Oil man Johnny Maverick dubs a young hitchhiker "Chicopee" after the name of his hometown, then makes him a full partner, digging for oil. Chicopee is killed in a rig accident, however, and rival Mike Rawlins then sabotages the rig.
Things get worse for Johnny when con artists Nan and Oliver turn up. She pretends to be Chicopee's sister, so Johnny gullibly gives her the half-interest in his oil rig.
Rawlins buys up Johnny's outstanding debts and intends to take over. In an act of desperation, Johnny uses nitroglycerine to blast open an oil well, resulting in a gusher. An explosion ends up knocking Rawlins unconscious and pinning Johnny beneath the wreckage, but Nan, having fallen in love with Johnny, comes to his rescue.
The film was based on a story by North Bigbee, a journalist who had worked in the oil industry, which was purchased by Pine-Thomas Productions. They assigned it to star Richard Arlen, after he did Torpedo Boat for the studio.[4]
Pine-Thomas wanted a "Jean Harlow type" for the female lead and even tested Harlow's stand in.[5]Jean Wallace was originally announced for the role[6] but did not appear in the final movie. She was replaced by Arline Judge who signed a three picture deal with Pine-Thomas.[7]
The film reportedly had Pine-Thomas' biggest budget yet to date.[8]
^Wildcat
Monthly Film Bulletin; London Vol. 9, Iss. 97, (Jan 1, 1942): 118.
^20th Signs Laughtons to Play Married Pair Los Angeles Times 23 Oct 1941: A10.
^Gold-Rush Days Epic Will Star John Wayne: 'Wildcat' Lead Elusive Berlin Revue Plans Told Training Films Praised 'Tarzan' Vamp Selected Feldary Cast in 'Bell' Schallert, Edwin. Los Angeles Times 13 Dec 1941: 9.
