The Kentuckian (1955)
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- Passed
- 1h 44min
- Drama, Western
- 11 Aug 1955 (Japan)
- Movie
A Kentucky widower bound for 1820's Texas with his young son is thwarted in his efforts by a corrupt constable, a long-standing family feud, and a beautiful indentured servant.
Director:
Writers:
Stars:
Awards:
- 2 nominations.
- See more »
Photos and Videos
Cast verified as complete
| Burt Lancaster | ... |
Big Eli Wakefield
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| Dianne Foster | ... |
Hannah Bolen
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| Diana Lynn | ... |
Susie Spann
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| John McIntire | ... |
Zack Wakefield
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| Una Merkel | ... |
Sophie Wakefield
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| John Carradine | ... |
Ziby Fletcher
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| John Litel | ... |
Pleasant Tuesday Babson
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| Rhys Williams | ... |
Constable
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| Edward Norris | ... |
Roulette Dealer
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| Walter Matthau | ... |
Stan Bodine
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| Donald MacDonald | ... |
Little Eli Wakefield
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| Rest of cast listed alphabetically: | |||
| Clem Bevans | ... |
River Queen Pilot (uncredited)
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Blackie | ... |
Dog (uncredited)
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Lee Erickson | ... |
Luke Lester (uncredited)
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Faro | ... |
Faro (uncredited)
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| Lisa Ferraday | ... |
Gambler (uncredited)
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| James Griffith | ... |
Riverboat Gambler (uncredited)
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Gil Herman | ... |
Frontiersman (uncredited)
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| Mitchell Kowall | ... |
Frontier Postman (uncredited)
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| Norman Leavitt | ... |
Frontiersman (uncredited)
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Milicent Patrick | ... |
Undetermined Secondary Role (uncredited)
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| James Seay | ... |
Riverboat Gambler (uncredited)
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| Douglas Spencer | ... |
Frome Brother (uncredited)
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| Glenn Strange | ... |
Drunk Frontiersman with Whip (uncredited)
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| Paul Wexler | ... |
Frome Brother (uncredited)
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| Whip Wilson | ... |
Frontiersman (uncredited)
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| Will Wright | ... |
John Decker (uncredited)
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Directed by
| Burt Lancaster | ||
Written by
| A.B. Guthrie Jr. | ... | (screenplay) (as A.B.GuthrieJr.) |
| Felix Holt | ... | (novel "The Gabriel Horn") |
Produced by
| Harold Hecht | ... | producer |
| James Hill | ... | producer (uncredited) |
Music by
| Bernard Herrmann | ||
| Roy Webb | ... | (uncredited) |
Cinematography by
| Ernest Laszlo | ... | (photography by) |
Editing by
| George E. Luckenbacher | ||
Editorial Department
| William B. Murphy | ... | editorial supervisor |
Production Design by
| Ted Haworth | ... | (as Edward S. Haworth) |
Set Decoration by
| Robert Priestley | ||
Costume Design by
| Norma Koch | ... | (as Norma) |
Makeup Department
| Robert J. Schiffer | ... | makeup artist (as Robert Schiffer) |
| Lavaughn Speer | ... | hair stylist (as LaVaughn Speer) |
Production Management
| James T. Vaughn | ... | production manager (as James Vaughn) |
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
| Richard Maybery | ... | assistant director |
| Nate D. Slott | ... | assistant director (uncredited) |
Art Department
| Thomas Hart Benton | ... | promotional artwork (uncredited) |
| John Orlando | ... | props (uncredited) |
Sound Department
| Wayne Fury | ... | effects editor |
| John K. Kean | ... | sound recordist (as John Kean) |
| Paul Schmutz | ... | sound recordist (as Paul Schmutz Sr.) |
Special Effects by
| Russell Shearman | ... | special effects |
| Daniel Hays | ... | special effects (uncredited) |
Stunts
| Charles Horvath | ... | stunt double: Burt Lancaster (uncredited) |
| Whip Wilson | ... | stunt double: Walter Matthau (uncredited) |
Casting Department
| Betty Pagel | ... | casting supervisor |
Costume and Wardrobe Department
| Esther Krebs | ... | wardrobe (uncredited) |
| Carl Walker | ... | wardrobe (uncredited) |
Music Department
| Robert G. Carlisle | ... | music editor (as Robert Carlisle) |
| Irving Gordon | ... | songwriter |
| Maurice De Packh | ... | music arranger (uncredited) |
| The Los Angeles Philharmonic | ... | music player (uncredited) |
Additional Crew
| Thom Conroy | ... | dialogue director (uncredited) |
| Gil Harmon | ... | stand-in: Burt Lancaster (uncredited) |
| James Hill | ... | production executive (uncredited) |
| Archie Savage | ... | dance director (uncredited) |
| Arthur Wilde | ... | publicist (uncredited) |
| Whip Wilson | ... | bullwhip instructor: Walter Matthau (uncredited) |
Production Companies
Distributors
- United Artists (1955) (United States) (theatrical) (released through United Artists)
- Kommunenes Filmcentral (KF) (1955) (Norway) (theatrical)
- United Artists (1955) (United Kingdom) (theatrical)
- United Artists (1955) (Sweden) (theatrical)
- Adams Filmi (1956) (Finland) (theatrical)
- Dear Film (1956) (Italy) (theatrical)
- United Artists (1956) (West Germany) (theatrical)
- Cosmopol-Film (1956) (Austria) (theatrical)
- American Broadcasting Company (ABC) (1962) (United States) (tv) (broadcast premiere) (pan/scan)
- MGM Home Entertainment (2001) (United States) (DVD)
- MGM Home Entertainment (2002) (United States) (DVD)
- FS Film (2004) (Finland) (DVD)
- MGM Home Entertainment (2004) (Germany) (DVD)
- Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment (2010) (United States) (DVD) (Included with "Lawman" and "The Unforgiven" in "MGM Movie Collection: 3 Westerns")
- Rai 3 (2016) (Italy) (tv)
- Rai Movie (2016) (Italy) (tv)
- Kino Lorber (2017) (United States) (Blu-ray)
- WVG Medien (2019) (Germany) (Blu-ray)
- WVG Medien (2019) (Germany) (DVD)
- 9Gem (2020) (Australia) (tv)
- ClassicLine (Brazil) (DVD)
- Playhouse Video (United States) (VHS) (pan/scan)
Special Effects
Other Companies
- CinemaScope (photographed in)
- Western Electric (sound recording)
Storyline
| Plot Summary |
A delicious love story centered around a single father attempting raise his son despite the temptations of liquor and women. Lancaster shines as the stable and regal frontiersman fending off the seductions of Walter Matthau and lewd desires. |
| Plot Keywords | |
| Taglines | Hunter...Frontiersman...Adventurer! See more » |
| Genres | |
| Parents Guide | View content advisory » |
| Certification |
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Additional Details
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Did You Know?
| Trivia | The first movie directed by Burt Lancaster. Due to the unfavorable critical response he did not direct again for almost 20 years, until The Midnight Man (1974). See more » |
| Goofs | At the beginning, Eli is sitting near a campfire. We can clearly see its flames, showing it is burning. When Eli stands up, the flames have disappeared, and we haven't see him extinguishing the fire. See more » |
| Movie Connections | Featured in Walter Matthau: Diamond in the Rough (1997). See more » |
| Soundtracks | Possum Up a Gum Tree See more » |
| Quotes |
Big Eli Wakefield:
The way to start off new is to shuck off what's old. See more » |