The Broken Spur (1992)
Encyclopedia
The Broken Spur is a Sandpiper Productions western film released by the Intercontinental Releasing Corporation
in 1992 and re-released by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
in 1998. The production, shot as a 3-D film
was written and directed by Warren Chaney
. Beverly Wilson was the Executive Producer and Warren Chaney
, the Producer. It starred Gabriel Folse, Kathy Lampkin, Rusty Cox, Jo Thompson- Schreiner and Jayson Sutherland. It was one of the few westerns filmed in 3-D
utilizing a new filming technology
for a later release to television
.
The movie tells the story of a working cowboy
, who as a child witnessed his family's massacre by Indians. He is suddenly thrown together with a young Indian boy whose only remaining family, his grandfather, was brutally killed by white men. Together, the two must overcome their prejudice and hatred in order to survive and reach a common goal.
during the early 1860s. The story centers on a working ranch foreman, Sandy Steele (portrayed by Gabe Folse), and a young Indian
boy
, Little Hawk (portrayed by Jayson Sutherland).
As a child, Steele witnesses the vicious death of his family at the hands of an Indian raiding party. He is nearly killed but is rescued by his sister who sacrifices her life in the process. Growing to manhood, Steel becomes foreman of a large cattle ranch owned by a kindly but tough woman named Berdie (portrayed by Kathy Lampkin).
Steele and the ranch cowboys deliver their herd of longhorn cattle
to the stockyards in the town of Eagle Mesa. As he leaves the cattle yard with his friend Rawhide Johnson (Rusty Cox), he encounters his girl, Beth Hendricks (Jo Thompson-Schreiner). Rawhide leaves the two to talk, saying that he is going to the general store
in town for supplies.
Sandy meets Rawhide later in the town as a fight abruptly breaks out at the other end of the street. Three snarly looking men have assaulted an old Indian in town with his Grandson, Little Hawk. Sandy sees the altercation but does not want to get involved. However, when he sees Slade (played by Charles Gunning) knock the boy down, it is too much for him. Sandy quick-mounts his horse, gallops down the street and leaps onto the three men. A fight ensues and when Steel is winning, the other two Jenkins (David Sanders) and Barton (David Wayne), grab their guns and attempt to shoot the cowboy
. Rawhide arrives on the scene and stops them as Steele finishes the fight leaving Slade unconscious on the street.
The three bad men have been humiliated and slink away. Sandy and Rawhide now joined by Beth, help the grandfather and young child load their wagon. As the two Indians and their wagon pass down the street, Slade, Jenkins and Barton watch from a hidden recess by one of the buildings. Jenkins aims his pistol at the passing Indians. Slade stops him, cautioning his cohorts to wait until their targets are out of town.
As the sun passes behind a cloud, the three gunfighters ride atop a cliff and wait. Soon, they see Little Hawk and his grandfather riding through the canyon below them. Slade smiles, removes his rifle, takes aim and fires. The grandfather slumps forward and the two horses frightened by the sound break into a runaway gallop.
Sandy and Rawhide ride along a ridge some distance from the gunfighters. Rawhide hears the rifle shot as Steele spots the runaway team. He spurs his horse down the canyon’s side and gallops toward the speeding buckboard. He leaps from his horse onto wagon bed and makes his way to the reins. Atop the cliff, Slade fires his rifle once again. A bullet strikes the wagon strut causing Sandy to fall forward under the wagon. He quickly grabs the undercarriage, swings himself back up, and stops the runaways. However, it is too late as the Grandfather is dying.
Before passing, the old Indian takes the cowboy’s hand along with Little Hawk’s and places one in the other. His request is that Sandy Steel care for the young boy after the grandfather dies.
Steele meets the hand of fate when he becomes responsible for Little Hawk, a young Indian boy whose only family, his grandfather, has just been killed by white men. The cowboy realizes that the child has no one to care for him yet the memories of his own family’s death are too close. He gets into a heated discussion with Berdie and Rawhide.
Berdie takes a hard line with Sandy, accusing him of holding on to the pain and being insensitive. Sandy knows that she is right but has a difficult time letting go of his feelings. Unbeknownst to Sandy, Little Hawk overhears the conversation where Steele expresses his dislike for Indians. Little Hawk already hurt by the passing of his grandfather is hurt even more, thinking he is unwanted. He decides to leave the ranch and wakes early the next morning to do so. He finds and old gun and takes it, his Indian pony and runs away. His mission now, is to track, locate and kill the three men that murdered his Grandfather.
Later than morning Beth Hendricks arrives at the ranch to see whether she can help. She discovers that Little Hawk is missing and alerts Sandy and his friend, Rawhide. Together, the two set out to find the young boy before he can get hurt.
Sandy and Rawhide manage to find Little Hawk who has already found the gunfighters’ trail and is tracking them. Little Hawk refuses to leave until the killers are found and justice is served. Sandy and Rawhide decide to go forward and try to capture the bad men. They corner Jenkins but not before, he wounds Rawhide. A gunfight ensues at the top of a high cliff where Jenkins accidentally falls to his death. Sandy and Little Hawk bandage Rawhide and proceed on forward.
The Indian and Cowboy eventually track the remaining killers. Barton is captured as Slade tries to escape on horseback. Steele follows in pursuit, catches up with him and knocks him from his horse. The two tumble down a tall embankment and furious fight ensues. In the end, Sandy defeats Slade and the two bad guys are taken back to Eagle Mesa where they are tried and hung.
In the film’s final scene, Sandy and Rawhide are alone as the sun sets in the western skies. Sandy tells the story of his childhood and apologizes for the things he said that Little Hawk overhears. The little Indian nods in understanding. As Sandy extends his hand, Little Hawk takes it before erupting into a tearful hug. In the end, each has overcome their own prejudice and biases to find their better selves.
In 1852, at the age of 14, the ranch’s founder Charles Schreiner, became the head of the family. At 18, he staked his first claim in the rugged country that he had grown to love. He later became one of the founders of the Texas Rangers and in the Civil War’s aftermath, Captain Schreiner, using rangy Texas Longhorns as a foundation, began amassing an empire that included banks, retail stores and 566,000 acres of ranchland. It is in this setting that The Broken Spur (1992) was filmed.
The ranch has one of the largest herds of longhorn cattle in the world. During filming of the motion picture, over 500 head of cattle were used in the production. All of the weapons, wagons, stagecoaches and western gear were authentic to the period (1880s).
The town of Eagle-Mesa was a western set built near Wimberley, Texas
. Hundreds of extras showed up in authentic western wear during the week of production there. Unlike many single street western sets of today, the Eagle-Mesa/Wimberley set had 6 cross streets as well as working stages.
The western interiors were filmed at the YO Ranch House and at the nearby Dominion Ranch western facilities. The remaining interiors and exteriors were filmed at the Sandpiper Productions studios near Houston, Texas. Aside from the livestock furnished by the YO Ranch, all other livestock came from the ranch of Executive Producer, Beverly Wilson.
(IRC) in 1992 and later picked up for continuing distribution by Metro-Goldwyn-Meyer in 1998. It was released to home video on laser disc in 1998.
Intercontinental Releasing Corporation
The Intercontinental Releasing Corporation , was an American media company, primarily involved in the production and distribution of films and television programs. IRC was founded in September 1974 as the larger film studios' grip on domestic and international distribution diminished...
in 1992 and re-released by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Inc. is an American media company, involved primarily in the production and distribution of films and television programs. MGM was founded in 1924 when the entertainment entrepreneur Marcus Loew gained control of Metro Pictures, Goldwyn Pictures Corporation and Louis B. Mayer...
in 1998. The production, shot as a 3-D film
3-D film
A 3-D film or S3D film is a motion picture that enhances the illusion of depth perception...
was written and directed by Warren Chaney
Warren Chaney
Warren Herbert Chaney, Ph.D. is an American executive, author, filmmaker, behavioral scientist, entertainer, businessman and a pioneer in early television. In a career spanning four decades, Chaney wrote fifteen books, fourteen screenplays, and seventy-eight professional and nonprofessional...
. Beverly Wilson was the Executive Producer and Warren Chaney
Warren Chaney
Warren Herbert Chaney, Ph.D. is an American executive, author, filmmaker, behavioral scientist, entertainer, businessman and a pioneer in early television. In a career spanning four decades, Chaney wrote fifteen books, fourteen screenplays, and seventy-eight professional and nonprofessional...
, the Producer. It starred Gabriel Folse, Kathy Lampkin, Rusty Cox, Jo Thompson- Schreiner and Jayson Sutherland. It was one of the few westerns filmed in 3-D
3-D film
A 3-D film or S3D film is a motion picture that enhances the illusion of depth perception...
utilizing a new filming technology
Technology
Technology is the making, usage, and knowledge of tools, machines, techniques, crafts, systems or methods of organization in order to solve a problem or perform a specific function. It can also refer to the collection of such tools, machinery, and procedures. The word technology comes ;...
for a later release to television
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
.
The movie tells the story of a working cowboy
Cowboy
A cowboy is an animal herder who tends cattle on ranches in North America, traditionally on horseback, and often performs a multitude of other ranch-related tasks. The historic American cowboy of the late 19th century arose from the vaquero traditions of northern Mexico and became a figure of...
, who as a child witnessed his family's massacre by Indians. He is suddenly thrown together with a young Indian boy whose only remaining family, his grandfather, was brutally killed by white men. Together, the two must overcome their prejudice and hatred in order to survive and reach a common goal.
Plot
The Broken Spur (1992) is a western film set in west TexasWest Texas
West Texas is a vernacular term applied to a region in the southwestern quadrant of the United States that primarily encompasses the arid and semi-arid lands in the western portion of the state of Texas....
during the early 1860s. The story centers on a working ranch foreman, Sandy Steele (portrayed by Gabe Folse), and a young Indian
Indigenous peoples of the Americas
The indigenous peoples of the Americas are the pre-Columbian inhabitants of North and South America, their descendants and other ethnic groups who are identified with those peoples. Indigenous peoples are known in Canada as Aboriginal peoples, and in the United States as Native Americans...
boy
Boy
A boy is a young male human , as contrasted to its female counterpart, girl, or an adult male, a man.The term "boy" is primarily used to indicate biological sex distinctions, cultural gender role distinctions or both...
, Little Hawk (portrayed by Jayson Sutherland).
As a child, Steele witnesses the vicious death of his family at the hands of an Indian raiding party. He is nearly killed but is rescued by his sister who sacrifices her life in the process. Growing to manhood, Steel becomes foreman of a large cattle ranch owned by a kindly but tough woman named Berdie (portrayed by Kathy Lampkin).
Steele and the ranch cowboys deliver their herd of longhorn cattle
Longhorn cattle
Longhorn cattle are a long-horned brown and white breed of beef cattle originating from Craven in the north of England. They have a white patch along the line of their spine and under their bellies....
to the stockyards in the town of Eagle Mesa. As he leaves the cattle yard with his friend Rawhide Johnson (Rusty Cox), he encounters his girl, Beth Hendricks (Jo Thompson-Schreiner). Rawhide leaves the two to talk, saying that he is going to the general store
General store
A general store, general merchandise store, or village shop is a rural or small town store that carries a general line of merchandise. It carries a broad selection of merchandise, sometimes in a small space, where people from the town and surrounding rural areas come to purchase all their general...
in town for supplies.
Sandy meets Rawhide later in the town as a fight abruptly breaks out at the other end of the street. Three snarly looking men have assaulted an old Indian in town with his Grandson, Little Hawk. Sandy sees the altercation but does not want to get involved. However, when he sees Slade (played by Charles Gunning) knock the boy down, it is too much for him. Sandy quick-mounts his horse, gallops down the street and leaps onto the three men. A fight ensues and when Steel is winning, the other two Jenkins (David Sanders) and Barton (David Wayne), grab their guns and attempt to shoot the cowboy
Cowboy
A cowboy is an animal herder who tends cattle on ranches in North America, traditionally on horseback, and often performs a multitude of other ranch-related tasks. The historic American cowboy of the late 19th century arose from the vaquero traditions of northern Mexico and became a figure of...
. Rawhide arrives on the scene and stops them as Steele finishes the fight leaving Slade unconscious on the street.
The three bad men have been humiliated and slink away. Sandy and Rawhide now joined by Beth, help the grandfather and young child load their wagon. As the two Indians and their wagon pass down the street, Slade, Jenkins and Barton watch from a hidden recess by one of the buildings. Jenkins aims his pistol at the passing Indians. Slade stops him, cautioning his cohorts to wait until their targets are out of town.
As the sun passes behind a cloud, the three gunfighters ride atop a cliff and wait. Soon, they see Little Hawk and his grandfather riding through the canyon below them. Slade smiles, removes his rifle, takes aim and fires. The grandfather slumps forward and the two horses frightened by the sound break into a runaway gallop.
Sandy and Rawhide ride along a ridge some distance from the gunfighters. Rawhide hears the rifle shot as Steele spots the runaway team. He spurs his horse down the canyon’s side and gallops toward the speeding buckboard. He leaps from his horse onto wagon bed and makes his way to the reins. Atop the cliff, Slade fires his rifle once again. A bullet strikes the wagon strut causing Sandy to fall forward under the wagon. He quickly grabs the undercarriage, swings himself back up, and stops the runaways. However, it is too late as the Grandfather is dying.
Before passing, the old Indian takes the cowboy’s hand along with Little Hawk’s and places one in the other. His request is that Sandy Steel care for the young boy after the grandfather dies.
Steele meets the hand of fate when he becomes responsible for Little Hawk, a young Indian boy whose only family, his grandfather, has just been killed by white men. The cowboy realizes that the child has no one to care for him yet the memories of his own family’s death are too close. He gets into a heated discussion with Berdie and Rawhide.
Berdie takes a hard line with Sandy, accusing him of holding on to the pain and being insensitive. Sandy knows that she is right but has a difficult time letting go of his feelings. Unbeknownst to Sandy, Little Hawk overhears the conversation where Steele expresses his dislike for Indians. Little Hawk already hurt by the passing of his grandfather is hurt even more, thinking he is unwanted. He decides to leave the ranch and wakes early the next morning to do so. He finds and old gun and takes it, his Indian pony and runs away. His mission now, is to track, locate and kill the three men that murdered his Grandfather.
Later than morning Beth Hendricks arrives at the ranch to see whether she can help. She discovers that Little Hawk is missing and alerts Sandy and his friend, Rawhide. Together, the two set out to find the young boy before he can get hurt.
Sandy and Rawhide manage to find Little Hawk who has already found the gunfighters’ trail and is tracking them. Little Hawk refuses to leave until the killers are found and justice is served. Sandy and Rawhide decide to go forward and try to capture the bad men. They corner Jenkins but not before, he wounds Rawhide. A gunfight ensues at the top of a high cliff where Jenkins accidentally falls to his death. Sandy and Little Hawk bandage Rawhide and proceed on forward.
The Indian and Cowboy eventually track the remaining killers. Barton is captured as Slade tries to escape on horseback. Steele follows in pursuit, catches up with him and knocks him from his horse. The two tumble down a tall embankment and furious fight ensues. In the end, Sandy defeats Slade and the two bad guys are taken back to Eagle Mesa where they are tried and hung.
In the film’s final scene, Sandy and Rawhide are alone as the sun sets in the western skies. Sandy tells the story of his childhood and apologizes for the things he said that Little Hawk overhears. The little Indian nods in understanding. As Sandy extends his hand, Little Hawk takes it before erupting into a tearful hug. In the end, each has overcome their own prejudice and biases to find their better selves.
Cast
- Gabriel Folse as Sandy Steele
- Rusty Cox as Rawhide
- Jayson Sutherland as Little Hawk
- Kathy Lamkin as Birdie
- Charles Gunning as Slade
- David Sanders as Jenkins
- David Wayne as Barton
- Jo Thompson-Schreiner as Beth Hendricks
- Jason Chaney as Sandy Steel as a Boy
- Zeke Mills as White Bear
- Raymond Czichos as Wally Bryan
- John Hervey as Marshal
- Lesley Chaney as Emily
- Beverly Wilson-Wilson as Pearl
- Roy Alan Wilson as Saloon Singer
- Keith Brun as Bartender
- Phil Nichols as Saloon Derelict Brawler
- Tony Hodges as John Avery
- Richard Ball as Red Eagle
- Melissa L. Nichols as Pony Express Rider
- Warren ChaneyWarren ChaneyWarren Herbert Chaney, Ph.D. is an American executive, author, filmmaker, behavioral scientist, entertainer, businessman and a pioneer in early television. In a career spanning four decades, Chaney wrote fifteen books, fourteen screenplays, and seventy-eight professional and nonprofessional...
as Bannon - Kris Eberspacher as Sandy's Mother
- R.A. Hilder as Sandy's Father
Reviews
Reviews for The Broken Spur were favorable at the time of release and afterwards. Anne Clarke writing for the online Movies website wrote of actress, Kathy Lampkin (portrayed character of Berdie), "I just saw The Broken Spur (1992) that she (Lampkin) starred in. She was outstanding and this was one of the best little western movies I ever saw. I am still laughing at her characterization of the ranch owner." Ralph Grant in a New York Times review wrote, "Warren Chaney as the writer/director manages a superbly directed production that stirs adventure in the heart and an emotional chord within the soul. His film work makes an indelible imprint upon the viewer that is almost haunting in nature." A writer at the Internet Movie Database said, "Gabe Folse is the lead and Jayson Sutherland portrays the young Indian. Together they will make you laugh and break your heart.". Also writing for IMDb, Lynn Gilkey states, "Chaney (the director) has a masterful touch for the western. It is a shame that he never did more of them after this release."Production
The Broken Spur (1992) was filmed on location in west Texas at the legendary YO Ranch. The ranch has been under one family’s ownership since its founding in 1880.In 1852, at the age of 14, the ranch’s founder Charles Schreiner, became the head of the family. At 18, he staked his first claim in the rugged country that he had grown to love. He later became one of the founders of the Texas Rangers and in the Civil War’s aftermath, Captain Schreiner, using rangy Texas Longhorns as a foundation, began amassing an empire that included banks, retail stores and 566,000 acres of ranchland. It is in this setting that The Broken Spur (1992) was filmed.
The ranch has one of the largest herds of longhorn cattle in the world. During filming of the motion picture, over 500 head of cattle were used in the production. All of the weapons, wagons, stagecoaches and western gear were authentic to the period (1880s).
The town of Eagle-Mesa was a western set built near Wimberley, Texas
Wimberley, Texas
Wimberley is a small town in Hays County, Texas, United States. Prior to its incorporation in May 2000, it was a census-designated place . The population was 2,626 at the 2010 census.-History:...
. Hundreds of extras showed up in authentic western wear during the week of production there. Unlike many single street western sets of today, the Eagle-Mesa/Wimberley set had 6 cross streets as well as working stages.
The western interiors were filmed at the YO Ranch House and at the nearby Dominion Ranch western facilities. The remaining interiors and exteriors were filmed at the Sandpiper Productions studios near Houston, Texas. Aside from the livestock furnished by the YO Ranch, all other livestock came from the ranch of Executive Producer, Beverly Wilson.
Distribution
The Broken Spur (1992) was distributed by Intercontinental Releasing CorporationIntercontinental Releasing Corporation
The Intercontinental Releasing Corporation , was an American media company, primarily involved in the production and distribution of films and television programs. IRC was founded in September 1974 as the larger film studios' grip on domestic and international distribution diminished...
(IRC) in 1992 and later picked up for continuing distribution by Metro-Goldwyn-Meyer in 1998. It was released to home video on laser disc in 1998.
External links
- The Broken Spur (1992) at New York Times
- InBaseliine Database: The Broken Spur (1992)
- Warren Chaney at Internet Movie Database
- List of Western Films of the 1990s
- Broken Spur Footage