Springfield Rifle (1952)

46% of users liked it
(323 ratings)

Springfield Rifle was Gary Cooper's third western in a row, released not long after the classic High Noon. Cooper plays Union army officer Lex Kearney, who undertakes a covert investigation to find out why the North's supply of horses has suddenly diminished. Because of the top-secret nature of his… More Springfield Rifle was Gary Cooper's third western in a row, released not long after the classic High Noon. Cooper plays Union army officer Lex Kearney, who undertakes a covert investigation to find out why the North's supply of horses has suddenly diminished. Because of the top-secret nature of his mission, Kearney is forced to distance himself from everyone he knows, including his wife Erin (Phyllis Thaxter) and son Jamie (Michael Chapin). Heading to a remote cavalry post, he discovers that renegade soldiers have been stealing horses and selling them to the South. Someone at the post has been operating as the thieves' "inside man," and Lex, posing as a dishonorably discharged soldier, aims to ferret out the traitor. Had it not followed directly on the heels of the critical and financial success of High Noon, Springfield Rifle might have fared better with audiences and reviewers. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 1 hr. 33 min.
Directed By: André De Toth
Written By: Charles Marquis Warren
Genres: Western, Classics

In Theaters: Oct 22, 1952 Wide
On DVD: Nov 7, 2006

Critic Reviews

Michael E. Grost, Classic Film and Television
Visually fine Western, that is as much a crime drama or spy film as a Western.
Jeffrey M. Anderson, Combustible Celluloid
A solidly constructed Western
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
An incurious Western set during the Civil War days.

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Cast

            Gary Cooper as Maj. Alex Kearney

            Phyllis Thaxter as Erin Kearney

            David Brian as Austin McCool

            Paul Kelly as Lt. Col. John Hudson

            Lon Chaney Jr as Elm

            Philip Carey as Capt. Tennick

            James Millican as Matthew Quint

            Martin Milner as Olie Larsen

            Wilton Graff as Col. Sharpe

            Richard Hale as Gen. Henry W. Halleck

            James Brown as Private Ferguson

            Vince Barnett as Cook

            Poodles Hanneford as Corporal Hamel

            Jack Woody as Sims

            Jerry O'Sullivan as Lt. Evans

            Ned Young as Sgt. Poole

            William Fawcett as Corporal Ramsey

            Holly Bane as Red

            Ray Bennett as Commissioner

            Michael Chapin as Jamie

            Ben Corbett as Sgt. Major

            George Eldredge as Judge Advocate

            Edward Hearn as Calhoun

            Rory Mallinson as Barfly

            Ewing Mitchell as Spencer

            Jack Mower as Guard

            Fess Parker as Jim Randolph

            Ric Roman as Guard

            George Ross as Riley

            Ralph Sanford as Barfly

            Guinn 'Big Boy' Williams as Sgt. Snow

            Alan Hale Jr. as Mizzell

            Paula Sowl as Woman

            James Brown (II)
            
See full cast

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