Randolph Scott is Ned Britt, a former gunman turned newspaperman returning to his home state of Texas to set up a paper in San Antone with his partner Ben Garvin.
He’s lured to Fort Worth by an old friend (Phyllis Thaxter as Flora Talbot); then convinced to set up his newspaper there by her fiance and another old friend (David Brian as Blair Lunsford).
The once-thriving Fort Worth has fallen on hard times, in part because Gabe Clevenger and his gang are terrorizing the area. Lunsford figures he can make the town thrive again if he can convince the railroad to run through the town.
For a while, Lunsford and Britt try to accomplish that goal hand in hand. Then Britt discovers two truths about Lunsford. First, Lunsford moved in on the woman he loved (Amy Brooks) after he went off to fight for the South. Second, Lunsford’s been taking advantage of others’ misfortunes to buy up large chunks of land at bargain prices, all the while crying poor though he’s sitting on a small fortune.
All of which sets the stage for a three-way showdown between Britt, Lunsford and Clevenger and his gang.
Review:
An energetic and appealing little film at a time when not all of Scott’s quickie Westerns could be described that way.
In this outing, he’s put away his six-shooters, having been convinced the pen is truly mightier than the sword. But he’s still more than capable when he straps on those six-shooters, something he has to prove more than once over the course of the film.
Phyllis Thaxter is the ranch owner who actually scolds him for not taking matters — and a gun — into his hand after a youngster he’s fond up is killed in a stampede sparked by the Clevenger gang.
And David Brian attacks his role as the most charming of villains with gusto, always ready to take his friend back into his fold, if he’ll just go along with all the scheming.
Marin and the scriptwriters give us a pretty neat ending, too.
Directed by:
Edwin L. Marin
Cast:
Randolph Scott … Ned Britt
Phyllis Thaxter … Flora Talbot
Helena Carter … Amy Brooks
David Brian … Blair Lunsford
Ray Teal … Gabe Clevenger
Emerson Treacy … Ben Garvin
Dickie Jones … Luther Wicks
Michael Tolan … Mort Springer
Paul Picerni … Joe Castro
Bob Steele … Shorty
Chubby Johnson … Sheriff
Walter Sande … Deputy Waller
Runtime: 83 min.
Memorable lines:
Clevenger man: “A-feared to throw lead at some ink dobber?”
Gabe Clevenger: “He throws lead, jug-head. Type. And it’s got plenty a scatter to it. You drill one of those newspaper fellas, and what do you got? A dozen more ready to step in and blast the print at ya.”
Ned Britt: “We’re gonna de-louse this burg.”
Newspaper co-editor Ben Garvin to Britt: “Stop fittin’ the truth to the shape of your heart and you’ll be a better newspaper man.”
Amy Brooks to Blair Lunsford: “So long, Fort Worth. Thanks for all the hayrides.”
Deputy, after the death of Britt’s partner in the newspaper business: “I can handle it.”
Ned Britt, strapping on his guns: “I’ve heard that song before.”
Blair Lunsford: “You don’t have to follow, Ned. You can ride right alongside. This town is going places. And we can go with it. We can pull double …”
Ned Britt: “That’s out for me. Not in your dirty harness.”
Flora: “Britt, what’s the matter?”
Ned Britt, indicating Blair Lunsford: “Let him tell you. He’ll make it a good story, with that rattlesnake charm of his.”
Ned Britt, about Blair: “His crooked dream got too big for one man’s head to hold. Only a crazy man would rig it to swindle every friend he had and still want Texas to life him up in glory.”
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