Now this was a really good Western which was on TCM this afternoon. I cannot remember ever seeing it but it was impressive with great action scenes at the climax to the film,

Gary Cooper was in fine form – and managed to get into and more particularly, get out of some quite scary scrapes

Springfield Rifle 1952

This may be something of a forgotten  Western  but it is a must-see for Gary Cooper fans.  Gary Cooper plays his usual character of a man intent on  redeeming himself, but this is not a typical Western.

It is a good Civil War film. Film fans will also see a  a young Fess Parker.

The film is full of twists and turns with  lots of battle scenes which all add up to a good old-fashioned, fun action film.

Below – Some action scenes from the film

Springfield Rifle 1952

Springfield Rifle 1952

Springfield Rifle 1952

Springfield Rifle 1952 Gary Cooper ABOVE

Springfield Rifle 1952

Lon Chaney Jr on horseback is shot as he enters the water

He then falls into the water

He has come to a sticky end ABOVE

Springfield Rifle 1952 – ABOVE ‘Baddie’ Paul Kelly who played Lt Col. John Hudson is finally captured after this scene and much more action.

Springfield Rifle 1952 The final frames of the film with Gary Cooper back in uniform

Springfield Rifle 1952

One incredible scene as the film approaches the dramatic action packed ending, is where a Covered Wagon driven by Gary Cooper hits a large rock, tips over and crashes down a steep slope / cliff. Gary Cooper jumps clear – and then the other man on the Wagon crashed down the hill with the wagon which on looking at this sequence a number of times, looks as though it very narrowly misses him. As it is done in one take it would not be possible to fake this.

The Stuntman seems to get away with it – I have taken a few pictures from this one shot scene – see what you think – to me it looks highly dangerous and I am so pleased that the man seemed to escape being hit.

Springfield Rifle 1952 –

I had wondered at first if the stunt was done by Jack Mahoney but, by then he was into acting and doing the highly successful ‘The Range Rider’ TV Series which was very popular in England.

The stuntmen who appeared in Springfield Rifle were  Ben Corbett, John Epper, Ted Mapes, George Ross, Jack Woody and Jack N.Young – so it would be one of these that did that jump.

Astonishing and very brave.