Copper Canyon
Copper Canyon
NR | 15 November 1950 (USA)
Copper Canyon Trailers

A group of copper miners, Southern veterans, are terrorized by local rebel-haters, led by deputy Lane Travis. The miners ask stage sharpshooter Johnny Carter to help them, under the impression that he is the legendary Colonel Desmond. It seems they're wrong; but Johnny's show comes to Coppertown and Johnny romances lovely gambler Lisa Roselle, whom the miners believe is at the center of their troubles.

Reviews
Redwarmin This movie is the proof that the world is becoming a sick and dumb place
BootDigest Such a frustrating disappointment
StyleSk8r At first rather annoying in its heavy emphasis on reenactments, this movie ultimately proves fascinating, simply because the complicated, highly dramatic tale it tells still almost defies belief.
Skyler Great movie. Not sure what people expected but I found it highly entertaining.
classicsoncall There's a handful of actors from the Forties and Fifties era that don't appear like they belong in Westerns. Fred MacMurray is one, and Ray Milland is another, appearing here as a trick shot artist with a secret he's hiding in order to ply his trade. With sympathies that lean toward the Confederacy, Johnny Carter (Milland) decides to throw in with some Southern miners being victimized for their copper diggings. He winds up in a somewhat dubious relationship with saloon gal Lisa Roselle (Hedy Lamarr), who's part of a syndicate robbing the copper ore train on it's runs to Mesa City.Lamarr's role here didn't seem quite credible when the story fully played out; her affection for Carter outweighed her greed, so she eventually became a good guy. So what about all the robberies that she benefited from that occurred before her turn in this picture? But oh baby, how about those flashing green eyes of hers - wow! There's one scene with Milland where they just jump right out and grab you.So even though Milland looked a bit out of place here, I still have to give the film credit for his character pulling a Durango Kid move when he switched horses following his ambush on the attempted Travis robbery of the ore train. He even switched from a white horse to a black one like Durango would have done ditching his mask and outfit in an undisclosed location. Funny, but outside of Charles Starrett's programmers, I don't think I've seen that done anywhere else, which is why it was unique enough to mention.The other thing unique enough to mention has to do with the casting of Hope Emerson in the story as the saloon boss at the Hotel Rainbow. I became a big time Emerson fan right after seeing her in the 1950 prison flick "Caged". She made this one right after, and has a few good scenes making her presence felt. I sure wouldn't want to get in her way for any reason.For the most part, this is a passable yarn, more of a time filler than an intriguing Western. Keep an eye on that scene when Johnny Carter takes a heavy spill in the creek while riding his horse. It's toward the end of the story, with both horse and rider completely submerging. The most amazing thing about it - Carter's shirt was only partially wet!
dougdoepke Plot-- An ex-Confederate officer turned trick-shot artist is enlisted by townsfolk looking to get their copper ore past a crooked sheriff and his men. At the same time, he has to deal with a glamorous saloon girl whose allegiance sort of wobbles.When I think westerns, LaMarr and Milland don't come readily to mind. Here they're just okay, though I'm sure their names looked good on the marquee. Though Milland can project grit, he's too laid-back (unmotivated?) here to anchor an action movie. He's better when he's just a smooth trick-shot artist. Then too, LaMarr projects a lot more beauty than the emotion needed for her tricky role. Her part unfortunately calls for a stronger, more Stanwyck-type personality, as others point out. Nonetheless, the production does have two things going for it. First is the great red rock scenery of Sedona, AZ, familiar from a hundred other big budget oaters, but well- staged and photographed here. Second is Macdonald Carey who delivers much needed spark and energy as the conniving bad guy. Then too, no film that includes exotica like the gnomish Percy Helton (Scamper) or the amazonian Hope Emerson (Ma Tarbet) can afford to be overlooked.Anyway, the movie's a decent time-passer, but lacks the tightness and force needed to really register.
wndlz I have not seen this movie recently; but I remember it as an unusually attractive looking film. Color by Technicolor, and colorful costumes by Edith Head, for Hedy Lamarr, helped make this otherwise run of the mill story, eye candy for viewers. Hedy Lamarr looked wonderful as usual; of course this role could not possibly rival that of Delilah. Ray Milland was more fun than usual. I thought character development was superior to most westerns of the time; except perhaps for Hedy's role, which seemed a little ambiguous. Good western. Hedy Lamarr's physical presence was an added bonus.
alexandre michel liberman (tmwest) The fifties were a time of transition for the western genre. Quite a few were using stories that could have taken place anywhere, others kept to the tradition. Copper Canyon is a traditional western, but where no money was spared in the production, with great colors and top actors. Ray Milland is an entertainer (he shows his marksmanship on stage),that comes to a town to help confederates which are being discriminated after the war. Hedy Lamarr is the woman he falls for, very pretty, and during the film you keep wandering if she's not going back to being Delilah again and betray Milland. Macdonald Carey who used to be the leading actor in many westerns, is in a supporting role as the bad guy. This is a light, pleasant entertaining film.