The Barefoot Mailman
Brief Synopsis
Cast & Crew
Earl Mcevoy
Robert Cummings
Terry Moore
Jerome Courtland
John Russell
Will Geer
Film Details
Technical Specs
Synopsis
In 1890 in southern Florida, postal carrier Steven Pierton evades beachcombers and alligators as he makes his way on foot between the rugged coastal towns of Miami and Palm Beach to retrieve the mail. The Palm Beach mail boat brings in passengers, among them dandy Sylvanus Hurley from New York and pigtailed young Adie Titus. At the town trading store, Sylvanus inquires about transportation to Miami, and impresses the locals, including a beachcomber, Theron, with a wad of money and his extravagant plans to invest in the land around Miami. Steve then details the attempted attack by the beachcombers and accuses Theron of being their ringleader. A fight breaks out that Sylvanus helps quell. He then asks to accompany Steve on his walk back to Miami, employing the protection of the U.S. Mail by sending his money to himself. Adie pleads to accompany the men, but they refuse and put her in the care of Mrs. Thomas. Later that evening, Mrs. Thomas is startled to find adult clothing in Adie's bag, and Adie confesses that she is actually nineteen years old, but has to masquerade as a child as she is traveling alone. The next day, Adie follows Steve and Sylvanus on their way to Miami, but is quickly found out. When Sylvanus realizes Adie's secret, he delightedly agrees to allow her to continue with them. That night, Steve accidentally espies Adie in her undergarments and, distressed, advises her to remain in disguise to avoid danger from the marauding beachcombers. The journey resumes with a dangerous crossing of the alligator-infested river, but the trio is then waylaid by Theron and the beachcombers, who knock out the men and seize Sylvanus' envelope and Adie. Upon reviving, Sylvanus continues to Miami for help while Steve follows the beachcombers. In Miami, Sylvanus rounds up Adie's uncle Ben and several men at Dan Paget's trading post. At the beachcombers' headquarters, Steve watches as a quarrel breaks out when the men realize Sylvanus' envelope is empty, as he has hidden the money in his hat. Adie uses the diversion to dart away with Steve, and the gang gives chase before Sylvanus and the Miamians come to the rescue, arresting the beachcombers. Later in Miami, Paget, who is also the town mayor, examines a property deed Sylvanus produces. Upon showing Sylvanus the deed's worthless swampland, Paget, sensing Sylvanus' designing nature, suggests a plot by which they can convince the gullible townsfolk that the railroad is coming to Miami, bringing prosperity. In town, Sylvanus casually drops remarks that lead the townspeople to believe the railroad story, and when Ben expresses worry about rampant land speculation, he suggests they incorporate. Paget offers to be a partner in the land corporation and Sylvanus, at the insistence of the town, is made treasurer. On the night of a big dance, Adie is dismayed when Sylvanus tells her he is going north to purchase equipment for his property, and is unaware that he intends to flee with the corporate funds. As Steve and Sylvanus engage in a dance contest over Adie, Paget helps Theron and his gang break out of jail and stage a robbery of his store, taking guns and, apparently, the corporation money. The gang proceeds to go on a rampage of the town before meeting Paget, who has agreed to give them a cut. Steve goes to Palm Beach for help, while Sylvanus tries to convince Adie to leave with him. Theron, wanting Adie for himself, reveals Sylvanus' complicity in the corporation scheme in front of Adie and the town. Although angered, Adie follows Sylvanus' request to get Steve when Sylvanus is taken hostage by the beachcombers. Crossing the river alone in a small boat, Adie is attacked by several alligators before Steve, returning with a state marshal, saves her. As a barge carrying the lawmen from Palm Beach crosses the river, Sylvanus frees himself and warns them of the gang's intended ambush. Because of his help, no charges are brought against Sylvanus, and in gratitude he gives Steve and Adie his land deed. As he departs Miami for Cuba, he then reads in a newspaper article that the railroad is coming to southern Florida.
Director
Earl Mcevoy
Cast
Robert Cummings
Terry Moore
Jerome Courtland
John Russell
Will Geer
Arthur Shields
Trevor Bardette
Arthur Space
Frank Ferguson
Percy Helton
Ellen Corby
Renie Riano
Robert Lynn
Mary Field
Aldo Dare
Ian Macdonald
Robert Anderson
Dick Wessel
Edwin Parker
Bert Lebaron
Jack Low
Teddy Mangean
James Bush
Fenton Jones
Cecil Weston
Frank O'connor
Jessie Arnold
Nolan Leary
Rose Plumer
Gertrude Astor
Felice Richmond
Crew
Ross Allen
Carl Anderson
Clay Campbell
Ellis W. Carter
Robert Cohn
George Cooper
Jack Corrick
Louis Diage
George Duning
James Gunn
Helen Hunt
Aaron Stell
Morris Stoloff
Francis Swann
Film Details
Technical Specs
Quotes
Trivia
Notes
The following written prologue appears in the onscreen credits: "By 1890 the last frontier of America was not in the West, but in Southern Florida. The outpost settlements of Miami and Palm Beach, isolated by swampland and jungle-depended for communication on the U.S. Mail-which in turn depended on-" An onscreen credit indicates that water and alligator scenes were made by Ross Allen in Silver Springs, FL. According to a Variety news item, the novel's author, Theodore Pratt, was to write the screenplay, but his participation in any phase of production has not been confirmed.
