Desert Fury (Desert Town) (1947)
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75% of users liked it
(47 ratings)
Desert Fury is a rarety for the 1940s, a Technicolor "film noir." Set in a Nevada gambling town, the story concerns the various misadventures, romantic and otherwise, of Paula Haller (Lizabeth Scott), the rebellious daughter of gambling-house proprietress Fritzie Haller (Mary Astor, who… More Desert Fury is a rarety for the 1940s, a Technicolor "film noir." Set in a Nevada gambling town, the story concerns the various misadventures, romantic and otherwise, of Paula Haller (Lizabeth Scott), the rebellious daughter of gambling-house proprietress Fritzie Haller (Mary Astor, who steals the picture). Though no better than she ought to be, Fritzie is determined that Paula will not grow up as a "shady lady", but she'd fighting an uphill battle. John Hodiak plays crooked gambler Eddie Bendix (John Hodiak), who tries to exploit Paula's fascination with him for his own gain. Thank heaven that upright lawman Tom Hanson (Burt Lancaster) is on hand to rescue the heroine from the machinations of Bendix and his partner-in-perfidy Johnny Ryan (Wendell Corey). Desert Fury was adapted from the far racier and more explicit novel by Ramona Stewart. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Directed By
- Lewis Allen
- Genres
- Drama, Classics
Unrated,
- In Theaters
- Aug 15, 1947 Wide
Critic Reviews
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Thomas M. Pryor, New York Times
A beaut of a Technicolored mistake from beginning to end.
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, TV Guide's Movie Guide
A star-studded cast regrettably cannot overcome the shortcomings of Robert Rossen's script.
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Hank Sartin, Time Out Chicago
It could easily have been a horrible jumble, but in fact it's compulsively watchable.
See more critic ratings and reviews on Rotten Tomatoes
Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)
Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)
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Cast
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Burt Lancaster
as Tom Hanson
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Lizabeth Scott
as Paula Haller
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Mary Astor
as Fritzie Haller
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John Hodiak
as Eddie Bendix
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Wendell Corey
as Johnny Ryan
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Kristine Miller
as Claire Lindquist
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William Harrigan
as Judge Berle Lindquist
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James Flavin
as Pat Johnson
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Jane Novak
as Mrs. Lindquist
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John Farrell
as Drunk in Jail
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Lew Harvey
as Doorman
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Milt Kibbee
as Mike the Bartender
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Ralph Peters
as Pete the Cafe Owner
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Ray Teal
as Bus Driver
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Harland Tucker
as Chuck the Dealer
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Michael Lally
as Dealer
- Ed Randolph
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Tom Schamp
as Dan the Sheriff's Deputy
