It was adapted from the 1947 novel High Vermilion by Luke Short, and was released under that title in the UK.[3]
Plot
When the mining office of Charlie Storrs is robbed by two bandits, his right-hand man Larkin Moffatt gives chase. Moffatt catches up to the riders, but then rides off, never to return. A furious Charlie fires him and spreads the word that Larkin Moffatt is not a man to be trusted. Another very interested party is Josephine Storrs, who once was Larkin's woman but has recently married Charlie instead.
In the town of Silver City, where he is not known, Moffatt settles down and opens a mining assayer's office. Candace Surrency is pleased when Moffatt confirms the value of the ore sample she brought him, but distressed because her dad, Dutch, is leasing the mine and has just 12 days to get what he can before mineral rights revert to the already rich and wealthy RR Jarboe.
Candace's foreman is beaten by a henchman of Jarboe's. She tries to get Moffatt to work for her, but he declines.
Into town ride the Storrs, curious about Silver City mining opportunities. They are shocked to find Moffatt there. It soon becomes clear that Jo only married Charlie for his money, not for love.
Charlie Storrs helps turn Jarboe against Larkin.
Jarboe's men sabotage the mine. Candace continues to plead for Moffatt's help, but he resists. He does explain that he indeed was in on the robbery, planning it as a way to get more money for the greedy Jo, until a guilty conscience led him to leave for good, not spending the stolen loot. He accepts Candace's offer to become her foreman after becoming angry that his office has been ransacked by Jarboe and his men. Work progresses at the mine.
In a final gunfight at a sawmill, Moffatt is saved from being shot by one of Jarboe's henchmen by Charlie, who shoots the henchman. Charlie is in turn shot in the back by another one of Jarboe's men, who had just arrived on the scene after murdering Jarboe because he wanted Jarboe's operation for himself. Moffatt picks up Charlie's gun and kills the other henchman. The two former partners speak briefly before Charlie dies. In the final scene, Moffatt kisses Candace outside the Surrency home as her father, Dutch, decides to go inside and leave them alone.
The film was based on the 1947 novel High Vermillion. (This was reprinted in 1949 as Hands Off.[4])
In February 1951 film rights were bought by producer Nat Holt who hired Frank Gruber to do a script.[5]
The title was changed to Silver City and Edmond O'Brien was signed to star.[6]
Rhonda Fleming was originally announced as O'Brien's costar. However by late March 1951, Yvonne de Carlo signed to play the female lead.[7] "It's a very real, believable character," she said.[8] Her fee by this stage was $50,000 a film.[9]
Filming started on 30 April 1951 by which stage the title had been changed to Silver City.[10][11]
De Carlo later made another film for Holt at Paramount, Hurricane Smith (1952).
Reception
The Los Angeles Times said the storyline was occasionally "baffling" but the film was full of "heaps of novel and exciting incidents".[12]
References
^"Top Box-Office Hits of 1952", Variety, January 7, 1953
