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Duel in the Sun (1946)
The Mysterious Egyptian Magic Coin becomes a Western movie star
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The 1946 film "Duel in the Sun", uses the famous Egyptian Magic Coin as a medallion which a preacher gives to a young girl.
 
The film stars Jennifer Jones, Joseph Cotten, Gregory Peck, Lionel Barrymore, and Walter Huston.
 
The film was produced by the same company which produced the 1939 film "Gone with the Wind." "Duel in the Sun" was sometimes described as the "Gone with the Wind" of Westerns. The film was also described as "Lust in the Dust" due to the final scene in the film.
 
A local preacher known as the "Sin Killer" gives the beautiful sexy Pearl (Jennifer Jones) the Egyptian Magic Coin as a medal which will protect her from "sin" and help her to be a "good girl." It doesn't work.
 
Life Magazine ran an article on the promotion for the film and printed a letter about the medallion. For details visit here.
 
The radio program "The Romance of Helen Trent" mentioned the film and the medallion resulting in copies of the medallion being made and given out by one of the program's sponsors. For details visit here.
 
Duel in the Sun
1. Title
The film begins with "Squaw's Head Rock."
 
Duel in the Sun
2. Squaw's Head Rock
A voice tells the legend of Squaw's Head Rock:
 
Deep among the lonely sun-baked hills of Texas the great and weather-beaten stone still stands. The Commanches called it Squaw's Head Rock.
 
Time cannot change its impassive face nor dim the legend of the wild young lovers who found heaven and hell in the shadows of the rock.
 
For when the sun is low and the cold winds blow across the desert there are those of Indian blood who still speak of Pearl Chavez, the half-breed girl from down along the border, and of the laughing outlaw with whom she here kept a final rendezvous never to be seen again.
 
And this is what the legend says: A flower known nowhere else grows from out of the desperate crags where Pearl vanished. Pearl, who was herself a wild flower sprung from the hard clay, quick to blossom and early to die.
 
At a saloon near the Texas-Mexico border a woman dances.
 
Duel in the Sun
3. Saloon dancer
The dancer is the mother of Pearl Chavez, a beautiful "half-breed" (Mexican-Indian) girl. Pearl's father kills her mother and is then executed. He arranges for Pearl to live with his old girlfriend Laura Belle, who lives with her husband Senator Jackson McCanles and their two sons Jesse and Lewton on their large Texas ranch named "Spanish Bit."
 
Pearl arrives at the nearby town of Paradise Flats, "The Paris of the Pecos", and is met by Jesse McCanles, the older son.
 
Duel in the Sun
4. Jesse and Pearl
Jesse drives Pearl to the ranch.
 
Duel in the Sun
5. Spanish Bit Ranch welcome sign
The sign reads:
 
RESIDENCE OF HON. JACKSON TILT McCANLES SOLE OWNER OF SPANISH BIT TRESPASSERS WILL BE REGARDED AS RUSTLERS AND SHOT WITHOUT WARNING
 
Pearl is taken to meet the patriarch McCanles family, Senator Jackson McCanles, and his wife Laura Belle.
 
Duel in the Sun
6. Pearl, Jesse, Senator McCanles, Laura Belle
Laura Belle welcomes Pearl but McCanles calls her a "half breed" and "Pocahontas." The Senator is confined to a wheel chair due to a long ago accident.
 
Pearl tells Laura Belle that she wants to be a "good girl", unlike her mother. Jesse shows a slight interest in Pearl.
 
The remaining member of the family, Lewton 'Lewt' McCanles then arrives and introduces himself.
 
Duel in the Sun
7. Lewt arrives
He indicates that he would like to know Pearl better, lots better.
 
A railroad is being built in the area and the Texas state government is allowing it to cross the McCanles ranch, something that McCanles is not happy with.
 
Duel in the Sun
8. Jesse and McCanles discuss railroads
Jesse has a law degree from a university and argues with his father about resisting the railroad.
 
Laura Belle notes how attractive Pearl is and invites Jubal Crabbe, a preacher known as the "Sin Killer" to talk to her.
 
Duel in the Sun
9. Laura Belle, Jubal Crabbe, Pearl
The Sin Killer tells Pearl that she is in danger of temptation and hellfire.
 
Come here, girl. You call her a child? Under that heathen blanket there's a full-blossomed woman built by the devil to drive men crazy! Resisting is gonna be a darn sight harder for you than for females protected by the shape of sows. On your knees. Now I'm gonna start you toward salvation.
 
Duel in the Sun
10. The Sin Killer prays over Pearl
O Lord, look upon this, thy creature. Rise, girl.
 
Duel in the Sun
11. The Sin Killer gives Pearl the medal
Here. I want you to take this. It's a hallowed medal, and a good one. I took it off a thieving card sharper. But first I shrived him and sent him to the pearly gates as nice and pretty as any from his own faith could have done. You wear it, girl.
 
Note: "shrived" is an old term meaning for a priest to hear a confession
 
The medal is an Egyptian Magic Coin with a picture of the Pharaoh on one side and the Sphinx and Pyramids on the other.
 
The medal is shown with views of both sides.
 
Duel in the Sun
12. The medal in the film, obverse and reverse
The film medal with the obverse and reverse edited together.
 
An Egyptian Magic Coin:
 
Egyptian Magic Coin
13. Egyptian Magic Coin
Silvered bronze, 32 mm, 9.90 gm
Obverse: Pharaoh seated on throne with hieroglyphs to the left and right
Reverse: Sphinx with four pyramids and sunburst behind them and with hieroglyphs below
 
There are many types of Egyptian Magic Coins but the one above appears to match the one in the film. The reverse of the one above is slightly rotated from horizontal as is the one in the film.
 
These items were originally produced in the early 1900's as watch fobs by the Sears company. Later they were produced separately and come with variations in design and with and without loops. The "Egyptian Revival" following the discovery of the Tutankhamen or "King Tut" tomb in 1922 saw the production of many Egyptian themed items.
 
For more information on these items, please visit: The Mysterious Egyptian Magic Coin
 
The Sin Killer continues his talk to Pearl.
 
Part Indian, ain't you? Those ancestors of yours will be spinning like tops when they know you got this on. Just the same, it'll keep you sweet and clean as the first milking. Won't get you into heaven but it will comfort you on the way there. That is, if you use it right.
 
McCanles receives word that the railroad construction crew is at the ranch border.
 
Duel in the Sun
14. A cowboy informs McCanles of railroad arrival
McCanles orders the cowboy to signal to the ranch employees to gather and bring their guns.
 
Duel in the Sun
15. Gathering of ranch cowboys
After great effort, the Senator McCanles is put on a horse and taken to the ranch boundary, joined by Jesse but not Lewt who is out of the area. The cowboys line up along the ranch fence to confront the railroad crew.
 
Jesse crosses the fence and joins Lem Smoot, a lawyer working for the railroad, and Mr. Langford, the head of the railroad.
 
A US Army cavalry troop arrives to support the railroad.
 
Duel in the Sun
16. Ranch cowboys confront the US army
Senator McCanles, a Union war veteran, orders his men to withdraw as he will not "fire on the flag."
 
Back at the ranch, Pearl is wearing her medal and is bored with ranch life.
 
Duel in the Sun
17. Pearl wearing her medal
Lewt arrives and immediately charms Pearl.
 
Duel in the Sun
18. Pearl succumbs to Lewt
Jesse visits Pearl's room and finds the pair together.
 
Duel in the Sun
19. Pearl apologizes to Jesse
Jesse tells her that he is disappointed with her, causing her to actively want Lewt.
 
Duel in the Sun
20. Pearl ready for action
Lewt takes Pearl to the local swimming hole for some (implied) nude swimming.
 
Later they start fooling around and Pearl lets him know: "If I'm not good enough to marry I'm not good enough to kiss."
 
Lewt notices Pearl's medal and asks her what it is. She tells him.
 
Something the Sin Killer gave me. He said it would keep me sweet and clean as the first milking.
 
Lewt then tells her:
 
Who cares about milking? I don't want no milkmaid.
 
Lewt removes the medal and throws it in the pond.
 
Duel in the Sun
21. Lewt removes Pearl's "protection"
Lewt begins a campaign of sabotaging the railroad and derails a train.
 
Duel in the Sun
22. Working on the railroad
As he rides away, Lewt sings "I'm working on the railroad."
 
Pearl meets Sam Pierce, a long-time ranch employee who asks her to marry him. She agrees but Lewt guns an unarmed Sam down and kills him. Lewt is now a wanted man with a $2,000 reward for his capture.
 
Jesse, banished from the ranch for helping the railroad, learns that his mother is dying and returns to the ranch, but finds her dead. McCanles is less angry and more unhappy with his wife dying and his other son being an outlaw. Jesse is now engaged to Helen Langford, the daughter of the railroad owner and she has accompanied him.
 
Lewt sends a man with a message to Jesse to meet him.
 
Duel in the Sun
23. Lewt guns down Jesse
Lewt shoots an unarmed Jesse and rides away. Jesse survives the shooting but he, Helen, and Pearl know that Lewt will be back to kill him. Helen meets Pearl and asks her for her help.
 
Duel in the Sun
24. Helen pleads with Pearl for help
Lewt sends a cowboy with a message asking Pearl to meet him at Squaw's Head Rock before he goes to Mexico. She brings a rifle with her.
 
Duel in the Sun
25. Pearl rides past an old mission
The mission is actually the San José Tumacácori Spanish Mission in Arizona, built in 1691.
 
Duel in the Sun
26. Pearl with her rifle
Pearl fires two shots as a signal, sees Lewt, and shoots him. She then climbs up to the rock to finish the job.
 
Duel in the Sun
27. Lewt waiting
Lewt shoots Pearl and now both are wounded, but they still have an attraction for each other.
 
Duel in the Sun
28. Pearl and Lewt crawl in the dust
The two crawl to each other and embrace.
 
Duel in the Sun
29. Together
Cast, Directors, Writers:
 
Jennifer Jones as Pearl Chavez
Joseph Cotten as Jesse McCanles
Gregory Peck as Lewton 'Lewt' McCanles
Lionel Barrymore as Senator Jackson McCanles
Walter Huston as Jubal Crabbe, The Sin Killer
 
Director: King Vidor
Writers: David O. Selznick, Oliver H.P. Garrett, Niven Busch (novel)
Life Magazine Publicity:
 
"Duel in the Sun" was released to theatres early in 1947. The release was preceded by a massive $2,000,000 publicity campaign.
 
Life magazine's February 10, 1947 issue had an article on the publicity campaign along with a photograph of actress Ruth Roman surrounded by promotional items.
 
Giveaways for Duel publicity included light bulbs, paperweights, tiny parachutes, postcards, seeds, pencils, stickers, crossword puzzles, lollipops, matchbooks, typewriters, blotters, money clips, gin-rummy pads, telephone pads, ash trays.
 
Selznick starlets like Ruth Roman, who wears a Duel T-shirt, were not given away however.
 
Love that movie!
 
The film was a tremendous box office success partially due to the publicity campaign and attempts by various groups to censor or block the film due to it's story.
 
The Life magazine article resulted in a letter sent to the magazine and published in the March 3, 1947 issue which mentioned the medal that Jennifer Jones wore in the film.
 
"DUEL IN THE SUN"
 
Sirs:
 
Even the soap opera is currently engaged in increasing its own nuisance value through tie-ups with picture studios.
 
Helen Trent, from the soap opera of the same name, is the proud owner of a "medallion necklace."
 
Any acquaintance rash enough to pass a casual comment up on this bauble is instantly bombarded with the following:
 
"Oh do you like it i think its stunning too jennifer jones gave it to me it is an exact replica of the one she wears in the great new david o selznick technicolor production duel in the sun in the picture the necklace is given to jennifer to bring her good luck and it plays an important part in her exciting romances with joseph cotten and gregory peck."
 
Amy Margaret MacMellan Reno, Nev.
 
It is possible that Egyptian Magic Coins were manufactured to help publicize the film but no documentation is available as these items were privately made.
Helen Trent radio program medallion:
 
"The Romance of Helen Trent" was an American radio program or "radio soap opera" which ran weekdays from 1933 to 1960.
 
It told the story of the always 35-year old heroine and her continuing attempts to find the right man. One slogan used was "Can love come to a woman over 35?"
 
The show's daily opening:
 
And now, "The Romance of Helen Trent", the real-life drama of Helen Trent who, when life mocks her, breaks her hopes, dashes her against the rocks of despair, fights back bravely, successfully, to prove what so many women long to prove in their own lives: that because a woman is 35 or more romance in life need not be over; that the romance of youth can extend into middle life, and even beyond.
 
In 1948 one of the sponsors, Kolynos toothpaste and tooth powder, produced an Egyptian styled medallion which was sold or given to the program's listeners.
 
The medallion was based on the Egyptian Magic Coin medallion which actress Jennifer Jones wore in the film.
 
Egyptian Magic Coin Helen Trent
30. "The Romance of Helen Trent" promotional medallion
Silvered brass, 32 mm, 11.04 gm
Obverse: Cartoonish figure of Egyptian Pharaoh with hieroglyphs
Reverse: Cartoonish figure of Egyptian Sphinx and pyramids with hieroglyphs
 
Life magazine photographer Herbert Gehr photographed the Helen Trent medallion necklace in January of 1948.
 
Helen Trent Life Magazine Medallion
31. Life Magazine photograph of Helen Trent medallion necklace
The photograph was not used in the magazine but was kept in the company archives.
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