Hills of Utah
Brief Synopsis
Cast & Crew
John English
Gene Autry
Champion
Elaine Riley
Donna Martell
Onslow Stevens
Film Details
Technical Specs
Synopsis
Gene Autry returns to his home town of Coffin Gap, Utah, which is caught up in a bitter feud between Jayda McQueen's copper mine and Bowie French's cattle empire. Years earlier, Gene's father fell victim to the conflict, after he was mysteriously shot and allowed to die because French had refused to allow the town to hire a doctor. Gene left Coffin Gap determined to become a doctor and has returned to set up his practice and discover his father's murderer. At the abandoned Blackhorn Hotel, Gene reunites with his old friend, Dusty Cosgrove, the town postmaster. Soon after Gene's arrival, Jayda's daughter Karen asks Gene to attend her young brother Duncan, who is gravely ill. Gene agrees, despite a warning by French's henchmen, Ingo Hubbard and Evan Fox, to stay away from the McQueens. Jayda initially refuses to allow Gene into the house, but Karen sneaks him in the back by way of one of the mine shafts. Upon examining Duncan, Gene diagnoses a serious condition requiring immediate surgery. Despite Jayda's misgivings, Gene operates and saves Duncan, but warns Jayda and his handyman, Washoe, that the boy must remain on a special diet. Back in town, Gene confides in Dusty his plan to open a hospital and his intention to seek French's financial assistance. At the French ranch, Gene discovers his old flame, Nola, who admits she is now Mrs. French and warns him that her husband will not see him. Gene confronts French, who is angry about Gene's association with the McQueens and suggests that Jayda was responsible for Gene's father's death. Later, the marshal informs Gene he can no longer use the hotel as a hospital as it is a health hazard. Nola then arrives with the news that Duncan has died, which stuns Gene. Before he can meet with Jayda, however, Gene is summoned to a new patient. The summons is merely a ruse to lure Gene out of town, where he is ambushed by Jayda. French comes to Gene's rescue, shooting Jayda in the leg, but when Gene tries to treat Jayda, he refuses help and French turns away, angry that Gene is continuing to offer assistance to his rival. Back in town, Dusty starts a hospital fund, and soon surprises Gene with a paid two-year lease on the abandoned gambling saloon, which has been remodeled into a clinic. Questioned by Gene, Dusty reveals that Nola financed the clinic, using her own money. French, angry at his wife's betrayal, throws Nola off the ranch, but not before she overhears him plotting with his henchmen to intercept the stagecoach bringing medical supplies to the new clinic. Nola rides out to warn Gene of the plan, and with the marshal, Gene helps round up a posse. Washoe, working on the range, shoots Evan when he spots him ransacking the stage. Later, a group of ranchers anxiously waits outside the clinic for news of Evan, who dies of his wounds. Nola confesses to Gene that French has spent years purchasing the land around Coffin Gap to expand his ranch and that when Gene's father discovered he sometimes employed illegal methods, French had him killed. Meanwhile, the ranchers, informed of Evan's death, seek revenge on Washoe. Gene and Dusty race out to the McQueens' mine to warn them. During the gunfight between the ranchers and the miners, Jayda and Washoe retreat into the mine shaft, followed by Karen and Gene. French and a couple of his men go after them, and just before the final confrontation, a wounded Washoe confesses to Gene that he was responsible for Duncan's death because he fed the boy rich food. Guilt-ridden, Washoe redeems himself by bravely facing down French and Ingo and killing them. Back in town, a few days later, Gene celebrates the opening of his clinic.
Director
John English
Cast
Gene Autry
Champion
Elaine Riley
Donna Martell
Onslow Stevens
Denver Pyle
William Fawcett
Harry Lauter
Kenne Duncan
Pat Buttram
Harry Harvey
Sandy Sanders
Tom London
Teddy Infuhr
Lee Morgan
Billy Griffith
Tommy Ivo
Bob Woodward
Boyd Stockman
Stanley Price
Crew
Tex Atchinson
Mischa Bakaleinikoff
William Bradford
Charles Clague
Lambert Day
Paul Donnelly
Gerald Geraghty
Paul Mertz
David Montrose
Steve Nelson
James Nicholson
Walter E. Rollins
Les Savage Jr.
Armand Schaefer
James Sweeney
Billy Weber
Film Details
Technical Specs
