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SmokeSignalswesterns.ThesamewastrueforthenextfilmhedirectedofScottsBuchananRidesAloneColumbia1958.Kennedyswritingskillsweretrulymissed.RanownresolvedtheproblemandgotKennedybackwithBoetticheronRideLonesomeColumbia1959.ThecastincludedKarenSteelethedirectorsmainsqueezeatthetimePernellRobertsJamesCoburnJamesBestandLeeVanCleef.ThefilmcapturesthestarkbeautyoftheAlabamaHillsandthebeautifulbackdropoftheSierraNevada.VarietynotedAnothergoodwesternfromtheRanownProductionTeam.BuddBoetticherwhoproducedanddirectedhadatoughhonestscreenplaybyBurtKennedyandhehasgivenitperceptionandtension...Scottdoesagoodjobasthetaciturnandmisunderstoodhero.WestboundWarnerBrothers1959afilmmadebeforeBuchananRidesAlonewasanothermisfireasKennedyandHarryJoeBrownwerenotinvolved.ThatproblemwasresolvedwiththefinalpictureComancheStationColumbia1960asallhandswereonboardforthelastoftheRanownfilms.BurtKennedyinhisbookHollywoodTrailBossrecallsRanownproductionsaskedhimtowritetwooriginalscreenplays.Ihadnoideawhattodo.Iwasgetting15000ascript.IsatdownandwroteRideLonesomethenComancheStation.TheyweremadeforlittlemoneyImeanreallylittlemoneybuttheywerewellreceivedandhaveacultfollowinghereandinEurope.Theyregoodpictures.RandywasverygoodandBudddidagreatjob.FilmedintheirfavoritelocationtheAlabamaHillsinLonePinethecastincludedNancyGatesastheheroineandClaudeAkinsSkipHomierandRichardRustasthesmalloutlawband.VarietysaidComancheStation...isbyanystandardagoodpicture.Theremustbeanaudienceforthesefilmsdespitetheplethoraofsuchfareontelevisionanaudiencenowwithlittlefromwhichtochoose.AclosefriendofthisrangereporterSylviaMartineznowSylviaDurandowasthedoubleforNancyGatesanddidthestuntworkforherrole.DuringhersixweekslocationshootSylviagottotalktoScottonafewoccasions.SylviasaidMr.Scottwasnotpretentiouswasverycaringandgracious.ShesharedastoryofanIndianwhowasanextrainthefilmwhowasinjuredontheset.HewastransportedtothenearesthospitalinBishop.HereturnedtothesetaftertreatmentandtoldthecastandcrewaboutbeingwheeledintoERwearinghisfullIndiancostume.Ayoungboywasthereavictimofahorrifictrafficaccidenton395inwhichhisentirefamilywaskilled.TheboyaskedhimifhewastrulyanIndian.Healsosaidhewishedhehadarealbowandarrow.HearingthisunknowntoothersRandolphScottwenttothepropdepartmentandcommandeeredabowandarrow.ScottthengotadrivertotakehimtoBishoponehouraway.HevisitedtheboytocomforthimprobablyremindedhimofhissonChris.Healsogavehimthebowandarrowhopingtobrightenhisspiritssomewhat.AfterspendingsometimecomfortingthechildScottreturnedtothefilmlocationtogetreadyforthenextdaysshoot.ThatwastherealRandolphScottAttheconclusionofComancheStationScottofficiallyretired.Hewas61whenthefilmwasmade.Healsowashardofhearingduetothemanyammoblanksbeingfiredclosetohimover30years.ScottreturnedtohisgolfgamewithhislinkspartnersBingCrosbyFreemanGosdencreatorofAmosandAndyformerPresidentDwightEisenhowerandtheReverendBillyGrahammonitoredhisinvestmentswhichincludedoilexplorationhebecameoneoftherichestmeninfilmdomwatchedtheDodgersplaywithhisgoodfriendFredAstaireandhissonChrisandtendedtohiselephantearsivyandpampasgrass.Retirementlifewasgoodhoweveritonlylastedtwoyears.ScottwasnotifiedbyBurtKennedythattherewasascreenplayfloatingaboutregardingtwoagingformerlawmenthatwasjustsuitedforhimandhislongtimefriendandcolleagueJoelMcCrea.ThetitleofthewouldbefilmwasRidetheHighCountryMGM1962.ThepreliminarydiscussionshadMcRaeplayingthecharacterGilWestrumasometimesgoodguyhoweverwithalittlelarcenyinhisheart.ScottwastoplaythepartofSteveJuddaprincipledmanwithastrongreligiousfaith.Aftertherolesweredeterminedbothactorshadsecondthoughts.Fortunatelytheyrecognizedthattherolesshouldbereversedandweregladtheydid.SelectedtodirectthefilmtobeshotonlocationintheSierraNevadawastheyoungdirectorSamPeckinpah.AlsocastwereHIGHNOON24