With The Indian Fighter (1955) making its way to Blu-Ray from Kino Lorber, this seemed like a good time to share some more of the photos my wife’s finding as she helps with the research for my commentary. (Photos don’t do too well in an audio commentary.) I’ve been really wallowing in this movie the last couple weeks.
Here, they’re shooting a scene with Hank Worden and Walter Matthau.
Elisha Cook rests between takes in Bend, Oregon, as Ira Eagleman (whose parents were working as extras) looks on. Cook, Worden, Matthau — what a cast!
A prop man fires flaming arrows at the fort.
Elsa Martinelli, an Italian fashion model, made her screen debut in The Indian Fighter. Douglas’ wife Anne saw her in Vogue and recommended her for the part.
Here, they’re shooting inside the stockade. I can’t find director Andre de Toth in this photo, but this seems to be a scene with Douglas and Walter Abel. The Indian Fighter was the first picture from Douglas’ Bryna Productions. It was also de Toth’s first time chance to work with CinemaScope. He does a couple of really cool 360-degree pans that really use the Scope frame (and show off the distortion in those early Scope lenses).
50 Westerns From The 50s. 
Great pix. Those behind the scenes shots really give a flavor of the movie making process, and makes everybody and everything feel much more accessible, more human I suppose, if that makes any sense.
The movie was a big deal in Bend, Oregon, so it got a lot of news coverage — and the cast and crew seemed to really entertain the visitors to the fort set.
Treasures.
It’s great to see your photos. I;m looking forward to seeing the bluray; I’ve only seen the movie on TCM & I liked it fine so I expect something really special.
According to the Alive Ag site Germany’s Explosive Media
have added THE RARE BREED to their Blu Ray line up.
The film is noted as having a June release.
I’ve not seen this one since it’s original release but as I’m up
for virtually any vintage widescreen Western in high definition,sign me up!
A doozy of a cast I might add.
I guess with all these Universal Jimmy Stewart Westerns appearing in
high def,it won’t be long before Universal USA treat us to the “James
Stewart Blu Ray Western collection”
Thanks, Allen, for keeping us up to date on the Blu Ray westerns coming in Europe.
I see DUEL IN THE SUN (1946) is coming in the U.S. on Blu Ray from Kino Lorber later this year.
Toby, when you were recording the commentary for SUNSET IN THE WEST did Kino-Lorber indicate to you if there would be more Roy Rogers restorations?
No, they didn’t. In fact, I remember hearing this was the only one they had available to them.
Great on set photos, Toby. But surely that isn’t a real rattlesnake that Kirk is holding. I don’t think that even he could have been that brave…or foolish.
I think it’s a real snake. They imported some for the movie — and when Kirk shoots it, it’s decapitated by a wire. Came across an article about it when researching the commentary.
Oh, and good to see you pass through!
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