Bill Elliott is Mace Corbin, a homesteader in Oregon struggling to make a go of his land in spite of all the boulders and tree stumps.
He’d also like to clear a path to good pasture land nearby. So he asks the Army for some dynamite to help make that land more workable.
The Army complies, and Mace takes along a good buddy named Clyde Moss (Robert Lowery) to pick up the shipment.
What he doesn’t know is that the dynamite he’s been sold are “rejects,” sticks stored on their end so all the explosive material has collected at the tip.
A couple of other surprises await Mace.
The men he hires to help transport the dynamite through Indian country back to his home are fresh out of an Army prison and more interested in busting loose and having a good time than following his orders.
And Clyde, never one for hard work, has conspired to turn the dynamite over to John Kroger, who wants it for mining — not homesteading — around their homes.
William ‘Wild Bill’ Elliott as Mace Corbin, offering good friend Clyde Moss a homestead partnership in The Homesteaders (1953)
Robert Lowery as Clyde Moss, the homesteader planning to double cross a good friend in The Homesteaders (1953)
Review:
So-so Elliott outing. In fact, if you’d ever seen his 1951 Western “Longhorn,” you’ve pretty much seen this film too. Just substitute dynamite for Longhorns and Army rejects for barroom rejects.
George Wallace plays Meade, the primary trouble maker among the cavalrymen Elliott hires.
Emmett Lynn provides a bit of a spark as Old Grimer, the old-timer who tries his best to keep the troopers in line. He was 56 at the time, looks older and played bit roles in dozens of Westerns during a career that dated back to 1940.
Emmett Lynn as Old Grimer, envisioning a homestead of his own in The Homesteaders (1953)
George Wallace as Meade and Rick Vallin as Slim, trouble makers among the trail crew in The Homesteaders (1953)
Directed by:
Lewis D. Collins
Cast:
Bill Elliott … Mace Corbin
Robert Lowery … Clyde Moss
Emmett Lynn … Old Grimer
George Wallace … Meade
Robert “Buzz” Henry … Charlie
Stanley Price … Van
Rick Vallin … Slim
William Fawcett … Hector
James Seay … John Kroger
Tom Monroe … Jake
Barbara Allen … Jenny Moss
Ray Walker … Col. Peterson
Runtime: 62 min.
Ray Walker (right) as Col. Peterson, watching as Clyde Moss (Robert Lowery) and Mace Corbin (William ‘Wild Bill’ Elliott) recruit a trail crew in The Homesteaders (1953)
Emmett Lynn as Old Grimer and Robert ‘Buzz’ Henry as Charlie, protecting the wagons during an Indian attack in The Homesteaders (1953)
Memorable lines:
Mace Corbin: “We got something to celebrate.”
Robert Lowery: “What’d you do? Pick up a rock here and put it over here.”
Old Grimer: “I figure it this way, fellers. This dynamite here is just like a pretty gal. Treat her careful, she’ll be nice. But treat her rough, and brother look out.”
James Seay as John Kroger, the man who wants Mace Corbin’s dynamite shipment in The Homesteaders (1953)
Tom Monroe as Jake, Kroger’s right-hand man in doing dirty deeds in The Homesteaders (1953)
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