The Big Bonanza
Cast & Crew
George Archainbaud
Richard Arlen
Robert Livingston
Jane Frazee
George "gabby" Hayes
Lynne Roberts
Film Details
Technical Specs
Synopsis
During the Civil War, Union captain Jed Kilton is unfairly court-martialed for cowardice in battle, but escapes and travels to the home of Dr. Ballou, the man who reared him. Jed entrusted his young brother Spud to the doctor, but due to Spud's ill health, Ballou sent him to live in the West with his son Sam, who grew up with Jed. Accompanied by his old friend, Hap Selby, Jed rides to Nevada Springs, a boom town run by Sam, who owns the prosperous Silver Queen saloon and dance hall. Spud lives happily with Sam and his girl friend, entertainer Chiquita McSweeney, who adores Spud, but Jed is aghast to learn that the boy is living in a saloon. Chiquita resents Jed's implications that she is not good enough for Spud, but Sam is happy to see his boyhood pal. Unknown to Jed, Sam has pocketed a wanted poster of him and pretends to believe Jed's explanation that he came to Nevada Springs on furlough. When some men attack Sam in the saloon, Jed and Hap help Sam to fight them off, unaware that Sam is trying to take over their gold mine. Later, Jed meets schoolteacher Judy Parker, who agrees to ask her father if Spud can live with them. When Judy takes Jed to her father Adam's Big Bonanza mine, however, Adam, who was one of the men involved in the fistfight, assumes that Jed works for the crooked Sam and orders him to leave. Jed explains himself, and, after learning that Sam has used the sheriff and judge to carry out his land-grabbing schemes, confronts Sam. Sam casually states that there is money to be made in the territory, but Jed, refusing to join him, takes Spud to live with the Parkers and begins work at the Big Bonanza. When Jed tries to have Sam arrested for his harassment of Adam, Sam instead has Jed apprehended on the desertion charge. Heartbroken that his beloved brother has been convicted of cowardice, Spud runs away. Hap then breaks Jed out of jail and the pair search for the boy, finding him after he has seen two of Sam's henchmen murder Adam. Afraid that Spud's testimony could convict him, Sam orders his men to kill the youngster, but Chiquita runs away to warn Jed. As Chiquita and Judy protect Spud, Jed organizes the miners to strike against Sam and his men, but they are forced to return to their homes, which the outlaws have set on fire. Jed takes the women and children to hide in the Big Bonanza, and he and Hap defend them in a shootout with Sam and his men. Jed and Sam are engaged in a fierce fight when a falling timber crushes Sam and kills him. With the rest of the gang rounded up, the miners restore peace, and Jed returns to the Army. Soon after, Spud is in Sunday school with Hap and Judy when Chiquita brings him a telegram from Jed, which details Jed's vindication and promotion, and instructs Judy to prepare a wedding dress.
Director
George Archainbaud
Cast
Richard Arlen
Robert Livingston
Jane Frazee
George "gabby" Hayes
Lynne Roberts
Bobby Driscoll
J. M. Kerrigan
Russell Simpson
Frank Reicher
Cordell Hickman
Hayward Soo Hoo
Roy Barcroft
Fred Kohler Jr.
Monte Hale
Dan White
Jack Rockwell
Frank O'connor
Charles King
Tommy Coats
Jack Kirk
Francis Ford
George Carleton
Crew
Tom Carman
Jack Elliott
H. B. Farnie
Paul Gangelin
Dave Gould
Virgil Hart
Thomas Hastings
Frank Hotaling
Herb Kirkpatrick
Reggie Lanning
Howard Lydecker
Theodore J. Lydecker
Tony Martinelli
Dorrell Mcgowan
Stuart Mcgowan
Adele Palmer
Leonard Praskins
Robert Presnell
Gordon C. Schaefer
Morton Scott
Otto Siegel
R. G. Springsteen
John Stransky Jr.
Augustus Montague Toplady
Eddy White
Howard Wilson
Film Details
Technical Specs
Quotes
Trivia
Notes
Although Hollywood Reporter production charts include LeRoy Mason in the cast of this film, his appearance in the completed picture has not been confirmed. Modern sources add Henry Wills, Fred Graham, Tom Steele and Bob Wilke to the cast.
