Fred MacMurray in Oregon Trail

I am referring to an earlier post as to why 20th Century Fox would star Fred MacMurray as a western hero. At this time, Fox was going out of business due to television. MacMurray like many stars had been under contract for years and this film was no doubt one he had to make to fulfill his contract. My friend Nina Shipman also had a part in this film and she had been under contract for about a year before Fox closed down. She went into television to do commercials and guest star roles (Bonanza, Rawhide, etc.) MacMurray went into television with My Three Sons as well as the Disney films. He had been somewhat of a serious actor (Double Indemnity) and had not really taken on the role as the benevolent father figure the Baby Boomers would know him as from television. The same could be said for John Carradine who had been in some major films but became as a horror figure so therefore was cast in some cheap horror pictures just to keep working.