MovieChat Forums > Colorado Territory (1949) Discussion > Great Screen Play and Dialog

Great Screen Play and Dialog

posted 16 years ago by Pegasuspizza
8 replies | jump to latest

"Colorado Territory" is one of the first truly realistic westerns that began to emerge after World War 2.

There is a existential nihilistic tone to the story of the doomed "Wes Mcqueen" and his love interest "Colorado Carson" They know there is no way out of the life that has been dealt them.

Dialog like this in a Western was almost unheard of:

Colorado Carson: You can bust out of jail, maybe, or mud holes like I was in, but you can't bust out of what you are.

Wes McQueen: You can if you're set on it.

Colorado Carson: Can ya? Me? I was born under a chuckwagon. Never got much higher. Anything was a step up. Even getting hit by Reno was all velvet.

The screen writer Edmund North went on to write ( and won an academy award) "Patton" among many notable film efforts.

You know you're seeing something unique for its time, when "Colorado Carson"
( Virgina Mayo) is first shown sitting on a rock, head down brushing her hair, with her legs spread wide open beneath her skirt. A posture probably never shown in a movie previously, and one that sets a tone regarding her station in
life.

Later in the film you see two outlaws lynched by the posse, hanging by their necks from a railway car. Something again, never shown in any Western previously
so graphically.

Probably one of the best low budget films ever made.

[–] Seuthepeewee 16 years ago

I totally agree. Waited all week to see it again. Best dialogue of any western. " Don't be gettin an itchy trigger finger,I don't want no funerals on this picnic." And Virginia Mayo,WOW!

[–] xylonian-1 16 years ago

Yes, good discussion and agree. I don't think anyone was anyone 'headed off at the pass', even though that might have fit at times.

With regard to Virginia Mayo, IMO a much better job was done making her into "Colorado", than was done with Hedy Lamar in "White Cargo"....

....and as this is the first dramatic role in which I have seen her, I thought she did really well. (I must admit I am easy to fool with regard to quality of acting sometimes, and/or am not sure I really care if some, like Virginia here, can act in the first place )

"I don't remember yesterday. Today it rained."

[–] hydra9 16 years ago

I would love to see this movie. I found the IMDb entry after being so impressed by Edmund North's work on 'In A Lonely Place.' Wonderful dialogue, and this post just makes me want to see it more!

Oh, great poster art too:
http://www.amazon.com/Colorado-Territory-11-x17-Poster/dp/B000JW25RU/

[–] wildbillharding 15 years ago

For any serious buffs out there, a little scrap of movie history; the Jim Mitchum in the cast was, indeed, the son of the superlative Robert.

I agree with all the above comments. Colorado Territory is one of the all-time great westerns, in my opinion up there with some of John Ford's work. It doesn't have the slapstick that even spoils parts of The Searchers. It should be far better known than it is.

[–] msilva7-1 13 years ago

regard to Virginia Mayo, IMO a much better job was done making her into "Colorado", than was done with Hedy Lamar in "White Cargo". WRONG. HEDY'S "TONDELAYO" WAS LEGENDARY. MAYO WAS NO MATCH FOR HEDY IN THE LOOKS DEPT. THEY EVEN SHOWED MORE SKIN IN THE EARLIER FILM. HEDY HAD DARKER SKIN PAINTED ON HER AND IT JUST RADIATED...THEN IT CONTRASTED BEAUTIFULLY TO HER EYES. THIS IS NOT EVEN CLOSE.

[–] jazerbini 11 years ago

Perfect evaluation. I think Colorado Territory is one of the great movie westerns. Joel Mac Crea was an excellent actor and Virginia Mayo is wonderful in this movie. The story is very good. Are both in a maze without exit. Colorado Territory is a movie to figure among the top westerns ever, I have no doubt.

[–] bear022013-588-696101 9 years ago

What can a Western fan say that can do justice to this effort,that would not be trite and inappropriate.
What a ride.

[–] belalugosihouse 9 years ago

I agree, CT is up there with the best of the westerns ever made. Great post, OP. I would add to that great directing, acting, and cinamatography.