TALL IN THE SADDLE

DIRECTED BY EDWIN L. MARIN
PRODUCED BY ROBERT FELLOWS
MUSIC BY ROY WEBB
RKO RADIO PICTURES

363364

Click on the link, for another great photo,

PHOTO ([Only registered and activated users can see links])

INFORMATION FROM IMDb

Plot Summary

When a stranger arrives in a western town he finds that the rancher who sent for him has been murdered. Further, most of the townsfolk seem to be at each other's throats, and the newcomer has soon run contrariwise to most of them.

Writing credits
Gordon Ray Young (story)
Michael Hogan (screenplay) and
Paul Fix (screenplay) (as Paul P. Fix)

Full Cast

John Wayne .... Rocklin
Ella Raines .... Arleta 'Arly' Harolday
Ward Bond .... 'Judge' Robert Garvey
George 'Gabby' Hayes .... Dave
Audrey Long .... Clara Cardell
Elisabeth Risdon .... Miss Elizabeth Martin
Donald Douglas .... Harolday (as Don Douglas)
Paul Fix .... Bob Clews
Russell Wade .... Clint Harolday
Emory Parnell .... Sheriff Jackson
Raymond Hatton .... Zeke
Harry Woods .... George Clews
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Erville Alderson .... Wells Fargo Clerk (uncredited)
Walter Baldwin .... Stan (depot master) (uncredited)
Hank Bell .... Hotel Clerk (uncredited)
Clem Bevans .... Card game spectator (uncredited)
Wheaton Chambers .... Ab Jenkins (uncredited)
George Chandler .... Saddle Maker (uncredited)
Victor Cox .... Townsman (uncredited)
Frank Darien .... Train Station Master (uncredited)
William Desmond .... Town Citizen (uncredited)
Russell Hopton .... Wagon Driver (uncredited)
Ben Johnson .... Townsman (uncredited)
Cy Kendall .... Cap, Bartender (uncredited)
Sam McDaniel .... Servant (uncredited)
Robert McKenzie .... Doc Riding (uncredited)
Frank Orth .... 'Shorty' Davis (uncredited)
Frank Puglia .... Talo (uncredited)
Russell Simpson .... Pat Foster (uncredited)
Tom Smith .... Townsman (uncredited)
Eddy Waller .... Santa Inez Depot Master (uncredited)

Stunts

Fred Graham .... stunt double: John Wayne and Harry Woods (uncredited)
Ben Johnson .... stunts (uncredited)
Henry Wills .... stunts (uncredited)

Filming Locations

Lake Sherwood, California, USA

RKO Encino Ranch, Encino, Los Angeles, California, USA

RKO Studio, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA

Sedona, Arizona, USA

Previous discussion:-
Tall In The Saddle ([Only registered and activated users can see links])

Hi,

365

I agree with Vera and Chester,
this is a superb film.
The chemistry between Duke and Ella Raines, was good,
and Gabby Hayes, just added, to the sheer enjoyment of this film!
The acting and storyline was sharp, and with a script
written by Duke's lifelong friend, Paul Fix(See Pals in the Saddle, thread)
This was the first film that Duke worked with producer
Robert Fellows, which was to go on, to be Batjac.
From now on Duke wanted to be in control.
Rating 9/10

Hi Keith,
I didn't see the film yet, only heard about it. But I always wonder is there some connection between Ella Reines and Claude Rains?
Regards,
Vera

Hi Vera,
As far as I know, no connection, whatsoever!

One of the interesting things about this film is that Ward Bond is cast against type, in that he is the bad guy, whereas he is usually a buddy to John Wayne's character.

We really get a charge out of the wild stage coach ride with Gabby Hayes (you just gotta love that guy!) with John Wayne hangin' on for dear life and grabbing Gabby a couple of times, to keep him from flying off the driver's seat.

A top notch movie!

Chester :newyear:

One word, GABBY HAYES, amazing comedic relief I love this movie. it would still have been great even IF the duke had not been a part.

-IHW

Memorable Quotes

from Tall in the Saddle (1944)
(from IMDb)

Miss Elizabeth Martin: I saw you hit that poor man!
Rocklin: Yes, ma'am, just as hard as I could.

Now there are some of the memorable quotes from me, as I think this movie is great and has some pretty good one-liners -

one used by falc04 in the "Guess the Quote" game -

Rocklin: Touch that gun and I'll kill ya!

Here's another one of our favorites -

Rocklin: Lady, I'd rather walk for somebody else than ride for you.


That's all for now . . . :D .

Chester :newyear:

A enjoyable western movie that worth watching. I think the pairing of Gabby and John is excellent.


Mike

Hi

Its difficult to catagorizethe female stars who played opposite John Wayne but Ella Raines, Gail Russell and Joanne Dru should be in the top four with Maureen O'Hara

Originally posted by arthurarnell@Jan 27 2006, 08:51 PM
Hi

Its difficult to catagorizethe female stars who played opposite John Wayne but Ella Raines, Gail Russell and Joanne Dru should be in the top four with Maureen O'Hara
26059


And Claire Trevor

Hi Vera


Yes I completely forgot about her.

Regards

Arthur

Hi,
Whilst compiling the reviews, it has reminded me, of some of Duke's earlier female co-stars.
I have noticed for example, the chemistry he had,
with Sheila Terry, Ruth Hall,Verna Hillie, Marion Burns, Sheila Mannors
who were with him,in those earlier oaters.
Another love interests, he had the hots for, in the films and real life,
were Marlene Deitrich, Sigrid Gurie
These, all brought the twinkle into Duke's eyes!!

Hi,
I have been researching all the threads, back to the start of the JWMB,
looking for previous discussion, relating to this movie.
I have found the following, comments, and have copied them here,
so that they are now under one forum:-

If you are interested, please click on the link:-

Tall in the Saddle, What a Movie! ([Only registered and activated users can see links])

Deep Discount DVD ([Only registered and activated users can see links]) has this film as part of the John Wayne Legendary Heroes Collection, combined with The Train Robbers, or individually, and they also offer two movie posters.

Amazon ([Only registered and activated users can see links]) has it in DVD, VHS, and a book with the title Tall in the Saddle: Great Lines from Classic Westerns. I don't know if the book has any relation to the movie besides the title, but there was a good deal ($0.66 plus $3.49 shipping), so we ordered it and will let you know how it turned out.

Chester :newyear:

I just LOVED this film,what a joy to watch.I can't say there was anything in it I didn't like,got me hooked from the minute it started till the very end!

Originally posted by Moonshine_Sally@Aug 12 2006, 10:59 PM
I just LOVED this film,what a joy to watch.I can't say there was anything in it I didn't like,got me hooked from the minute it started till the very end!
33529

The same with me. :rolleyes:

Tall In The Saddle is a great murder mystery story that has the duke playing a cowboy Sherlock Holmes. I thought it was good because it keeps you guessing right until the end. The one thing about the dukes movies is that you know that he (almost) never dies. So when you know someone is killing people, he's always going to be safe. But there is plenty of suspense in this film over just who the killer is. I thought it was well done, another great performance from Gabby who tried to steal the show.

Originally posted by dc65@Oct 15 2006, 08:55 AM
. . . another great performance from Gabby who tried to steal the show.35967
What do you mean "tried"? I thought he did a durn good job of it!

Uh huh, uh huh - yeah!

:P

Chester :newyear:

All of you remember Audrey Long , the beautiful blond in the movie, who turned out to be Rocklin's cousin. As it turns out she married a studio writer and author named Leslie Charteris ([Only registered and activated users can see links] ). He was the author of The Saint series of books, which later became a TV show. They moved around between the United States and Europe, and ended up settling in Surrey, England, where he subsequently died in 1993. According to IMDb, she is still alive, and might still live in Surrey. For those of you in the UK, who might be nearby (my ignorance of British geography is showing here), maybe there is an opportunity to get in touch with her. She was born in 1922, and will turn 85 in April (at least according to the info on IMDb). From my experience, not many at 85 are very computer literate, but there are exceptions, too, like Harry Carey Jr., so maybe if she uses a computer, she can join Chilibill as a former JW movie participant.

What do you think . . . is it worth a try?

Chester :newyear:

([Only registered and activated users can see links])

Tall in the saddle just has everything a good western should.

Interesting detail is Duke baking, and that device he uses to bake the bread in open fire. Does it have a name, and if somebody here has happened to use one, does it work well?
(I usually make flat-bread on open fire or sometimes yeast-raised buns in stick)

I know I said it before, but I just love this film. As Gabby said, "someone has come to town!" And that someone of course was Wayne. I think I have pointed it out before too that this Western, is the FIRST in which Wayne solidified all the characteristics of his Western character personna. He dropped the "aw shucks I am just a simple cow-hand" element of his character that you see in Stagecoach, Dark Command, In Old California, and War of the Wildcats. For the first time, His western character is tough, smart, and not to be shown-up by anyone. From this western forward, his character would change very little.

GSP

One thing that surprised me was that Ella Raines doesn't have her thread in the Pals of the Saddle section. She is I feel the only female outside of Maureen O'Hara to give Duke a run for his money when it comes to tough stubborn headed and she matches swagger for swagger. Plus she's be-yoot-iful.

It's been awhile since I have visited this thread. I discovered that the Amazon link I posted previously was not good anymore, so if anyone wants to check out Tall in the Saddle at Amazon, here is a more current link -

[Only registered and activated users can see links]

I also thought I'd share some posters from the film. They're all very similar, from the original to the three reissues from 1949, 1953, and 1957. These are not as neat as some of the older posters.

1970


1949
1967

1953
1968

1957
1969

This is one of my favorite John Wayne films, so it is with great pleasure that I share Clive Woolland's Film Facts for this film ~

Howdy Friends, well here is another film fact for you, this time from the western, Tall in the Saddle. I hope you like it.

Producer: Robert Fellows, Screenplay: Paul Fix, Michael Hogan,
Cinematographer: Robert De Grasse, Art Directors: Ralph Berger,
Albert S. D'Agostino, Editors: Philip Martin Jr, Distribution: RKO
Pictures, Locations: California, Arizona, Date of Production: 1944.

It was the last film that Gabby Hayes made with John Wayne, as well as the only one co-star Ella Raines and Director Edwin Marin ever made with Duke.

London-born Elisabeth Risdon, who plays the domineering Miss Martin, began her film career in British silent movies before relocating to America. By the time she did Tall in the Saddle, she'd already acted in such film classics as 1942's Random Harvest and Reap the Wild Wind (also starring John Wayne).

Paul Fix has writing credits on only two other pictures, Ring of Fear (1954) and The Notorious Mr. Monks (1958).

Wayne's original 2-A deferment from joining the military on health grounds (a damaged inner ear, a bad back and assorted other ailments) was cancelled just before Tall in the Saddle was released. Wayne was delighted, as he hoped he'd finally get to see some action, but the studio that held his contract, Republic, wasn't. They argued that Wayne was more useful to the war effort keeping up morale at home and got the decision reversed.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

This contains two facts that are of particular interest (to me, at least). One is that this was apparently the last time John Wayne and Gabby Hayes appeared together. The item about Duke's ability to serve in the military (or not, as it obviously turned out) was interesting - I didn't realize all that took place around the time of this film.

Chester :newyear: