Dark Mountain

This is another of the Pine-Thomas quickies filmed on Paramount's back lot - way back lot.

I enjoy these hour and/or less movies I used to see in my neighborhood theater that specialized in B-movie double features. (Later in life, in the '50s, I introduced such films as late movies on KWWL-TV in Waterloo, IA.).

This flick was too talky, but it had a few things going for it. The opening fire scene was semi-impressive, although it was fairly obvious that the fire was in the background and star, Robert Lowery, leading a couple of equines away from the flames was up front.

The only other scene that qualified as action was the car chase which seemed to be over only a few moments before it began. A highlight was the family pup-o chasing the bad guy. The car seemed to be hitting 80, the dog was running 60 when, suddenly, he caught up with the meanie. The scenes involving man versus dog were quite good.

A plus for me was Robert Lowery (another gent with the same name was a hymn writer). I always enjoyed watching him. He shoulda-coulda have been a star of major productions.

Ellen Drew was a beaut, and my favorite character actor, Elisha Cook Jr. is always a plus, although he did not have much time in this movie. The guy, whose dad was a backstage worker at studios, lived alone in a cave. No phone - they had to send a messenger to fetch him for work. He was always fascinating to watch.

"Dark Mountain" is a fairly competent quickie.

One note: The cover painting showing Lowery and Drew was atrocious. The painting looked no more like him than I do like Gable - or Clooney if you want to get up to date.