The McMasters is a 1970 American Western film directed by Alf Kjellin and starring Burl Ives, Brock Peters, David Carradine and Nancy Kwan.

The McMasters
Directed byAlf Kjellin
Screenplay byHarold Jacob Smith
Produced byMonroe Sachson
Dimitri de Grunwald
StarringBurl Ives
Brock Peters
David Carradine
Nancy Kwan
CinematographyLester Shorr
Edited byMelvin Shapiro
Music byColeridge-Taylor Perkinson
Production
companies
Distrifilm SA
JayJen Productions
Distributed byChevron Pictures
Release dates
  • August 7, 1970 (1970-08-07) (New York City)
  • December 23, 1970 (1970-12-23) (Los Angeles)
Running time
90 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

Producer Monroe Sachson had made The Incident with Brock Peters and the two were looking around for another film to make together. The budget was around $2 million.[1] The film was shot in New Mexico.[2]

The film was cut by the US distributors, Chevron Pictures, and Peters, the writer and producer asked to have their names removed from the film.[3] Ultimately, two versions of the film were released. For its NYC debut, it played in two different theatres, one showing the cut version, the other showing the director's cut.

Plot

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An ex-slave is given half-ownership of a farm following the Civil War. He can't find anyone to work for him until Native Americans help. Bigots try to shut him down.

Cast

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Novelization

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Concurrent with the release of the film, Award Books published a novelization of the screenplay by Dudley Dean McGaughey under his primary by-line, Dean Owen.

References

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  1. ^ Briggs, Walter. (April 13, 1969). "Movies: An International Film Effort in New Mexico". Los Angeles Times. p. s17.
  2. ^ Kimmis Hendrick (May 12, 1969). "Making a western with overtones of now: 'Kind of frightening' Born a slave". The Christian Science Monitor. p. 4.
  3. ^ Kilday, Gregg (September 1, 1970). "DISAGREE WITH EDITING: Principals Disown New Film". Los Angeles Times. p. g13.
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