The Red Fury

(1984, U.S.) color 105 minutes
A Dayton-Stewart Production
Screenplay by Joe Elliott, Royce Lerwick, Douglas Stewart
Music: Merrill Jenson
Cinematography: Arch Bryant
Editing: T. Francis Bee
Casting: Henry Rackin
Produced by Lyman Dayton, Douglas Stewart
Directed by Lyman Dayton

With: Will Jordan (John Handley), Juan Gonzales (Frankie the Indian Boy), Calvin Bartlett (Bill Stenslough), Wendy Lynne (Mary), Katherine Cannon (Amelia Anderson), Diane McBain (Mrs. French), Alan Hale, Jr. (Doc Kaminsky), Ronald Hatch (Frankie’s Father)

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Plot: Early in the twentieth century, a train rumbles through the Arizona Territory carrying a group of Native Americans on several flatcars. One of the young Indians falls off of the rolling railcar into the desert. Shortly thereafter, he meets up with a settler who provides hospitality and love. At his new home, the Indian boy displays a natural talent to tame the settler’s wild horse, Red Fury, who has not been broken by his owner. In addition, the stallion is set to breed with a mare owned by a wealthy, car-owning southwest resident who has a daughter. During their visit to the settler’s home, the rich man’s child and the Indian boy become friends. Eventually, the settler gives Red Fury to his new foster son who begins to train the horse for a 4th of July race in town. Meanwhile, he also gets a visit by the local teacher to discuss the Indian boy’s education. On his first day at school, the new student gets into a fight with one of his fellow classmates while engaging in horseplay in a mud pond. Following the altercation, the boy takes off on Red Fury, with the wealthy man’s daughter (and fellow student) in pursuit also on horseback. The two return, and apologies are provided by the student who provoked the brawl. Feeling somewhat guilty, the same boy invites the Indian youth to accompany him to the general store to buy him whatever he wants. The kindness, however, does not go far as the apologetic child intentionally leaves the store without paying for the wronged’s knife. Then, the store owner discovers the missing item and realizes the two kids had just been in her business. She goes to the schoolhouse where the Indian boy tells the truth that his new found friend agreed to purchase the knife, but to no avail. During a school board meeting later, the wealthy man, who serves as the group’s superintendent and dislikes the Indian youth due to his friendship with his daughter, convinces three of the five members to vote to expel the boy from school. Nevertheless, his teacher decides to instruct the child at the settler’s home. Love blossoms between the instructor and the settler, and they marry. The Indian youth continues working with Red Fury to prepare the horse for the upcoming race. One day, the wealthy man challenges the settler to see who has the fastest horse, with the loser unable to participate in the upcoming race. Riding Red Fury, the Indian boy wins, and the car-owning socialite leaves the scene with even a bigger chip on his shoulder against the settler and his charge. Nevertheless, the wealthy man will eventually bury the hatchet as the Indian boy and Red Fury come to the rescue in getting medical help for his pregnant wife. With the settler hurt when a poorly- constructed water tower falls on him on his property during a driving rainstorm, the Indian boy volunteers to secure the needed assistance. Galloping through the inclement weather, Red Fury gets injured, but the horse transports his young rider to the right place at the right time. The rich man’s wife and child survive, but Red Fury is put down. Joy, however, comes after mourning, as the wealthy man and his daughter give the Indian boy the colt sired by Red Fury and their mare. Then, the Indian youth’s father arrives to take his son and his new pet home. The film ends with the reunited two and their horse walking down the road into the sunset and a new life together.

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Synopsis: Known for his family-friendly, wilderness films such as Baker’s Hawk, Seven Alone and Against a Crooked Sky, Director and Producer Lyman Dayton scores another hit with The Red Fury. Filmed in the beautiful American southwest, The Red Fury begins with an Indian boy named Frankie, played by Juan Gonzales, who falls from a railroad flatcar carrying other Native Americans across the Arizona Territory of the early 20th Century. He soon encounters John Handley, portrayed by Will Jordan, who has settled in the nearby environs. John invites the refugee to stay at his homestead, and the boy agrees. During his initial days at the Handley estate, Frankie demonstrates a talent in taming John’s wild horse called Red Fury. Shortly thereafter, a wealthy businessman, Bill Stenslough, played by Calvin Bartlett, comes to the Handley home in the newest form of transportation, a car (Model A or T), to discuss mating his mare with Red Fury. During the visit, he also brings his daughter Mary, played by Wendy Lynne, who immediately becomes friends with Frankie. They play together in the barn, and their loud voices aggravate Bill who then abruptly leaves with Mary in tow. The bond between John and Frankie grows, and the settler decides to give Red Fury to his new foster son. It will be Frankie’s task to train the stallion to run in the upcoming 4th of July race in the nearby town. During a trip to the local general store run by Mrs. French, played by Diane McBain, John and Frankie are seen by the local schoolteacher, Amelia Anderson, played by Katherine Cannon. Amelia ventures to John’s home to discuss Frankie’s educational future. It is agreed he will attend school. While heading to class with Red Fury in tow, Frankie is greeted by the other students who then descend on the local mud pond. During some horseplay in the dirt, Frankie is pushed and shoved by another classmate, and a fight between the two occurs. After the brawl is broken up, Frankie hops aboard Red Fury and he is followed by Mary (who also attends the same schoolhouse) also on horseback.

The two eventually return, but Bill is none too happy that his beloved daughter has been out and about with an Indian boy. Nevertheless, Frankie returns to school, and he receives apologies from the mud pond provoker who invites him to go to the general store with him. The apologetic boy tells Frankie he will buy him anything he wants in the store (within reason, of course). The two grab their goods at the store, but Frankie is left behind as the other boy leaves after only paying for his own items. Believing his new knife is paid for, Frankie follows the youth back to school. After the two boys’ departure, Mrs. French realizes a knife has been taken without being paid for, and she immediately hightails it to the schoolhouse. She corrals Amelia and tells her that she must find out which boy in her class stole the knife. Following an initial interrogative interplay, Frankie states that the knife is his since his new found friend promised he would pay for it. Although he spoke the truth, Frankie becomes persona non grata with Mrs. French and other locals including Bill who runs the local school board.

He calls a school board meeting to decide Frankie’s fate. Following a passionate appeal from Amelia, the group votes three to two, with Mrs. French providing the tiebreaking vote, to expel Frankie from school. John and Frankie leave the meeting upset and dejected, but Amelia adds hope when she announces she will teach the Indian boy at John’s home. Doc Kaminsky, played by Alan Hale, Jr., shakes his head in disgust over the proceedings and announces his displeasure.

While instructing Frankie, Amelia’s and John’s love grows, and they marry. On the other hand, Frankie continues to devote his full attention to preparing Red Fury for the upcoming race. In the meantime, Bill shows up at the Handley estate and challenges John to a match race pitting his horse against Red Fury, with the loser scratched from the 4th of July contest. Frankie jockeys Red Fury to victory and Bill leaves a sore loser. His prejudice against Frankie, however, will be short lived.

A raging rainstorm sweeps the Arizona desert, and in its commotion, John is injured. A hastily-constructed water tower he installed on his property required checking, and while out in the downpour, portions of the structure fall on the settler. At the same time, Bill’s wife, pregnant with child, needs medical attention, but Doc is socializing at the Taylors’ many miles away. Bill’s mode of transportation, either by car or horse, cannot get through the flooded desert, and he calls John for help. The settler, injured from the storm accident, cannot assist, but Frankie comes to the rescue. He hops on Red Fury for the 17-mile journey to the Taylors’ home. During the trip, Red Fury injures his leg, but still carries Frankie to the required destination. Doc gets the word about Bill’s wife, but while there is hope for her, little remains for Red Fury. He is put down much to the dismay of Frankie and the Taylors. His beloved memory, however, will continue.

Bill’s wife delivers by caesarean section, and a new life enters the world. Joy, however, follows mourning, and happiness will once again shine on the Handley household. Out of gratitude and pushing away his prejudice, Bill, along with Mary, bring the colt from Red Fury and the Stenslough’s mare as a gift to Frankie for his heroic efforts. Shortly thereafter, an Indian man arrives and tells John that he is Frankie’s father. Frankie then thanks his foster dad and mom, and he and his father walk down the road with a new horse and a new hope.

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Notes: In addition to The Red Fury, Director Lyman Dayton has served as producer of the following films: Where the Red Fern Grows (1974); Seven Alone (1974); Against a Crooked Sky (1975); Baker’s Hawk (1976); Rivals (1981); The Dream Machine (1990); Second Chance (1996) and Last Resort (1996). He has also directed the following films: Baker’s Hawk; Rivals; The Avenging (1982); Solo (1984); The Dream Machine; Second Chance; Last Resort and a remake of Where the Red Fern Grows (2003).

Will Jordan’s (John Handley) only screen performance is The Red Fury.

Likewise, Juan Gonzales’ (Frankie the Indian Boy) only acting credit is The Red Fury.

Calvin Bartlett (Bill Stenslough) has also appeared in the films Joshua (1976); Mountain Family Robinson (1979); and Dudes (1987). He also played roles in the following television series: Fantasy Island (1981); Little House on the Prairie (1982); and Remington Steele (1984).

Wendy Lynne’s (Mary) only film starring role is The Red Fury, but she also acted in the television series Quincy (1981).

Katherine Cannon (Amelia Anderson) has portrayed various roles on numerous television programs including CHiPs (1978, 1979, 1981); Magnum, P.I. (1983); Matt Houston (1984): Doogie Howser, M.D. (1992) and Beverly Hills 90210 (1999, 2000).

Diane McBain (Mrs. French) appeared in the Elvis Presley film Spinout (1966), as well as in the following movies: Thunder Alley (1967); The Mini-Skirt Mob (1968); and The Broken Hearts Club: A Romantic Comedy (2000). She has also performed in the following television shows: Batman (1966.1967); Love, American Style (1969); Hawaii Five-O (1980) and Knight Rider (1985).

Alan Hale, Jr. (Doc Kaminsky) is best known for his role as the skipper on the 1960s television series Gilligan’s Island. The noted actor passed away on January 2, 1990, at age 71. He also appeared on various television programs such as Batman (1967); Green Acres (1969); Here’s Lucy (1970); McMillan and Wife (1973); The Love Boat (1979, 1982); Alf (1987) and Growing Pains (1987).

Ronald Hatch’s (Frankie’s father) only screen performance occurred in The Red Fury.

Merrill Jenson (Original music) has composed the music for the following films: Where Jesus Walked (1978); Windwalker (1980); Bug Off (2001) and Out of Step (2002).

Michael P. Kleiman