Ride the Pink Horse (1947)
A hard-edged film noir where a dangerous blackmail scheme ignites a deadly chase through a sun-drenched New Mexico fiesta.
Ride the Pink Horse - Movie Information
- Original Title: Ride the Pink Horse
- Release Year: 1947
- Directed by: Robert Montgomery
- Type: Movie
- Genres: Drama, Mystery, Thriller
- Age Rating (US): NR
- Runtime: 1h 41m
- Original Language: English
- Spoken Languages: English, Spanish
- Release Date (Theatrical): October 8, 1947 (United States - NR)
- Alternative Titles: Do Lodo Nasceu Uma Flor (PT)
- Production Companies: Universal International Pictures
- Production Countries: United States of America
Ride the Pink Horse - Plot
A con man tries to blackmail a Mexican gangster.
Ride the Pink Horse - Trailer
See the tension and atmosphere of this classic noir unfold in the official trailer.
THE EXCITEMENT OF DESPERATE ADVENTURE! THE SUSPENSE OF RELENTLESS MAN-HUNT!
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Ride the Pink Horse - Cast & Crew
Director(s)
- Robert Montgomery
Main Cast
- Robert Montgomery
- Wanda Hendrix
- Andrea King
- Thomas Gomez
- Fred Clark
- Art Smith
- Richard Gaines
- Rita Conde
- Iris Flores
- Tito Renaldo
Writers
- Ben Hecht
- Charles Lederer
Producers
- Joan Harrison
Ride the Pink Horse - FAQs
Is Ride the Pink Horse based on a book?
Yes, Ride the Pink Horse is based on the 1946 novel of the same name by Dorothy B. Hughes, the acclaimed crime writer also behind In a Lonely Place. The screenplay was adapted by Ben Hecht and Charles Lederer, who shaped the source material into a taut, atmospheric film noir.
Who directed and starred in Ride the Pink Horse?
Robert Montgomery both directed and starred in Ride the Pink Horse, playing the cynical drifter Lucky Gagin. It was one of Montgomery's most ambitious directorial efforts, following his earlier experiment with subjective camera technique in Lady in the Lake, released the same year.
What is Ride the Pink Horse about?
Lucky Gagin, a tough and world-weary drifter, arrives in a small New Mexico town during a fiesta to blackmail Frank Hugo, a powerful gangster he holds responsible for a friend's death. Caught between Hugo's hired muscle and an FBI agent, Gagin finds unexpected allies in a carousel operator and a young Native American girl.
What makes Ride the Pink Horse a film noir?
Ride the Pink Horse checks all the classic noir boxes: a morally compromised protagonist, a corrupt and dangerous antagonist, shadowy cinematography by Russell Metty, and a fatalistic atmosphere thick with menace. The fiesta setting adds a vivid, almost surreal backdrop that makes this noir feel genuinely distinctive among its peers.
Who are the main actors in Ride the Pink Horse?
The film stars Robert Montgomery as Lucky Gagin, Wanda Hendrix as the compassionate Pila, Andrea King as Marjorie Lundeen, Thomas Gomez as the warm-hearted carousel operator Pancho, and Fred Clark as the menacing villain Frank Hugo. Thomas Gomez earned an Academy Award nomination for his memorable supporting performance.
Did Ride the Pink Horse receive any award nominations?
Thomas Gomez received an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor for his role as Pancho, the carousel operator who befriends the protagonist. It was a well-deserved nod for one of the film's most warm and memorable performances, and one of the few Oscar recognitions for a film noir of that era.
When was Ride the Pink Horse released?
Ride the Pink Horse was released on October 8, 1947, in the United States by Universal International Pictures. It arrived during a golden period for film noir, sharing the year with other classics of the genre and cementing Robert Montgomery's reputation as a bold and inventive filmmaker.
What are some movies similar to Ride the Pink Horse?
If you enjoy Ride the Pink Horse, you might love The Glass Key (1942), The Mask of Dimitrios (1944), Lady in the Lake (1946), They Live by Night (1949), and The Damned Don't Cry (1950). These films share the same brooding noir atmosphere, morally complex characters, and tightly wound suspense.
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