Home | Movies By Year | Movies from 1942
Wildcat (film)
Buy Wildcat (film) now from AmazonFirst, read the Wikipedia article. Then, scroll down to see what other TopShelfReviews readers thought about the movie. And once you've experienced the movie, tell everyone what you thought about it.
Wikipedia article
'Wildcat' is a 1942 American drama film directed by Frank McDonald and written by Richard Murphy and Maxwell Shane. The film stars Richard Arlen, Arline Judge, William Frawley, Buster Crabbe, Arthur Hunnicutt, Elisha Cook, Jr. and Ralph Sanford. The film was released on September 3, 1942, by Paramount Pictures.Wildcat
Monthly Film Bulletin; London Vol. 9, Iss. 97, (Jan 1, 1942): 118.
Plot
Oil man Johnny Maverick dubs a young hitchhiker "Chicopee" after the name of his hometown, then makes him a full partner, digging for oil. Chicopee is killed in a rig accident, however, and rival Mike Rawlins then sabotages the rig.
Things get worse for Johnny when con artists Nan and Oliver turn up. She pretends to be Chicopee's sister, so Johnny gullibly gives her the half-interest in his oil rig.
Rawlins buys up Johnny's outstanding debts and intends to take over. In an act of desperation, Johnny uses nitroglycerine to blast open an oil well, resulting in a gusher. An explosion ends up knocking Rawlins unconscious and pinning Johnny beneath the wreckage, but Nan, having fallen in love with Johnny, comes to his rescue.
Cast
*Richard Arlen as Johnny Maverick
*Arline Judge as Nan Deering
*William Frawley as Oliver Westbrook
*Buster Crabbe as Mike Rawlins
*Arthur Hunnicutt as 'Watchfob' Jones
*Elisha Cook, Jr. as Harold 'Chicopee' Nevins
*Ralph Sanford as 'Grits' O'Malley
*Alec Craig as Joseph D. Campbell
*John Dilson as Gus Sloane
*Will Wright as John 'Paw' Smithers
*Jessica Newcombe as Martha 'Maw' Smithers
*William Benedict as Bud Smithers
Production
The film was based on a story by North Bigbee, a journalist who had worked in the oil industry, which was purchased by Pine-Thomas Productions. They assigned it to star Richard Arlen, after he did 'Torpedo Boat' for the studio.20th Signs Laughtons to Play Married Pair Los Angeles Times 23 Oct 1941: A10.
Pine-Thomas wanted a "Jean Harlow type" for the female lead and even tested Harlow's stand in.Gold-Rush Days Epic Will Star John Wayne: 'Wildcat' Lead Elusive Berlin Revue Plans Told Training Films Praised 'Tarzan' Vamp Selected Feldary Cast in 'Bell' Schallert, Edwin. Los Angeles Times 13 Dec 1941: 9. Jean Wallace was originally announced for the roleOf Local Origin New York Times 24 Oct 1941: 27. but did not appear in the final movie. She was replaced by Arline Judge who signed a three picture deal with Pine-Thomas.DRAMA: Unique Stories Again Prevail in Filmdom
Schallert, Edwin. Los Angeles Times 10 Jan 1942: 7.
The film reportedly had Pine-Thomas' biggest budget yet to date.Jessie Matthews Will Sparkle Here at Last Schallert, Edwin. Los Angeles Times 8 Dec 1941: A11.
References
Buy Wildcat (film) now from Amazon
<-- Return to movies from 1942