a lot on his mind, particularly with his wife Henrietta (Jacqueline Scott) about to give birth. He is a peace-loving farmer whose childishly made sheriff's badge is practically an honorary one.

Larkin's men ride into town and disrupt the peace. Earl (Gary Lockwood), Norman (Jack Elam), and Drew (James Best) run roughshod over the local citizens and Larkin has no inclination to stop it, despite Cobb's requests. Larkin is more interested in getting to know an attractive widow named Evelyn (Inger Stevens).

The only person in town willing to help Cobb is a slow-witted stable boy named Arthur (J. Robert Porter). When the boy is murdered by Larkin's men, a terrified and outgunned Cobb decides to stand up to them alone.

Cast

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Big Rental Films of 1968", Variety, 8 January 1969 p 15. Please note this figure is a rental accruing to distributors.
  2. ↑ Variety film review; January 24, 1968, page 6.

External links


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