The McMasters explained

The McMasters
Director:Alf Kjellin
Producer:Monroe Sachson
Dimitri de Grunwald
Screenplay:Harold Jacob Smith
Starring:Burl Ives
Brock Peters
David Carradine
Nancy Kwan
Music:Coleridge-Taylor Perkinson
Cinematography:Lester Shorr
Editing:Melvin Shapiro
Studio:Distrifilm SA
JayJen Productions
Distributor:Chevron Pictures
Runtime:90 minutes
Country:United States
Language:English

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

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

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

Novelization

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.

Notes and References

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