- For the episode, see MST3K 510 - The Painted Hills.
The Painted Hills is a 1951 western movie directed by Harold F. Kress.
Plot[]
The Painted Hills
After years of prospecting, Jonathan Harvey strikes gold. He returns to town and discovers that his partner Mr. Blake has died, leaving Blake's son Tommy fatherless. Jonathan decides to leave his faithful dog Shep with Tommy to cheer him up. Shep becomes despondent due to be separated from his master, and Tommy decides to return the loyal dog to Jonathan.
Jonathan's new partner Lin Taylor doesn't want to share the gold and lures Jonathan to his death. Shep immediately deduces what has happened, so Lin poisons the dog. Shep barely survives and pursues Lin to a climactic confrontation.
Cast[]
- Lassie as Shep
- Paul Kelly as Jonathan Harvey
- Bruce Cowling as Lin Taylor
- Gary Gray as Tommy Blake
- Art Smith as Pilot Pete
- Ann Doran as Martha Blake
Notes[]
- This was the seventh and final Lassie feature produced by MGM.
- The Painted Hills was the only Lassie movie in which the dog played a character whose name was not Lassie.
- The "Lassie" that appears in this film was a male dog named Pal. Pal originated the role of "Lassie", and most subsequent Lassies have been played by descendants of Pal.
- Based on the novel Shep of the Painted Hills by Alexander Hull.
- The religious character in this film is referred to as "Pilot Pete". In this context, "Pilot" means "One who guides or directs a course of action for others".
- According to MGM records, the film earned $783,000 in the US and Canada and $302,000 elsewhere, leading to a loss of $122,000.
- Along with seven other MGM films released the first half of 1951, the copyright on The Painted Hills lapsed after MGM neglected to file the necessary renewal applications in 1979. The film is now in the public domain and has been released on VHS and DVD by several companies.
- Co-Art Director Cedric Gibbons and Set Decorator Edwin B. Willis won several Academy Awards for Art Direction (alongside others) from 1942's Blossoms in the Dust to 1957's Somebody Up There Likes Me.
MST3K Connections[]
- Ann Doran also portrayed Mavis in Kitten with a Whip.
- Makeup artist John Truwe was also makeup artist for Girls Town.
- Makeup creator William Tuttle was also makeup artist for Girls Town.
- Orchestrator Leonid Raab was also orchestrator for Lost Continent.