THE FIGHTING KENTUCKIAN

PRODUCED BY JOHN WAYNE
DIRECTED and WRITTEN BY GEORGE WAGGNER
REPUBLIC PICTURES

3173181425

INFORMATION FROM IMDb

Plot Summary

In Alabama in 1818, Kentucky militiaman John Breen falls in love with a French exile
and discovers a plot to steal the land her fellow exiles plan to settle on.

Summary written by Jim Beaver
Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
George Waggner

Full Cast

John Wayne .... John Breen
Vera Ralston .... Fleurette De Marchand
Philip Dorn .... Col. Georges Geraud
Oliver Hardy .... Willie Paine
Marie Windsor .... Ann Logan
John Howard .... Blake Randolph
Hugo Haas .... Gen. Paul De Marchand
Grant Withers .... George Hayden
Odette Myrtil .... Madame De Marchand
Paul Fix .... Beau Merritt
Mae Marsh .... Sister Hattie
Jack Pennick .... Capt. Dan Carroll
Mickey Simpson .... Jacques (wrestler/Marie's father)
Fred Graham .... Carter Ward
Mabelle Koenig .... Marie
Shy Waggner .... Friend
Crystal White .... Friend
Fred Aldrich .... Townsman (uncredited)
Richard Alexander .... Militiaman at festival (uncredited)
Dave Anderson .... Giles (uncredited)
Charles Andre .... DeMarchand's servant (uncredited)
Hank Bell .... Militiaman at festival (uncredited)
Ralph Bucko .... Buck (uncredited)
Charles Cane .... Knox Brown (head fiddler) (uncredited)
Tex Cooper .... Man leaning against tree (uncredited)
Gino Corrado .... French soldier (uncredited)
Steve Darrell .... Gen. Jackson (uncredited)
Ralph Dunn .... River man (uncredited)
Franklyn Farnum .... DeMarchand party guest (uncredited)
Billy Green .... Bartender (uncredited)
William Hawes .... Bit part (uncredited)
Fred Libby .... Bit part (uncredited)
Cliff Lyons .... Kentuckian driver (uncredited)
Alberto Morin .... Pierre Le Brun (uncredited)
Al Murphy .... Buckskin (uncredited)
Jack O'Shea .... Militiaman (uncredited)
Jack Perry .... Demopolis citizen at festival (uncredited)
Chuck Roberson .... Militiaman (uncredited)
Michael Ross .... Sheriff (uncredited)
David Sharpe .... French soldier with Run (uncredited)
Brick Sullivan .... Militiaman at festival (uncredited)
Tony Travers .... Frenchman (uncredited)
Dale Van Sickel .... Brawler (uncredited)
Blackie Whiteford .... Demopolis citizen at festival (uncredited)
Bud Wolfe .... Militiaman at festival (uncredited)
Hank Worden .... Abner Todd (militiaman announcing wrestling) (uncredited)

Stunts

Roydon Clark .... stunts (uncredited)
Chuck Hayward .... stunts (uncredited)
John Hudkins .... stunts (uncredited)
Cliff Lyons .... stunt coordinator (uncredited)
Bob Morgan .... stunts (uncredited)
Chuck Roberson .... stunts (uncredited)
Henry Wills .... stunts (uncredited)

Trivia

* Although Oliver Hardy was a good friend of John Wayne, he initially balked at acting in this movie,
for fear that it would make people think that he and Stan Laurel had broken up as a team.


Goof

* Anachronisms: Auto tire tracks visible in dust during wagon and horse chase scene.


When Laurel insisted that Hardy take the role, he acquiesced.

Hi,
I really like this film, and found it great fun and entertainment.
Duke played well, and was side-kicked by a rare appearance of Oliver Hardy,who acted exactly the same, as he did, only without Stan.
He was funny, if not convincing in his role.
Jack Pennick, played a much bigger role for him,
and for members, who can't place him, this is a good movie, to see him.
Duke had some friends in support including his brother Bob, Chuck, Paul Fix and Grant Withers.
This was the first film Chuck Roberson, ,was to double for Duke,
a decision, that was to change Chuck's life, forever.
The weakest casting was that of Vera Hruba Ralston, the Czech skater,,
who's only claim to fame, is that she was the REPUBLIC bosses, moll!!!
She had trouble speaking English, and couldn't act, to save the ice melting!!
She made 12 films for REPUBLIC and the only ones that made a profit,
were, the ones she made with, Duke.
Duke said,
Yates made me use Vera Hruba,...I've always been mad at Yates about this,
because we lost the chance to have one damn fine movie.
Author: planktonrules from Bradenton, Florida, from IMDb
This movie is pure Republic Pictures B-movie all the way, with relatively low production values,
Very Ralston (girlfriend of the CEO) and lots of action.
And this is not necessarily a bad thing (apart from the lousy acting by Ralston),
as the movie is highly entertaining. So, if you just turn off your brain and enjoy, this is a terrific film.
I particularly love seeing Oliver Hardy playing a rare supporting actor role very late in his career. Is he believable? Not in the least.
But, he's funny and quite the sidekick to John Wayne
. The plot, such as it is, involves Wayne falling for Cajun Ralston (a Swedish actress playing a Creole woman?!)
and getting into a wide variety of scraps along the way.
Not much more to it than that but it is so much fun, who cares?!

I agree with the above,however, Duke was unhappy about the mediocrity of the film,
it suffered from a convoluted plot,bad acting and weak comic relief, just everything about it was forgettable, but nevertheless, it made money at the box office.
Rating 6/10

A previous thread:-

What Do You Think Of The Fighting Kentuckian ([Only registered and activated users can see links])

Hi

This was one of the first John Wayne films I ever remember seeing I must have been about eight or nine when it came second time around at the Shaftsbury our local 'flea pit' (although thats not quite as bad as that but they never showed new pictures only second or third time around films).

Mostly I remember the finale with all the Kentuckians in the wagons coming to the aid of the homesteaders and Oliver Hardy and his trumpet. It was and still is a great film.

Regards

Arthur

Hi

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

Oliver Hardy, John Wayne and Phillip Dorn in a scene from
'The Fighting Kentuckian'


Regards

Arthur

I know we've posted this elsewhere (like here ([Only registered and activated users can see links]), but thought we'd link to it here, in the "rightful" thread.

Of course, to update, our seven year old is now ten.

But it is still a favorite line!

Chester :newyear:

Thanks Arthur,

I've posted another photo, at the top of the thread.

I think I remember reading that Vera Hruba Ralston was Yate's mistress and he tried everything to make her a star.

Well worth watching though for Oliver Hardy alone.


Mike

Hi Mike

Hope this answers it

Originally Posted by ethanedwards

The weakest casting was that of Vera Hruba Ralston, the Czech skater,,
who's only claim to fame, is that she was the REPUBLIC bosses, moll!!!
She had trouble speaking English, and couldn't act, to save the ice melting!!
She made 12 films for REPUBLIC and the only ones that made a profit,
were, the ones she made with, Duke.
Duke said,
Yates made me use Vera Hruba,...I've always been mad at Yates about this,
because we lost the chance to have one damn fine movie.Author: planktonrules from Bradenton, Florida, from IMDb
This movie is pure Republic Pictures B-movie all the way, with relatively low production values,
Very Ralston (girlfriend of the CEO) and lots of action.
And this is not necessarily a bad thing (apart from the lousy acting by Ralston),
as the movie is highly entertaining. So, if you just turn off your brain and enjoy, this is a terrific film.
I particularly love seeing Oliver Hardy playing a rare supporting actor role very late in his career. Is he believable? Not in the least.
But, he's funny and quite the sidekick to John Wayne

Thanks Keith

When her illustrious career ended didnt he eventually marry her.


Mike

Mike,

He sure did!!
They married in March 1952,
and it lasted until February 1966 (His death)

She was obviously a better wife than
she was an actress, and if you read on,
she wasn't stupid either!

Ralson is generally conceded to owe her "stardom"
to being the personal "protege" of Republic Pictures studio head Herbert J. Yates.
They were married in 1952. Significantly, she "retired" from the screen in 1958,
the year Yates was deposed as head of the studio.
They remained married until Yates' death in 1966,
at which point Ralston inherited half of his $10 million estate.
IMDb

Here's a movie poster for The Fighting Kentuckian.

Chester :newyear:

Hi Keith

Smart woman after all!!


Mike

Hi

Here a well known picture of the Duke from The Fighting Kentuckian. I have both the Black and white and colour version of the photograph'


Regards

Arthur

Hi

Obviously during the 1940s posters came in all shapes and sizes as they do today.

Wether this is a Britis poster and subject to rationing or not I don't know but it is ceratinly quite plain.

Regards

Arthur

Hi

Here a well known picture of the Duke from The Fighting Kentuckian. I have both the Black and white and colour version of the photograph'


Regards

Arthur



Good photo that is!Thanks for sharing :wink_smile:

A fair movie but Laurel Hardy made it enjoyable.

I just like the song, my best friend bob and I used to walk around the halls in High school singing (very badly)only 600 miles more to go, more to go....

Watching Fighting Kentuckian it only good moments are the Oliver Hardy scenes.

The scenes with Vera Ralston are dire she cant act, you can hardly make out what she is saying and she is not to good looking either!! Honestly a tree would have had provided more response. She must have been the worst leading lady Duke was unlucky to paired with. The guy had patience!!


Mike

Sipping whiskey ( as described by Mr Hardy makes me thirsty just to hear him speak ) and a great finale & a good fight scene at the soire.