Devil’s Canyon is a popular Western movie released in 1953 in the USA. The film is known for its unique locations and distinguished cast. Delving into this article will provide a snapshot of where the movie was shot, as well as who played which roles. Moreover, intriguing backstage facts and details about the movie can also be discovered.
Where it Filmed?
The movie was shot at several addressees across the United States. Specific filming locations include Bronson Canyon, located at 4730 Crystal Springs Drive in Los Angeles, California within Griffith Park. A portion of the filming was also done in Cortaro, Arizona for specific desert scenes. Furthermore, the RKO Encino Ranch located at the intersection of Balboa Boulevard & Burbank Boulevard in Encino, Los Angeles, California was another key filming location.
Cast Details
| Cast Name | Role |
|---|---|
| Virginia Mayo | Abby Nixon |
| Dale Robertson | Billy Reynolds |
| Stephen McNally | Jessie Gorman |
| Arthur Hunnicutt | Frank Taggert |
| Robert Keith | Warden Steve Morgan |
| Jay C. Flippen | Captain Jack Wells |
| George J. Lewis | Colonel Jorge Gomez |
| Whit Bissell | Virgil Gates |
| Morris Ankrum | Sheriff |
| James Bell | Dr. Betts |
| Earl Holliman | Joe |
| Irving Bacon | Old Guard |
| Eric Alden | Tim (uncredited) |
| Murray Alper | Driver-Guard (uncredited) |
| Larry J. Blake | Hysterical Prisoner (uncredited) |
| Stanley Blystone | Bit Role (uncredited) |
| Lane Bradford | Guard (uncredited) |
| Chet Brandenburg | Townsman (uncredited) |
| George Bruggeman | Prisoner (uncredited) |
| Roy Bucko | Prisoner (uncredited) |
| Charles Cane | Blacksmith (uncredited) |
| Harry Cheshire | Happy – the Bartender (uncredited) |
| John Cliff | Bud Gorman (uncredited) |
| Fred Coby | Cole Gorman (uncredited) |
| Lee Erickson | Boy (uncredited) |
| Art Felix | Prisoner (uncredited) |
| Paul Fix | Gatling Guard (uncredited) |
| Sam Flint | Marshall Hayes (uncredited) |
| Frank Griffin | Guard (uncredited) |
| Chuck Hamilton | Guard (uncredited) |
| Al Haskell | Townsman (uncredited) |
| Jim Hayward | Man in Saloon (uncredited) |
| Ray Hyke | Guard (uncredited) |
| Stubby Kruger | Prisoner (uncredited) |
| Frank Marlowe | Pete (uncredited) |
| Gregg Martell | Tower Guard (uncredited) |
| John Maxwell | Storekeeper (uncredited) |
| Merrill McCormick | Prisoner (uncredited) |
| Frank Mills | Loafer (uncredited) |
| Bob Morgan | Guard (uncredited) |
| Peter Ortiz | Guard (uncredited) |
| Harvey Parry | Prisoner (uncredited) |
| Jack Perry | Prisoner (uncredited) |
| Tom Powers | Joe Holbert (uncredited) |
| Bob Reeves | Gate Guard (uncredited) |
| Richard Reeves | Guard (uncredited) |
| Dick Rich | Mike (uncredited) |
| Ted Ryan | Guard (uncredited) |
| James R. Scott | Prisoner (uncredited) |
| Sammy Shack | Prisoner (uncredited) |
| George Sherwood | Guard (uncredited) |
| Mickey Simpson | Prisoner (uncredited) |
| Jack Stoney | Guard (uncredited) |
| Glenn Strange | Marshal (uncredited) |
| Richard Thorne | Guard (uncredited) |
Trivia and Facts
- Directed by Alfred L. Werker, Devil’s Canyon was written by Frederick Hazlitt Brennan, Harry Essex, and Bennett Cohen.
- The film stars Virginia Mayo, Dale Robertson, and Stephen McNally with a supporting cast of noteworthy actors.
- Along with its captivating plot, the film is best known for its remarkable representation of Yuma Territorial Prison in Arizona which functioned between 1876 and 1909. The prison’s historical site is presently run as a museum by Arizona State Parks under the name Yuma Territorial Prison State Historic Park.
- Despite the authenticity of the Gatling gun used in the film, an inconsistency can be noticed with the bullets’ impacts. In one scene, the Gatling gun is fired multiple times at a wall resulting in visible bullet holes, while in another scene, the wall appears intact despite the gunfire.
- The opening credits of the film set the tone for the story, indicating that while the characters and their names are fictional, the depicted events are rooted in the historical reality of the Arizona Territory in 1897.
Geo Location Details
- Location Name: Bronson Canyon, Griffith Park – 4730 Crystal Springs Drive, Los Angeles, California, USA
- Latitude: 34.1213309
- Longitude: -118.3143371
- Place ID: ChIJZfmxCXq_woARZQU-Q38mf14
- Map Link: Google Map
- Place Address: Bronson Caves, 3200 Canyon Dr, Los Angeles, CA 90068, USA
- Timezone: America/Los_Angeles
- Location Name: Cortaro, Arizona, USA
- Latitude: 32.3549023
- Longitude: -111.0885149
- Place ID: ChIJb2VLM58K1oYRDZ1idAXGgoE
- Map Link: Google Map
- Place Address: Cortaro, Marana, AZ 85743, USA
- Timezone: America/Phoenix
- Location Name: RKO Encino Ranch – Balboa Boulevard & Burbank Boulevard, Encino, Los Angeles, California, USA
- Latitude: 34.1763096
- Longitude: -118.507593
- Place ID: ChIJoxFAeVK5woAR3vkAF4-3LWA
- Map Link: Google Map
- Place Address: La Cienega Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90230, USA
- Timezone: America/Los_Angeles
