The Barefoot Mailman

This strange film has a cast that one might think would make it a comedy, but no. It takes place in late-19th-century Florida, back when the mail was delivered on foot. Courtland (who went on to become a director and producer [PETES DRAGON]), plays the barefoot mailman of the title and Cummings is a con man escaping from the long arm of the New York law. They team up with Moore, who dresses up as a little girl so she wont be molested by anyone on the trail, and walk from Palm Beach to Miami. Along the way, they are attacked by a group of beachcombers and Moore (who was only 22 at the time) is kidnaped. Eventually, Cummings saves her. In the last third of the movie, Cummings reverts to his criminal ways and attempts to bilk a group of settlers of their savings. He sees the folly of his ways soon enough and changes--just in time, because the settlers deal harshly with Russells beachcombers and would have done the same with him. The cast also includes Will Geer and Ellen Corby, who many years later teamed up again on televisions "The Waltons." The film features some interesting underwater sequences and a few exciting shots of alligators. (official distributor synopsis)