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Western

Dawn at Socorro

- The Story of the NOTORIOUS BRETT WADE, LAST OF THE FRONTIER GAMBLERS

Brett Wade, gambler, gunslinger, and classical pianist, is wounded in a gunfight with the Ferris clan; the doctor finds signs of tuberculosis. En route to Colorado for his health, Brett stops in Socorro, New Mexico along with Ferris gunfighter Jimmy Rapp. Sheriff Couthen fears another shootout, but what Brett has in mind is saving waif-with-a-past Rannah Hayes from a life as one of Dick Braden's saloon girls.

Release Date : 1954-09-01

Language :English

Adult : false

Status : Released

Production Company : Universal International Pictures

Production Country : United States of America

Alternative Titles : Dawn at Socorro

Cast

Rory Calhoun

Character Name : Brett Wade

Original Name : Rory Calhoun

Gender : Male

Piper Laurie

Character Name : Rannah Hayes

Original Name : Piper Laurie

Gender : Female

David Brian

Character Name : Dick Braden

Original Name : David Brian

Gender : Male

Kathleen Hughes

Character Name : Clare

Original Name : Kathleen Hughes

Gender : Female

Alex Nicol

Character Name : Jimmy Rapp

Original Name : Alex Nicol

Gender : Male

Edgar Buchanan

Character Name : Sheriff Cauthen

Original Name : Edgar Buchanan

Gender : Male

Mara Corday

Character Name : Letty Diamond

Original Name : Mara Corday

Gender : Female

Roy Roberts

Character Name : Doc Jameson

Original Name : Roy Roberts

Gender : Male

Skip Homeier

Character Name : Buddy Ferris

Original Name : Skip Homeier

Gender : Male

James Millican

Character Name : Harry McNair

Original Name : James Millican

Gender : Male

Lee Van Cleef

Character Name : Earl Ferris

Original Name : Lee Van Cleef

Gender : Male

Stanley Andrews

Character Name : Old Man Ferris

Original Name : Stanley Andrews

Gender : Male

Richard Garland

Character Name : Tom Ferris

Original Name : Richard Garland

Gender : Male

Scott Lee

Character Name : Vince McNair

Original Name : Scott Lee

Gender : Male

Paul Brinegar

Character Name : Desk Clerk

Original Name : Paul Brinegar

Gender : Male

Philo McCullough

Character Name : Rancher (as Philo McCollough)

Original Name : Philo McCullough

Gender : Male

Forrest Taylor

Character Name : Jebb Hayes

Original Name : Forrest Taylor

Gender : Male

Reviews

J

John Chard

@John Chard

2024-05-16

All my friends are my enemies. Dawn at Socorro is directed by George Sherman and written by George Zuckerman. It stars Rory Calhoun, Piper Laurie, David Brian, Kathleen Hughes, Alex Nicol and Edgar Buchanan. Music is by Joseph Gershenson and cinematography by Carl Guthrie. One Night In Socorro. A cracker-jack Western this. Plot essentially has Calhoun as Brett Wade, a tough gunfighter who is suffering badly from ill health. Taking advice from his doctor he decides to retire to healthier pastures, but his past and new enemies refuse to let him go. OK! So it's very much a composite of a number of famous Westerns, but to dismiss this as a cheap knock off would be foolish. The script is very literate and the screenplay never gets tired or preposterous. From an action stand point it scores favourably, right from the opening in Lordsburgh where we get a stockyard shoot-out, pic is never dull. I wont arrest you for being naked. There's good black humour in here as well, and some outstanding scenes such as Brett playing Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata at his own funeral (you will understand when you see it) and a poker game where the stake is the fetching Piper Laurie! There's a constant running feud between Wade and Jimmy Rapp (Nicol), a well written part of the film as it brings in codes and ethics that play opposite another character. The tech credits are bang on the money. Location photography out of Apple Valley and Victorville is gorgeous, as is Guthrie's colour lensing for the interiors. Props and set design is hugely appealing, including a super locomotive for the train enthusiasts to gorge on. While the front line cast members (Lee Van Cleef & Skip Homeier have small roles) turn in very good work, with Calhoun once again showing his qualities in the genre. My past - every dark miserable day of it! But it's with the characterisations where the film strikes the finest. Laurie's Rannah Hayes has been cast out the family home for apparently being a hussy, she's constantly carrying that baggage with her. She finds a soul mate in Wade, a man dragged down by his life, and the weight of such could be his downfall - and he knows it. Buchanan is wonderfully ebullient as the lawman trying to get Wade out of town ASAP, Nicol is hopped up on booze and a thirst for vengeance, whilst David Brian is entrepreneur Dick Braden, a devious man with no code or honour. Highly recommended to Western fans. 8/10