Tennessee’s Partner (1955)

John Payne is Tennessee, a womanizing gambler who sets up shop in the Marriage Market, a high-toned hangout run by Duchess (Rhonda Fleming).

He’s such a good gambler, he’s suspected of cheating, widely resented and more than one person would like to see him dead.

One of his victims ambushes him, just as Cowpoke (Ronald Reagan) rides into town. Cowpoke saves Tennessee’s life and the two become quick friends.

Turns out Cowpoke is in town to get married. Turns out Tennessee knows the finance (Coleen Gray as Goldie). And knows she’s a no-good gold-digger, sure to ditch Cowpoke as soon as she gets the money from his mine.

So he romances her with a promise of a life of luxury in San Francisco, then buys her off and sends her on her way.

That puts a strain on his friendship with Cowpoke, of course.

But soon he has a new problem to deal with: Grubstake, an old prospector he’s grub-staked, just hit it rich.

Now he’s dead, and everyone suspects Tennessee.

John Payne as Tennessee, cooling his heels in jail in Tennessee’s Partner (1955)

Ronald Reagan as Cowpoke, explaining his plans to marry and settle down in Tennessee’s Partner (1955)

Review:

Nice script and an offbeat plot make for an entertaining Western. It helps that the teaming of John Payne and Ronald Reagan works well, each believable in the role they’ve been given.

As for the ladies, this probably marked Coleen Gray’s most interesting Western role. Rhonda Fleming is lovely as always in the gal who loves Tennessee and yearns for a “marrying” type of kiss from him. Angie Dickinson plays one of the Marriage Market girls in an uncredited role, just her second appearance on the big screen.

This was a remake of a 1916 silent film called “Tennessee’s Pardner.”

Rhonda Fleming as The Duchess, checking out the trouble below her window in Tennessee’s Partner (1955)

Coleen Gray as Goldie Slater, arriving in town to marry Cowpoke in Tennessee’s Partner (1955)

Directed by:
Allan Dwan

Cast:
John Payne … Tennessee
Ronald Reagan … Cowpoke
Rhonda Fleming … Duchess
Leo Gordon … Sheriff
Anthony Caruso … Turner
Coleen Gray … Goldie Slater
Chubby Johnson … Grubstake McGiven
Morris Ankrum … Judge Parker
Joe Devlin … Prendergast
Myron Healey … Reynolds
John Mansfield … Clifford

Runtime: 87 min.

Title Tune: “Heart of Gold”

Leo Gordon as the sheriff, investigating a murder in Tennessee’s Partner (1955)

Chubby Johnson as Grubstake McGiven, hoping to strike it rich with Cowpoke’s help in Tennessee’s Partner (1955)

Memorable lines …

Tennessee: “I was run out of Arizona Territory three years ago. I was run out of New Mexico Territory, too. And Colorado, Utah, Texas and Oregon.”
Cowpoke: “You ought to be a little careful here in California. I’ve been told there’s an ocean out there somewhere.”

Duchess: “You’re rotten, Tennessee. Dirty. And what’s more, you like it that way.”

Gambler to Tennessee: “You’ve got quick hands. Someday, someone’s going to cut them off and hang them and you from a high tree.”
Tennessee: “I think it’s my deal gentlemen.”
2nd gambler: “You did hear what the man said?”
Tennessee: “If I heard him, I might have to kill him. We wouldn’t want that to happen again.”

Cowpoke to Tennessee … and later vice versa: “I don’t like people who set out to hurt you when you’re back is turned.”

Duchess, to the young ladies at the Marriage Market: “A good goldmine can make up for a lot of shortcomings in a man.”

Myron Healey as Reynolds and Anthony Caruso as Turner, plotting Tennessee’s demise in Tennessee’s Partner (1955)

Ronald Reagan as Cowpoke with Rhonda Fleming as The Duchess in Tennessee’s Partner (1955)

John Payne as Tennessee, looking out for his new friend in Tennessee’s Partner (1955)

Rhonda Fleming as The Duchess with some of her Marriage Market girls, including Angie Dickinson (second from left) as Abby Dean in Tennessee’s Partner (1955)