Bill Elliott is Joe Daniels, living a peaceful life as a rancher, when he gets disturbing news from Redding, Kansas.
His younger brother has died and he’s inherited half-interest in a saloon.
So off to Kansas he heads, under the guise of claiming his inheritance, but with the intention of getting revenge on whomever was responsible for his brother’s death.
In Redding, three problems await.
First, Joe Daniels is still wanted in the state for “crimes” committed during the Civil War. The could be solved with a pardon; he just has to ask for one.
Second, the Daniels name earns him instant infamy in the town. Seems his brother wasn’t very well regarded by Redding’s leading citizens.
Third, someone wants to make sure that Joe Daniels follows his brother’s path to boot hill.
Joe suspects it might be Slater, who owns the other half interest in the saloon and makes it clear he doesn’t want a partner.
The unwelcome truth comes courtesy of Kay Collins, who was once engaged to Joe’s brother.
She tells Joe that Johnny Daniels had gone bad to the point where he deserved to die.
Bill Elliott as Joe Daniels, realizing his brother wasn’t exactly loved in Redding, Kansas, in Kansas Territory (1952)
I. Stanford Jolley as Slater, making it clear he doesn’t want a partnership with anyone named Daniels in Kansas Territory (1952)
Review:
The unusual plot — a brother seeking revenge for a brother who wasn’t worth avenging — lifts this a notch above the typical Elliott quickie.
Of course, this being an Elliott B Western, fists fly at the drop of a hat. And his brother might have gone bad, but Joe’s squeaky clean.
Kay Collins realizes that in a heartbeat. The town leaders eventually do too, offering Joe a badge so he can rid them of saloon owner Slater and his cronies.
Elliott declines. He’s afraid wearing a star will interfere with his plans for revenge.
As Kay Collins, Peggy Stewart might not be a familiar face to those who don’t watch series or serial Westerns. But she racked up more than 150 TV and screen credits, the bulk of them coming in Westerns.
She was married to Western star Don “Red” Barry from 1940 to 1944, appeared in eight Westerns in 1946 alone, made her last TV show appearance in 2014 and died in 2019, at age 95.
Peggy Stewart as Kay Collins, admitting she was once engaged to Joe Daniels’ brother in Kansas Territory (1952)
Lyle Talbor as Sam Collins, a man with a reason for a grudge against the Daniels in Kansas Territory (1952)
Directed by:
Lewis Collins
Cast:
Bill Elliott … Joe Daniels
House Peters Jr. … Ralph Carruthers
Peggy Stewart … Kay Collins
Lyle Talbot … Sam Collins
Lane Bradford … Fred Jethro
I. Stanford Jolley … Slater
Fuzzy Knight … Cap
Stanley Andrews … Governor
Marshall Reed … Deputy Bob Jethro
Terry Frost … Stark
John Hart … U.S. Marshal Matt Furness
William Fawcett … Old Man Weatherbee
Lee Roberts … Arthur Larkin
Pierce Lyden … Dr. Stanley Johnson
Ted Adams … Ed Rank
Runtime: 65 min.
House Peters Jr. as Ralph Carruthers, the man who winds up wearing a badge when Joe Daniels refuses in Kansas Territory (1952)
John Hart as Marshal Matt Furness, trying to secure a pardon on Joe Daniels’ behalf in Kansas Territory (1952)
Memorable lines:
Mr. Collins, as gunshots ring out, one after another: “Sounds like someone’s in trouble.”
Kay, his daughter, grabbing a rifle: “I’ll go out and see.”
Mr. Collins: “Be careful, now.”
Joe Daniels, to the Redding Town Council: “Sure, all of you probably had a reason for wanting to kill Johnny (his brother). But I hope none of you did it. Because whoever did is going to pay.”
Hotel clerk to Joe Daniels: “I’m too old to be frightened by guns. Yours or anybody else’s.”
Lane Bradford as Fred Jethro, conspiring with his brother against Joe Daniels in Kansas Territory (1952)
Marshall Reed as Deputy Bob Jethro, one of the men hoping to rid Redding of Joe Daniels in Kansas Territory (1952)
Fuzzy Knight as Cap, trying to talk Joe Daniels out of going to Kansas in Kansas Territory (1952)
Peggy Stewart as Kay Collins, trying to talk Joe Daniels (Bill Elliott) out of a showdown with Slater in Kansas Territory (1952)
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