The Gal Who Took the West

The Gal Who Took the West is a 1949 American Western film directed by Frederick de Cordova starring Yvonne De Carlo, Charles Coburn, Scott Brady and John Russell.^[1] It was nominated for an award by the Writers Guild of America 1950.^[2]

The Gal Who Took the West
Film being shown in 1950 at a cinema in Amsterdam
Directed by	Frederick de Cordova
Screenplay by	William Bowers Oscar Brodney
Story by	William Bowers Oscar Brodney
Produced by	Robert Arthur
Starring	Yvonne De Carlo Charles Coburn Scott Brady John Russell
Cinematography	William H. Daniels
Edited by	Milton Carruth
Music by	Frank Skinner
Color process	Technicolor
Production company	Universal International Pictures
Distributed by	Universal Pictures
Release date	September 1949 (1949-09)
Running time	84 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English

Plot

A journalist is writing an article on the O'Hara family of Arizona. They tell about the time in the 1890s when a girl, Lily, was caught in a feud between two O'Haras.

Cast

• Yvonne De Carlo as Lillian 'Lily' Marlowe
• Charles Coburn as Gen Michael O'Hara
• Scott Brady as Lee O'Hara
• John Russell as Grant O'Hara
• Myrna Dell as Nancy
• James Millican as Hawley
• Clem Bevans as Hawley (as old Timer)
• Robert R. Stephenson as Ted (as Bob Stevenson)
• Houseley Stevenson as Ted (as old Timer)
• Robin Short as Bartender
• Russell Simpson as Bartender (as old Timer)
• John Litel as Colonel Logan
• James Todd as Douglas Andrews
• Edward Earle as Mr. Nolan

Production

The film was originally known as The Western Story. It was the idea of William Bowers, about three interpretations of a single incident in the life of a Western pioneer; it would be told in flashback from an old person's home. Bowers says he got the idea from reading an article in Life magazine about old gunfighters who lived in an old person's home in Prescott Arizona. Bowers was under contract to Universal at the time for $750 a week, and says he wrote the script in four weeks. Bowers says Billy Wilder wanted to buy the script for $100,000 and Universal were interested, but Bowers persuaded the studio to make the film themselves.^[3]

William Bowers and Robert Arthur were assigned to make it in December 1947.^[4]

In April 1948, Deanna Durbin and Charles Coburn were announced for the lead roles.^[5] Jerome Hines was signed for a support role.^[6]

By November, Durbin had dropped out and Universal replaced her with Yvonne De Carlo.^[7] (Bowers says Susan Hayward was going to star but Universal decided to use their contracted talent "and it went right out the window"^[3]) Stephen McNally and Howard Duff were given support roles.^[8] They dropped out and were replaced by Scott Brady and John Russell (the latter borrowed from 20th Century Fox).^[9]

Filming started in February 1949. The film was retitled The Gal Who Took the West during editing.^[10]