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Kit Carson
Kit Carson
	Theatrical release poster
Directed by	George B. Seitz; John E. Burch (assistant)
Written by	Evelyn Wells
Screenplay by	George Bruce
Based on	newspaper serial by Evelyn Wells
Produced by	Edward Small
Starring	Jon Hall; Lynn Bari; Dana Andrews
Cinematography	John J. Mescall; Robert Pittack
Edited by	William F. Claxton; Fred R. Feitshans Jr.
Music by	Edward Ward
Production; company	Edward Small Productions
Distributed by	United Artists
Release date	August 30, 1940 (United States);
Running time	97 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English

Kit Carson is a 1940 Western film directed by George B. Seitz and starring Jon Hall as Kit Carson, Lynn Bari as Delores Murphy, and Dana Andrews as Captain John C. Frémont . This picture was filmed on location at Cayente (Kayenta), Arizona^[1] and was one of the early films to use Monument Valley as a backdrop. The supporting cast features Ward Bond as a character named "Ape", future Lone Ranger Clayton Moore without his mask, and Raymond Hatton as Jim Bridger.

Plot

Kit Carson and his two saddle pals, Ape and Lopez are attacked by Indians. They manage to escape unscathed and make their way to Fort Bridger, where Captain John Fremont hires Carson to guide a wagon train westward to California south along the Oregon Trail. Both Carson and Fremont fall in love with pretty Dolores Murphy, on her way to her father's hacienda in Monterey. Meanwhile, General Castro, the Mexican Governor General of California, arms the Shoshone Indians in an effort to keep the Americans out of California.^[2]

Cast

Jon Hall as Kit Carson
Lynn Bari as Dolores Murphy
Dana Andrews as Captain John C. Frémont
Harold Huber as Lopez
Ward Bond as Ape
Renie Riano as Miss Pilchard
Clayton Moore as Paul Terry
Rowena Cook as Alice Terry
Raymond Hatton as Jim Bridger
Harry Strang as Sergeant Clanahan
C. Henry Gordon as General José Castro
Lew Merrill as General Mariano Guadalupe Vallejo
Stanley Andrews as Thomas O. Larkin
Edwin Maxwell as John Sutter
George Lynn as James King (as Peter Lynn)
William Farnum as Don Miguel Murphy

Production

The movie was one of several Edward Small made for United Artists. Victor McLaglen was originally announced for the title role,^[3] and then Randolph Scott.^[4] Joel McCrea and Henry Fonda were also named.^[5]

Jon Hall had just made South of Pago Pago for Edward Small and was borrowed from Samuel Goldwyn Productions. Lynn Bari was borrowed from 20th Century Fox. Filming started on March 10, 1940.^[6] It was shot on location near Kayenta, Arizona.^[7]

The film was later remade as Frontier Uprising (1961).

Reception

Filmink felt that Hall was not comfortable in the lead role but the film was "saved by its production values and support cast".^[8]

References

^ "Kit Carson". Turner Classic Movies. Retrieved September 26, 2022.
^ "Kit Carson (1940) - George B. Seitz | Synopsis, Characteristics, Moods, Themes and Related | AllMovie".
^ DOUGLAS W. CHURCHILL (October 17, 1939). "SCREEN NEWS HERE AND IN HOLLYWOOD: Metro Will Make Picture of 'Escape,' Novel About Actress Held in Concentration Camp JAMES STEWART FILM DUE Music Hall's 'Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, Here Thursday --Another Opening Listed John Stahl Leaves Universal Role for Marjorie Rambeau". New York Times. p. 30.
^ DOUGLAS W. CHURCHILL (April 10, 1940). "SCREEN NEWS HERE AND IN HOLLYWOOD: Metro Will Produce 'Escape,' With Norma Shearer and Robert Taylor in Leads TWO FILMS OPEN TODAY Dr. Cyclops' in Local Premiere at Paramount--Criterion Bills 'One Was Beautiful' Roosevelt Changes Plans Role for Humphrey Bogart". New York Times. p. 35.
^ "32 FILMS ON LIST OF UNITED ARTISTS: Pictures by Eleven Producers to Be Released by Company During 1939–40 Season LEAD FOR JASCHA HEIFETZ Will Star in Goldwyn's 'Music School'--'Rebecca' and 'My Son, My Son!' on Schedule Leslie Howard to Star "Of Mice and Men Listed"". New York Times. May 8, 1939. p. 23.
^ DOUGLAS W. CHURCHILL (May 1, 1940). "SCREEN NEWS HERE AND IN HOLLYWOOD: Melvyn Douglas Gets Lead in Story of Refugee in Paris-- Wendy Barrie Signed NEW ITALIAN FILM TODAY Opens at Cine Roma--Helen Vinson Here After Playing in New Cagney Picture Of Local Origin". New York Times. p. 31.
^ "Hawaiian Plays Indian in Film". Los Angeles Times. September 20, 1940. p. A13.
^ Vagg, Stephen (April 9, 2022). "The Campy, Yet Surprisingly Interesting Cinema of Jon Hall". Filmiink.