Customer Reviews

Rocky Mountain (1950) DVD - Errol Flynn, Patrice Wymore

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Says Lafe Barstow, captain in the army of the Confederate States of America, about his command: "Six rattle-headed kids and an old man...Kip Waterson, the baby-faced heir to a plantation...Pierre Duchesne, from French Louisiana...Pat Dennison, an old man, really, but a hard, reckless fighter who never gave ground while he lived...Kay Rawlins from the Mississippi steamboats, a rough and friendly man as the Indians now found out...Jimmy Wheat, a little red neck cropper who could fight like a wildcat with hydrophobia, who carried a useless little dog for 2,000 miles...Jonas Weatherby, the Texan, a seasoned plainsman at 18...Plank, another real plainsman, hard and bitter, with chain gang scars on his legs at 22..." They've come 2,000 miles with orders to raise an army among the Confederate sympathizers in California in a last-chance effort to draw the Union armies away from Lee. It's 1865. Even if we don't remember our history too well, we know Barstow's command is probably not going to end well. Please note that elements of the plot are discussed.

During the next three days we're going to get to know quite well Captain Barstow (Errol Flynn) and his men. They're holed up in the Nevada Mountains vainly waiting for promised assistance from a California renegade. They've rescued a stage driver and a woman passenger, the fiancée of a Union officer, from an Indian attack. They've tricked and captured a Union patrol. And they know Shoshone warriors are gathering in force to wipe everyone out.

This was the last western Flynn made. Warner Brothers put as few resources into the making of this movie as they could get away with. There are a handful of actors, with only Flynn being a name, and perhaps 50 extras on horseback. It was shot at one location outside Gallup and on what looks like just one studio set. It's in black and white. The screenplay is workmanlike, but in the best sense of the word; there are requisite memories of Jimmy Wheat, just 16, designed to hook us with sympathy; there's a little Barstow backstory about his cotton plantation, his fiancé who is now dead, his weary acceptance of duty for a cause he believes in; and there is no hint of emerging attraction between Barstow and Johanna Carter (Patrice Wymore). She loves her Union officer even if she becomes more sympathetic to what Barstow and his seven men face. The dialogue is efficient. Unless you're a great writer (and even if you are), that's solid praise. About a third of the movie is shot at dusk, night or early morning when a lot of set deficiencies can be covered up. In fact, Rocky Mountain is probably the smallest scale movie Flynn ever made.

It's poetic justice that Rocky Mountain turns out to be a very good film, especially because of its small scale. The movie didn't have the budget to screw things up by trying to turn the story into something bigger than it was, or Flynn into a wooing hero. Flynn plays Barstow as a man with burdens. There's none of the Flynn charm and easy smiles. With the exception of Miss Carter, Flynn's interactions are all with other men, those under his command and those who might shoot them.

As Barstow's options dwindle he faces reality with none of the Hollywood posturing that takes place in bigger budget movies. To accept the situation and take action is something he and his men simply shrug their shoulders about and then get on with it. "I never thought it would end this way," Johanna Carter says to him." "There never was any other way," Captain Barstow tells her. "We just put it off awhile." Rocky Mountain, in its small-scale way, is a good movie

There were indeed the Panamint Shoshone in eastern California in the desert,
but the drums in the movie are very unlike real Shoshone music.
Historically the Shoshone raided Wells Fargo Pony express
and stage coaches in the 1860's that came into California.
The real Confederate move in the west was one involving Confederate troops
from Texas, but the story is a good one about yet another
Confederate failure. It seems strange that in the middle
of a civil war you have a three sided conflict?
The other material on the DVD are three good short movies
about historical California and a comedy show at the end.
I have seen several others of the digitized early westerns
on DVD and this is better than some of them.

'Rocky Mountain' is Errol Flynn's last big screen western, probably had the smallest budget of any of his westerns, but arguably, could be his best!
Still handsome at 40, just before the decline set in, Flynn is a born leader, and a tough one when called for, their mission is futile, they know it, but duty means they must press on regardless, in the end it's a case of, can they save anyone from the maurading indians, closing in all around them? Featuring some magnificent scenery in New Mexico, it could have benefited by color, but apart from that, this is one fine western, with a surprise ending, that makes it all that more real!

THe previous reviewer did a great job reviewing this film. I would only add that Flynn is not as energetic as he could be because of his personal lifestyle. I think that shows in all his later films.

Having said that, the ending was NOT what I expected and actually brought a tear to my eye. IMO, the ending makes the movie. Enjoy!

A very underated Flynn film.March 1865,Errol is a Confederate Captain on a mission from Gen Robert E Lee to organize the Confederate underground in the West and control it for the South.
The key is outlaw leader Cole Smith(Howard Petrie)a sacastic,unfeeling hoodlum who Errol and his small unit of Confederate soildiers have little repect for.
They save two passangers,(Patrice Wymore and Chubby Johnson)from an indian attack.
Soon Union Officer(Scott Forbes)whos engaged to Patrice come looking for her and he too is captured by the Confederates.
Trouble brews when the warlike indian tribe attack the mountain where the soildiers are hiding waiting for Cole Smiths men.
Patrice Wymore soon became MRS Flynn.
Sheb Wooley,local on Rawhide had a big 1950s record with The Purple People Eater .This was his First film.(Only time he worked with Flynn).
Errols final Western and last performance with pal,constant sidekick,and later pallbearer,Guinn Big Boy Williams.

This is a great Western movie. I saw it 30 years ago on late night T.V. and I've been looking for it ever since.
I guess they've re-issued it on DVD. It ain't no "Lonesome Dove", but it's pretty good.

I have been a fan of Errol Flynn since very young, but I must say that I am disappointed with this one. Flynn looks old and haggard, with no trace of the brilliance and charm of bygone days.
Perhaps one cannot expect the same qualities in any star that has grown old, perhaps except Gary Cooper, who still retained a lot of his qualities even in his last western " The Hanging Tree ".
But as an old fan, this film must be watched anyway.