Morningstar (2024)

Bella Stofiel is Isabelle Carrington, a young woman growing up in Goose Creek, S.C. in 1888.

One day her family receives a letter from Eugene City, Oregon, regarding a marriage arranged 12 years earlier between a lad who lives there and the eldest daughter in the Carrington family.

Well, eldest daughter Junie has been sparking with another boy in church, so Isabelle — known as Izzy — agrees to make the trip in her place.

She gets as far as Wyoming Territory when the wagon train is attacked by Indians and renegades.

Saved by a Shoshone brave, Isabelle finds herself penniless and fending for herself in Gurnsey Wash, Wyoming.

She’s taken in by Susanna Hutton, still intending to complete the journey to Oregon.

At least until she receives a letter saying the young man in Oregon is now promised to another because everyone assumed Isabelle died in the Indian raid.

So she becomes a ward of Susanna, a young woman eventually destined to be auctioned off to the highest bidder.

Bella Stofiel as Isabelle ‘Izzy’ Carrington, a young woman bound for Oregon to meet her husband-to-be in Morningstar (2024)

Jerry Chesser as Garvin, a trouble-maker and scoundrel who wouldn’t mind having pretty Isabelle for his own in Morningstar (2024)

Review:

You need to know just one thing about this film: It’s a Christopher Forbes production.

That means a Z-grade script, Z-grade sets, Z-grade action scenes and lots of Z-grade acting, some from cast members who have no business being in front of a camera.

The premise — the tribulations of a young woman traveling West to be married — has promise. And Bella Stofiel is earnest enough as the female lead.

But the film doesn’t focus on her tribulations. Heck, she’s about to be auctioned off and there isn’t a single scene revealing how she feels about that prospect.

Pay a penny to stream this mess, and you’ll regret it. Though the Indian camp scene at the 8:06 mark is truly something to behold. It features seven cast members dancing around a single campfire, clapping their hands with nary a shelter in sight. Apparently, the feathers in their hair indicates which of the dancers is an Indian.

Tom Ryan as Boudreaux, gambler and fixer in the Wyoming town of Gurnsey Wash in Morningstar (2024)

Jezibell Anat as Susanna Hutton, the woman who gives Isabelle a place to live in Morningstar (2024)

Directed by:
Christine Williams

Cast:
Bella Stofiel … Isabelle Carrington
Jerry Chesser … Garvin
Jezibell Anat … Susanna Hutton
Tom Ryan … Boudreaux
Nathan Oxner … Jason
Eddie Rodgers … Judge Watkins
Christopher Cooler … Lennard
Rhonda Jones … Emma Barnaby
Bobby Snider … Sheriff Martens
Lyndon Abad … Gwi’na annih
William Adams … Chief Duhu’ Sue
Joseph Zuchowski … Col. Calhoun
John Stafford … Marshal Dudley
Darlene Stokes … Boha Gande
Dean Urdahl … Clayton

Runtime: 84 min.

Christopher Cooler as Lennard, one of the trouble makers in Gurnsey Wash in Morningstar (2024)

Rhonda Jones as Emma Barnaby, the white woman taken captive by the Shoshone in Morningstar (2024)

Memorable lines:

Susanna Hutton, when Garvin walks by, showing off for Isabelle: “Coarse display of male plumage. Without the plumage.”

Susanna Hutton, reacting to noise in the night: “What are you doing with my chickens, Garvin?”
Garvin: “I am not interested in your chickens. I’m interested in your new addition (meaning Izzy).”

Sheriff Martin, about a woman taken by the Indians during the raid Isabelle survived: “Don’t fret your little heads about that woman. By now, she’s either been inducted into the tribe, raped, killed or eaten.”
Mrs. Sumter: “Sheriff, where are your manners?”
Sheriff: “This is the West. W-E-S-T. These things happen. Best get used to it.”

Boudreaux: “Garvin has you tied up in things for which you could lose your head — robbery, prison escapes, murder.”
Leonard: “No, no, Mr. B. Not murder.”
Boudreaux: “Ah, so you do admit to the other crimes on the docket?”
Leonard: “What docket? We ain’t no where near the river.”

Susanna Hutton, as bidding for Isabelle begins: “Mr. Garvin, you will behave yourself with the utmost propriety. Or you will be shot. Is that clear?”
Garvin: “I didn’t understand what you said. But I know what you mean.”

Eddie Rodgers as Judge Watkins, hoping the cavalry and the law can bring order to Wyoming in Morningstar (2024)

Joseph Zuchowski as Col. Calhoun, vowing to catch those responsible for a wagon train raid in Morningstar (2024)

John Stafford as Marhsal Budley, one of the men the judge is relying on in Morningstar (2024)

Nathan Oxner as Jason, son of the owner of the general store in Gurnsey Wash, Wyoming, in Morningstar (2024)

Dean Urdahl as Clayton, the man Isabelle travels with until Indians attack in Morningstar (2024)

Bella Stofield as Isabelle Carrington, settling into her new life in Wyoming Territory in Morningstar (2024)