A rich frontier drama starring Dana Andrews as 'Logan' a supply merchant caught between the love of two woman, a crooked partner and the ever present threat of Indians. CANYON PASSAGE is as much about Dana Andrews as it is about the whole frontier town around him and all its people. A great warm sense of community shot on location in Oregon. We get to watch as the whole town chips in for a new family and builds them a log cabin followed by a lively celebration.
Dana Andrews is reluctant to settle down and has a beautiful bride in waiting with Patrica Roc. But Dana seems to be a better fit with Susan Hayward, a cowgirl type of gal who happens to be with his business partner George Camrose (Brian Dolevy). Camrose is addicted to gambling and heavily in debt so Andrews bails him out and makes him promise to stop gambling. Camrose doesn't and instead steals gold from a local miner and kills him in a desperate need for more cash. The town holds a makeshift court and declares to hang Camrose. But Dana Andrews comes to his rescue, again.
Ward Bond plays a brutish town bully name 'Honey Bragg' who has a great fistfight with Andrews in the saloon with the whole town egging them on. Lloyd Bridges plays an angry miner named 'Johnny Steele' who's sick and tired and wants some action. Hoagy Carmichael plays a kinda Greek chorus to the film, singing along, 'Ole Buttermilk Sky', and popping up to offer some sage wisdom. Andy Devine plays a hug-able elder type who welcomes everyone into his family. The whole town seems like a nice homey place.
The Oregon scenery is lush and makes for a great backdrop. The Technicolor is wonderfully vibrant, almost hypnotic. Jacques Tourneur made a great western showcasing a growing community on the frontier. Fans of Dana Andrews will swoon.
Left to right: Lloyd Bridges, Dana Andrews, Ernest Haycox, Patricia Roc, and Andy Devine. The photograph was taken at Diamond Lake in southern Oregon, near the setting for Canyon Passage.
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