The Iron Sheriff (1957)

Sterling Hayden is Sheriff Galt, whose son, Benjie (Darryl Hickman) has been accused of murdering a stage driver during a holdup.

He’s hired the most expensive attorney around (John Dehner) to defend his son. He’s determined his son didn’t commit the crime.

Then he hears death-bed testimony to the contrary from the dad of Benjie’s girlfriend.

And the trail of a spanking new silver coin he’s sure will prove his son’s innocence instead promises to tighten the noose around his neck.

Galt’s dilemma: As a lawman, does he testify against his own son?

Or does he keep the new information a secret in hopes that his son will avoid the hangman’s noose?

Sterling Hayden as Sheriff Sam Galt, torn between a lawman’s duty and his love of his son in The Iron Sheriff (1957)

Darryl Hickman as Benji Galt, the sheriff’s son on trial for murder in The Iron Sheriff (1957)

Review:

Not horrible. But not nearly as good as it should have been given the rather unique situation Hayden’s character finds himself in. Of course, Hayden never seemed to elevate the quality of the material he was given, at least not in his low-budget Westerns.

Most of the drama comes in the courtroom, where attorney Pollock won’t hesitate to dirty the reputation of Benjie’s girlfriend if it improves his client’s chances of being found innocent.

Constance Ford, who did most of her acting on TV, plays Claire, the sheriff’s longtime girlfriend. Kent Taylor is Phil Quincy, who also loves Claire and uses his newspaper to strike out against the sheriff and his son out of jealousy.

Kathy Nolan, who plays Benji’s girlfriend Kathi Walden, began a long-running role as Kate McCoy of “The Real McCoys” TV series the same year this film was released.

Constance Ford as Claire, the woman who stands by Sheriff Sam Galt in The Iron Sheriff (1957)

Ken Taylor as Phil Quincy, the newspaperman with a grudge against Sheriff Sam Galt in The Iron Sheriff (1957)

Directed by:
Sidney Salkow

Cast:
Sterling Hayden … Sheriff Sam Galt
Darryl Hickman … Benjie Galt
Constance Ford … Claire
Kathy Nolan … Kathi Walden
John Dehner … Roger Pollock
Kent Taylor … Phil Quincy
Walter Sande … Marshal Ellison
Frank Ferguson … District Attorney Holloway
Mort Mills … Sutherland
King Donovan … Leveret
Peter Miller … Jack Gallagher
I. Stanford Jolley … Gene Walden
Will Wright … Judge
Ray Walker … Bilson
Robert Williams … Sheriff Tilyou

Runtime: 73 min.

Kathy Nolan as Kathi Walden, the young woman in love with Benji in The Iron Sheriff (1957)

I. Stanford Jolley as Gene Walden, the man who’s deathbed revelaation causes so much trouble for Sheriff Galt in The Iron Sheriff (1957)

Memorable lines:

D.A. Holloway, after Pollock quizzes Kathi on the nature of her relationship with Benjie Gault: “He’s going to ruin this girl’s reputation and future. He’ll insinuate, besmerch and slander.”
Pollock: “This boy is on trial for his life.”
Holloway: “It’s in bad taste. Vulgar, borrish and shabby. It’s completely lacking in common decency and conviction.”
Pollock: “Oh, convention be hanged — not Benjie.”

Pollock, encouraging Benjie to tell all about Kathi and himself: “That same society that puts a bridle on your tongue will put a rope around your neck.”

Claire to Sheriff Sam Galt: “You’re so filled with hate, you want to do the worst kind of thing.”

John Dehner as Roger Pollock, the high-priced attorney hired by the sheriff to defend Benjie in The Iron Sheriff

Frank Ferguson as District Attorney Holloway, making a point as the judge (Will Wright) looks on in The Iron Sheriff (1957)

Mort Mills as Sutherland, the range detective hired by the sheriff to help clear Benjie in The Iron Sheriff (1957)

Walter Sande as Marshal Ellison, on hand to make sure their are no problems during Benjie’s trial in The Iron Sheriff (1957)

Ray Walker as Bilson, a man with a secret key to Benjie’s trial in The Iron Sheriff (1957)

Sterling Hayden as Sheriff Galt, under questioning by District Attorney Holloway (Frank Ferguson) in The Iron Sheriff (1957)