The Kentuckian

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The Kentuckian
Directed by	Burt Lancaster
Produced by	Harold Hecht James Hill (uncredited)
Written by	Felix Holt (novel) A.B. Guthrie Jr.
Starring	Burt Lancaster Dianne Foster Diana Lynn Donald MacDonald
Release date(s)	August 1, 1955
Running time	104 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English
IMDb profile

The Kentuckian is a 1955 adventure film. It was the only film directed by Burt Lancaster, who also starred. It also marked the film debut of Walter Matthau. The picture is an adaptation of the novel The Gabriel Horn by Felix Holt.

[edit] Plot

Frontiersman Elias "Big Eli" Wakefield (Burt Lancaster) decides to leave 1820s Kentucky and move to Texas with his son "Little Eli" (Donald MacDonald). Along the way, they run into two women who take a liking to the pair, indentured servant Hannah (Dianne Foster), who wants to go with them, and schoolteacher Susie (Diana Lynn), who would rather have Big Eli marry her and settle down. Big Eli also has to deal with villainous Stan Bodine (Walter Matthau), who cracks a mean bullwhip.