Beyond the Purple Hills


1h 9m 1950

Brief Synopsis

Hick town sheriff Gene must arrest Jack Beaumont even though he believe Jack innocent of his father's murder. Which, of course, he sets out to prove.

Film Details

Genre
Western
Release Date
Jul 1950
Premiere Information
not available
Production Company
Gene Autry Productions
Distribution Company
Columbia Pictures Corp.
Country
United States

Technical Specs

Duration
1h 9m
Sound
Mono (RCA Sound System)
Color
Black and White (Sepiatone)
Theatrical Aspect Ratio
1.37 : 1
Film Length
6,251ft

Synopsis

As the Nortonville Old Timers' Celebration approaches, Gene Autry trains Little Champ, a horse belonging to young Chip Beaumont, to perform some fancy tricks. When Gene learns that Jack, Chip's older brother, is in trouble, he hurries to town to intervene, followed by Chip. At the town saloon, Gene takes a gun away from a drunken Jack and then gives him a lecture, which is interrupted by a bank robbery. After a shootout, during which the sheriff is killed, Gene chases the thieves and retrieves the money, although the thieves escape into the Purple Hills. Later, Chip and Jack's father, Judge Beaumont, who is the law-and-order candidate for governor, asks Gene to take over as sheriff. Beaumont then tells Amos Rayburn, who runs the Nortonville bank with his niece Mollie, Jack's fiancée, that he plans to draw up a new will disowning Jack. Later, Amos tells Jack about Beaumont's plans and begs him to reconcile with his father that night. Jack meets his father, but storms out of his office after they quarrel. Shortly after Beaumont telephones Gene and asks to meet him, he is killed by a gunshot. After Amos reveals Beaumont's plans to cut Jack out of his will, Gene arrests Jack, although he does not believe he is guilty. Later, Rocky Morgan, the owner of the saloon, who, unknown to Gene, is the ringleader of the bank robbers, tries to kill Gene, but is stopped by Mike Rawley, a stranger in town. Later, Gene makes Mike his deputy. Through a ruse, Gene obtains the combination to Amos' safe, and that night, he and Mike are about to open it when Amos and Rocky arrive. Later, Gene tells Mike that he is convinced that Rayburn is behind the murder and is framing Jack. From Mollie, Gene learns that Amos has power of attorney for the Beaumont estate and for Mollie's money. Chip sees Gene talking to Mollie and mistakenly believes that he is trying to steal Jack's girl friend. At a square dance, Rocky and Amos try to stir up a mob to lynch Jack, but Gene forestalls the mob by announcing that Jack has been moved to another jail. Actually, Chip, who believes that Gene has betrayed Jack, has helped him to escape. Gene and Mike find their hiding place, but decide to leave them there so they will be safe. Gene then lies to Amos about Jack's whereabouts, and unaware that Gene suspects them, Amos and Rocky plot to kill Gene and Jack and make it look as if they killed each other. After a gunfight, Gene arrests Rocky, who accuses Amos of hiring him to rob the bank and kill Beaumont. An inspection of bank records proves that Amos had Beaumont murdered to hide the fact that he was robbing Mollie and Beaumont. Now that Jack's name is cleared, he and Mollie plan to marry, and Chip's faith in Gene is restored.

Film Details

Genre
Western
Release Date
Jul 1950
Premiere Information
not available
Production Company
Gene Autry Productions
Distribution Company
Columbia Pictures Corp.
Country
United States

Technical Specs

Duration
1h 9m
Sound
Mono (RCA Sound System)
Color
Black and White (Sepiatone)
Theatrical Aspect Ratio
1.37 : 1
Film Length
6,251ft

Quotes

Wanted anyplace?
- Gene Autry
No, but there's plenty of places I ain't wanted.
- Mike Rawley

Trivia

Notes

Actress Jo Dennison was usually billed under the name Jo-Carroll Dennison. Some scenes in this film were shot in Lone Pine, CA.