Highway West
Brief Synopsis
A woman discovers her respectable husband is a notorious gangster.
Cast & Crew
Read More
William Mcgann
Director
Brenda Marshall
Claire Foster
Arthur Kennedy
George Foster
Olympe Bradna
Myra Abbott
William Lundigan
Dave Warren
Slim Summerville
"Gramps"
Film Details
Also Known As
Highway 99
Genre
Crime
Adaptation
Drama
Release Date
Aug
23,
1941
Premiere Information
New York opening: 7 Aug 1941
Production Company
Warner Bros. Pictures, Inc.
Distribution Company
Warner Bros. Pictures, Inc.
Country
United States
Screenplay Information
Based on the play Heat Lightning by Leon Abrams and George Abbott (New York, 15 Sep 1933).
Technical Specs
Duration
1h 4m
Sound
Mono (RCA Sound System)
Color
Black and White
Theatrical Aspect Ratio
1.37 : 1
Film Length
5,696ft
Synopsis
Claire and George Foster check into an expensive hotel after eloping. Claire, who has only known George for a short time, believes that he is a wealthy oilman, but he is actually a bank robber. When he learns that the police are on his trail, he and Claire head for California, but his car is spotted by a Highway Patrol team. George is wounded and one of the policemen is killed in the ensuing shootout. Claire, who now knows her husband's real profession, takes him to a doctor and then runs away to California. There she operates a motel and café, located on Highway 99, together with her sister Myra Abbott and her grandfather, Gramps. Claire tells no one of her marriage and begins dating Dave Warren, who works for the county fishery. Afraid that her sister will repeat her mistakes, Claire keeps a close eye on Myra. Three years later, George, who was sentenced to life in prison, escapes and heads for Claire's motel, intending to hide out there, and when she objects, he threatens her with exposure. The night that George arrives, Dave shows up unexpectedly. Dave is suspicious of George, but Claire convinces him that George is a former customer. Myra, however, is fascinated by George's stories of New York and asks him to take her to San Francisco with him when he leaves. Determined to dissuade Myra, Claire pretends that she still loves George and makes sure that Myra sees them kissing. When George's friends come to pick him up, they do not have the money he needs to hide out, so he decides to rob an armored car that stops every day at the café. During the robbery, the men driving the car are shot and one dies. George then forces Claire to come with him, but before they can leave, Dave arrives, after discovering the bodies. Dave and George shoot at each other and George is about to kill Dave, when Gramps shoots George. Gramps receives a reward and he and Claire plan to use it to send Myra to college. Finally, Claire agrees to marry Dave and move away with him when he gets his promotion.
Director
William Mcgann
Director
Cast
Brenda Marshall
Claire Foster
Arthur Kennedy
George Foster
Olympe Bradna
Myra Abbott
William Lundigan
Dave Warren
Slim Summerville
"Gramps"
Willie Best
Willington
Frank Wilcox
Murph
John Ridgely
Alex
Dorothy Tree
Bella
Noel Madison
Salvo
Pat Flaherty
Eddie
Victor Zimmerman
Jake
William B. Davidson
Gorman
Dick Rich
Mike
James Westerfield
Swede
Nat Carr
Hotel clerk
William Roberts
Bellboy
Glen Cavender
Porter
Paul Panzer
Mechanic
Creighton Hale
Waiter
Peggy Diggins
Waitress
Max Hoffman Jr.
Cop
Frank Meredith
Cop
Cliff Saum
Officer
Erville Alderson
Doctor
George Campeau
Driver
Herbert Anderson
Worker
Garrett Craig
Tom Jensen
Leo White
Barber
Dorothy Adams
Wife
Frederick Clarke
Black chauffeur
Fred Graham
Bus driver
Guy Usher
Sheriff
Wade Boteler
Sheriff
Harry Strang
Deputy
Jack Wise
Yokel
John Dilson
Judge
Reid Kilpatrick
News broadcaster
Frank Goss
Police announcer
Douglas Evans
Police announcer
Charlotte Treadway
Trevor Bardette
Crew
Robert Burks
Special Effects
Elmer Decker
Assistant Director
Bryan Foy
Producer
Kenneth Gamet
Screenwriter
Damon Giffard
Gowns
Edmund Grainger
Associate Producer
Esdras Hartley
Art Director
Stanley Jones
Sound
Charles Kenyon
Screenwriter
Jack Killifer
Film Editor
Hugh Macmullan
Dialogue Director
Ted Mccord
Director of Photography
Allen Rivkin
Screenwriter
Perc Westmore
Makeup Artist
Film Details
Also Known As
Highway 99
Genre
Crime
Adaptation
Drama
Release Date
Aug
23,
1941
Premiere Information
New York opening: 7 Aug 1941
Production Company
Warner Bros. Pictures, Inc.
Distribution Company
Warner Bros. Pictures, Inc.
Country
United States
Screenplay Information
Based on the play Heat Lightning by Leon Abrams and George Abbott (New York, 15 Sep 1933).
Technical Specs
Duration
1h 4m
Sound
Mono (RCA Sound System)
Color
Black and White
Theatrical Aspect Ratio
1.37 : 1
Film Length
5,696ft
Articles
Highway West
A woman discovers her respectable husband is a notorious gangster.
Highway West
A woman discovers her respectable husband is a notorious gangster.
Quotes
Trivia
Notes
The film's working title was Highway 99. A January 27, 1941 Hollywood Reporter news item notes that at that time Jane Wyman was cast in the film; she probably was cast in the role played by Brenda Marshall. The 1934 Warner Bros. film Heat Lightning, starring Aline MacMahon and directed by Mervyn LeRoy was also based on the play by Leon Abrams and George Abbott. (See AFI Catalog of Feature Films, 1931-40; F3.1831).
