The Secret of Convict Lake backdrop
The Secret of Convict Lake logo
1951·Western·1h 23m
7.1
After a group of convicts escapes from prison, they take refuge in the wilderness. While most of the crew are ruthless sociopaths, Jim Canfield is an innocent man who was jailed under false pretenses. When Canfield and his fellow fugitives reach an isolated farming settlement where the men are all away, it creates tension with the local women. Things get direr when rumors of hidden money arise, and Canfield discovers that the man who framed him is part of the community.
Directed by Michael Gordon
california
snowstorm
prison escape
sierra nevada
escaped convict
19th century

Cast

Glenn Ford
Glenn Ford
Jim Canfield
Gene Tierney
Gene Tierney
Marcia Stoddard
Zachary Scott
Zachary Scott
Johnny Greer
Ann Dvorak
Ann Dvorak
Rachel Schaeffer
Ethel Barrymore
Ethel Barrymore
Granny
Cyril Cusack
Cyril Cusack
Edward "Limey" Cockerell
Richard Hylton
Richard Hylton
Clyde Maxwell
Barbara Bates
Barbara Bates
Barbara Purcell
Helen Westcott
Helen Westcott
Susan Haggerty
Jeanette Nolan
Jeanette Nolan
Harriet Purcell
Ruth Donnelly
Ruth Donnelly
Mary Fancher
Harry Carter
Harry Carter
Rudy Schaeffer

Crew

Michael Gordon
Michael Gordon
Director
Ben Hecht
Ben Hecht
Additional Writing
Earle Hagen
Earle Hagen
Orchestrator

Popular Reviews

5 reviews
ChaiclassicsPRO
The Secret of Convict Lake
Tbh meh
Tbh meh
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Tucker Clement
Tucker Clement
The Secret of Convict Lake
It’s short, it’s suspenseful, it’s melodramatic… good lil movie.

The women were actually quite interesting and didn’t seem to NEED the men, but certainly WANTED the men which is different for movies of this time. 

The ending solidly makes it all a bit morally cloudy and I like that. There’s no good or bad, just 5 people are in those graves and we’re alive.
It’s short, it’s suspenseful, it’s melodramatic… good lil movie.

The women were actually quite interesting and didn’t seem to NEED the men, but certainly WANTED the men which is different for movies of this time. 

The ending solidly makes it all a bit morally cloudy and I like that. There’s no good or bad, just 5 people are in those graves and we’re alive.
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Corey
Corey
The Secret of Convict Lake
Really interesting take on a western drama only slightly hampered by some pacing issues in the final act. The twists feel surprising even by today’s standards, and there are some great performances here too!
Really interesting take on a western drama only slightly hampered by some pacing issues in the final act. The twists feel surprising even by today’s standards, and there are some great performances here too!
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Davechild
Davechild
The Secret of Convict Lake
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Cole Goeman
Cole GoemanPRO
The Secret of Convict Lake
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The Secret of Convict Lake (1951) | Flick