Sheriff Will Egan doesn't want any gamblers in Denton, Texas and is suspicious when stranger Sam Bass arrives in town. The sheriff's sister Kathy likes the newcomer, though, while Calamity Jane is impressed with Sam's way with horses, even more so when Sam spots a poorly shod favorite in a horse race and bets against him, winning a tidy sum.
Sam buys the losing horse with his wager winnings and intends to race him. But when a hired guy poisons the horse, Sam shoots him. Sam tries to turn himself in, but feels he can't get a fair trial and busts out.
Sam becomes an outlaw, robbing banks. He believes Kathy has tricked him and turns to Jane.
He ends up shot, dying in Jane's arms, yet seemingly in love with Kathy.
In March 1948 Universal announced they would make The Story of Sam Bass from a story by director George Sherman. It would be an expensive production in Technicolor shot on location in Kanab, Utah.[2] Jimmy Stewart was sought to play the title role.[3] The role eventually went to Howard Duff who had just come to notice in Brute Force (1947).
Universal decided to cast Yvonne De Carlo as the female lead. De Carlo was under contract to Universal at the time, and had just been entertaining US troops in Europe. She was reluctant to make the film as it was a Western, but did not want to go on suspension. (She had been briefly engaged to her co-star Howard Duff in April 1947.)[4]Dorothy Hart and Willard Parker signed to play support roles.[5]
Filming started 7 October 1948 in Kanab, Utah.[6] Johnson Canyon, Vermillion Cliffs, and the Gap were additional filming locations.[7]: 288
Universal adopted a regional opening strategy for the film, a strategy that they had tried earlier in the year with The Life of Riley. The film had its world premiere on June 8, 1949 in Dallas, Texas and then opened in 600 theaters in Oklahoma and Texas over a seven week period.[9][10] The approach was a success with grosses double that compared to normal release patterns.[10] In July, it had a further saturation release in 200 theaters in Salt Lake City, Denver, Omaha and Des Moines.[11]
^H.R. (June 24, 1949). "Yvonne De Carlo, Howard Duff In New Technicolor Western". The Christian Science Monitor. p. 5.
^"Outlaw Bass Maturing; Janis Carter to Europe". Los Angeles Times. May 12, 1948. p. 23.
^"Looking at Hollywood". Chicago Daily Tribune. May 14, 1948. p. A1.
^"Yvonne De Carlo May Brave Suspension, So She Can Return to Troops: GI's Show Needs Told by Actress Strong". Los Angeles Times. October 3, 1948. p. D1.
^"ZUCKERMAN IS SET TO WRITE FOY FILM: He Will Do Scenario for Eagle Lion Producer for Movie With Counterfeiting Plot". The New York Times. October 5, 1948. p. 31.
^"Howard Duff to Star Opposite De Carlo". Los Angeles Times. October 2, 1948. p. 8.
^D'Arc, James V. (2010). When Hollywood came to town: A history of moviemaking in Utah (1st ed.). Layton, Utah: Gibbs Smith. ISBN9781423605874.
^"Calamity Jane Goes On and On Like Poet's Brook: Two Will Do Calamity Jane Role". Los Angeles Times. December 19, 1948. p. D1.
