Novelist Will James, a specialist in horse stories, wrote the yarn upon which 20th Century-Fox's Sand was based. Mark Stevens plays horse breeder Jeff Keane, who loses his prize stallion in a train accident. While the stallion roams wild and free, Keane enlists the aid of rancher Joan Hartley (Coleen Gray) in searching for the animal. Once the horse is located, it is clear that it has developed a mean streak, the result of various cruelties inflicted upon it by humans. Jeff and Joan combine their efforts to regain the horse's friendship. Veteran Native American actors Iron Eyes Cody and Jay Silverheels make significant supporting appearances. Sand was attractively filmed in Technicolor on location in Colorado.
Cinematography
Technicolor location shooting makes 1949 Colorado look edible.
Practical Effects
Real horse wrangling, no CGI nonsense, just chaotic animal energy.
Director
Louis King
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Will James, the novelist, was a former cowboy and convicted cattle rustler who turned to writing while in prison—authenticity check passed.
Jay Silverheels would become Tonto on The Lone Ranger just two years later; this is basically his origin story era.
US
