Thunder Mountain

MOVIE DESCRIPTION:

Based on Zane Grey's 1922 novel To the Last Man, filmed previously by Paramount in 1923 and 1934, this fine RKO Western marked the return to his home lot of Tim Holt after a stint in the Army Air Corps. Returning to his Arizona homestead, Marvin Hayden (Holt) lands in the middle of the age-old feud between the Haydens and the Jorths, both families accusing the other of murder. The feud, however, has been engineered by someone else entirely and when the dust settles, Marvin announces his engagement to Ellen Jorth (Martha Hyer). Although both were ostensibly based on Zane Grey novels, Thunder Mountain bears no resemblance to the 1935 George O'Brien oater of the same title. ~ Hans J. Wollstein, Rovi

DVD FEATURES:

• Region: 1
• Number of Discs: 1
• Screen: Black and White
• Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1 (Pre-1954 Standard)
• Audio: Dolby Digital Stereo
• Features:
  • Full screen presentation
  • English 2.0 Dolby Digital
  • True stories of Zane Grey
  • Outdoor adventures with an introduction by Loren Grey
  • Fisherman's pluck
  • An american legend
  • Digitally mastered
  • Interacive menus
  • Scene selection

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

• Cast:

  
       Tim Holt - Marvin Hayden
       Martha Hyer - Ellen Jorth
       Steve Brodie - Chick Jorth
       Virginia Owen - Ginger Kelly
       Harry Woods - Trimble Carson
       Jason Robards, Sr. - James Gardner
       Robert Clarke - Lee Jorth
       Harry Harvey - Sheriff Bagley

• Director:

  Lew Landers

• Producer:

  Herman Schlom

• Screenwriter:

  Norman Houston

• Book Author:

  Zane Grey

• Cinematographer:

  Jack MacKenzie

• Musical Direction/Supervision:

  Constantin Bakaleinikoff

• Composer (Music Score):

  Paul Sawtell

• Editor:

  Philip Martin

• Art Director:

  Albert S. D'Agostino, Charles F. Pyke

REVIEW:

• James Warren was originally scheduled to play Marvin Hayden in Thunder Mountain, under the direction of Leslie Selander, but Tim Holt's return to RKO changed the plans. Happily, Holt inherited sidekick Richard Martin from Warren (who, in turn, had inherited him from Robert Mitchum) and the two worked so well together that Martin was added to the Holt series Westerns for the duration. As always, RKO lavished fine production values on the oater, including on-location filming at Lone Pine, and Jack McKenzie's roaming camera also adds to the overall excitement. The supporting cast is top-notch, with Harry Woods, adding yet another Boss Villain to his repertoire, and Virginia Owen's feisty saloon belle the standouts. ~ Hans J. Wollstein, Rovi