The Big Gusher (Columbia Pictures) (1951)

Rough-Tough Team Wildcat Oil Drillers In ‘The Big Gusher’ “The Big Gusher,” Columbia Pictures’ roaring new action drama of “black gold” workers in the oil country of the Southwest, is coming ...... FOLTN ES: eine Theatre. Wayne Morris and Preston Foster are starred, with Dorothy Patrick, Paul E. Burns and Emmett Vogan in the principal supporting roles. In filming “The Big Gusher,” Columbia utilized the actual oil drilling country of the Southwest for the rugged action story of the duo who want to tap a gusher of their own. Their hard-earned savings are squandered on a_ wildcat blonde who helps Foster to paint the town. The next morning Foster wakes up to find most of his money has been spent on a deed to a worthless piece of property the curvaceous blonde fast-talked him into buying from a local sharper. The men learn through a local “diviner” that there is oil on their land. With the girl’s help, they arrange to borrow necessary drilling equipment with the stipulation that the property will revert to the lender if they do not strike oil within 60 days. After a series of tough breaks, and much hard work, the trio hit “black gold” just under the deadline. Morris and Foster, who made so exciting a screen team in “The Tougher They Come” continue their punch-packed partnership in the new Columbia picture. Dorothy Patrick plays the wildcat blonde in “The Big Gusher.” Paul E. Burns is cast as the diviner, and Emmett Vogan portrays the villain. “The Big Gusher” was written by Daniel UUman. Lew Landers directed for producer Wallace MacDonald. Mat 1-A; Still No. 44 WILDCAT BLONDE. Dorothy Patrick is featured in support of Preston Foster, above, and Wayne Morris in Columbia Pictures’ “The Big Gusher,” at the Theatre. Mat 1-B; Still No. 6 WILDCATTERS Wayne Morris, left, and Preston Foster, stars of Columbia Pictures’ new drama, “The Big Gusher,” now at the Theatre, have something pointed to say to Emmett Vogan, right. ‘Gusher’ Stars Embroiled in Oil Wayne Morris and Preston Foster, two of MHollywood’s most popular action stars, claim that the vicious brawl between them in Columbia Pictures’ “The Big Gusher,” at the Theatre, is the roughest intheir screen careers. The fight starts high on a hill and ends with the two stars rolling down to the bottom where Foster knocks Morris into an oil sump hole. “The Big Gusher” is a dynamic drama about oil workers of the Southwest. Featured in support of Morris and Foster are Dorothy Patrick, Paul E. Burns and Emmett Vogan. In There Punching! Wayne Morris, who stars with Preston Foster in Columbia Pictures’ “The Big Gusher,” new drama of the Southwest oil country now at the..... Theatre, figured that he has had 88 fist fights in movies since he won instantaneous success aS a young prizefighter in “Kid Galahad.” Three of the brawls take place in “The Big Gusher,” in which he and Preston Foster, both infatuated with the same girl, are constantly walloping each other. Hit ‘Big Gusher’ Some of the background scenes for Columbia Pictures’ “The Big Gusher,” new drama starring Wayne Morris and Preston Foster at the..... Theatre, are authentic shots of two real-life wildcat oil drillers trying to bring in a forsaken well. The stars learned, two days after completion of the film, that the wildcatters actually did hit “the big gusher” for which they had been hunting. Wayne Morris, Preston Foster In Explosive ‘Big Gusher’ (Review) A blazing gusher of thrills, of the kind that sweep the oil fields of the Southwest, forms the basis for a thunderous new adventure drama, Columbia Pictures’ “The Big Gusher,” which opened yesterday at the Ban saat ect Theatre. Wayne Morris and Preston Foster are starred in the outdoor drama, as wildcatters hunting black gold with the help of a_ wildcat blonde. In “The Big Gusher,” Morris and Foster are workers in the oil fields who finally save enough money to begin drilling on their own. Dorothy Patrick, a love-and-larceny gal, takes Foster out on the biggest binge of his life. The next morning he awakens to find that practically all of his money is gone; all he has to show for the shindig is a deed to a worthless piece of property the girl has persuaded him to buy from a real estate sharper. Unable to get their money back, the boys decide to try their luck, to drill for the oil a “diviner’ claims can be found on the land. The explosive blonde, now much in love with Foster, arranges to rent the necessary equipment from the sharper, but they are forced to accept his stipulation that if they do not strike oil in sixty days, they lose their lease to the land. As the black gold wildcatters who run wild with excitement and enthusiasm, Morris and Foster make a great action team, and Miss Patrick is outstanding as the woman who takes away their money faster than they make it. Paul E. Burns plays the diviner and Emmett Vogan makes a convineing villain. Daniel Ullman penned “The Big Gusher’ for the screen. Lew Landers directed this adventure drama for producer Wallace MacDonald. Student Escapade Tip-Off to Fame Action star Preston Foster, who shares stellar honors with Wayne Morris in Columbia Pictures’ “The Big Gusher,” new drama of the Southwest oil country now at the Theatre, in his youth contributed a characteristically actionful comedy performance at a Pitman, New Jersey, high school dinner when he broke up the proceedings with an injudicious use of a fire-hose. Foster was expelled. After this outburst of energy, Foster sublimated his drive into a whole series of different jobs, including selling newspapers, advertising and novelties, before he became a singer with a Philadelphia opera company. This led to later legitimate theatre stardom, and to Hollywood. Foster has been successfully employed there ever since. <— Lift Flap for Exploitation and Advertising Page 5 new drama, “The Big Gusher,” at the Big Gusher 2-A; Still No. 15 WAYNE MORRIS and PRESTON FOSTER, right, stars of Columbia Pictures’ FAO Bi ay Theatre, drill for black gold as Dorothy Patrick and Paul Burns watch. The film is set in the wildcat oilfields of the great Southwest. Brain-Brawn Stars Seek Fall Guy Role Wayne Morris and Preston Foster, stars of Columbia Pictures’ new drama “The Big Gusher,” currently at the.... ... Theatre, are reviving the screen team who play practical jokes on one another, steal the other’s girl and work to make life as unpleasant for each other as possible. “The Big Gusher” is the second teaming of the two stars. Before the picture is over, they engage in three terrific brawls over the affections of lovely Dorothy Patrick, who finally chooses Foster. This is all right by Morris, who reversed the situation in “The Tougher They Come,” in which he got the girl. Throughout the years, film teams have almost invariably been successful with film audiences. One of the first big male teams, starting with “What Price Glory,’ was Edmund Lowe and Victor McLaglen. Then came Wallace Berry and Raymond Hatton in a series of pictures. Kar] Dane and George K. Arthur were teamed following the smashing success of “The Big Parade.” James Cagney and Pat O’Brien co-starred in a long series of films. Another famous screen team consisted of Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce portraying Sherlock Holmes and Watson, respectively. Clark Gable and Spencer Tracy also made many memorable pictures together. The blueprint has generally been the same—brain versus brawn. One fellow always thinks better on his feet, and the other keeps knocking him off them to keep things at an even keel. Usually where a girl is concerned, the brainy one is the one who walks off with her. Morris and Foster are taking turns at being “the brainy one” and “the brawny one.’ They note that being the fall guy, strangely enough, has the audience’s sympathy, so that being stupid, in this particular respect, is being smart. Well Dressed! Dorothy Patrick, featured in Columbia Pictures’ “The Big Gusher,” starring Wayne Morris and Preston Foster at the St eae ae Theatre, formerly was a Powers model, her curvaceous figure chiefly being used to show off daring, strapless evening gowns. In “The Big Gusher,” however, the actress wears dungarees and an old tattered shirt. ‘The Big Gusher’ “The Big Gusher,’ Columbia Pictures’ new action drama of oil workers in the Southwest, ODENSir) «cic oe AG Gee ae tics. Theatre. Wayne Morris and Preston Foster are starred, with Dorothy Patrick, Paul E. Burns and Emmett Vogan featured. “The Big Gusher” was written by Daniel Ullman. Lew Landers directed the drama for producer Wallace MacDonald.