Three Young Texans (1954)

Jeffrey Hunter is a hard-working cowboy named Johnny Colt, who stashes away every cent he earns in hopes of restocking his father’s ranch after a drought wiped out their herd.

His friends include the carefree Tony Ballew (Keefe Brasselle), who’s more prone to lose his earnings at a gambling table; and feisty Rusty Blair (Mitzi Gaynor), who turns the heads of both young men in spite of her tomboyish tendencies.

But right now, Johnny’s biggest problem isn’t vying Tony for Rusty’s affection. It’s his father, who routinely travels south of the border to play poker, hoping to win a stake that will restore his family’s financial security.

When a dispute over cheating breaks out, Jim Colt guns down one of the other card players. The only other men at the table are members of the Apache Joe Gang.

Knowing Jim works for the railroad, they give him an option: Help them rob a train of a $50,000 payroll, or be turned in for murder.

But Johnny overhears the plans and decides he’ll rob the train first to keep his father out of trouble. Then, when the smoke has cleared, he’ll return the loot.

Problem is, Tony quickly guesses who robbed the train and where Johnny stashed the stolen money. And Tony figures this is his one and only shot to make a quick $50,000.

Jeffrey Hunter as Johnny Colt, thrilled to hear he might get a good deal on 40 head of cattle in Three Young Texans (1954)

Mitzi Gaynor as Rusty Blair, confused as to why Johnny Colt would rob a train in Three Young Texans (1954)

Review:

A Western with a unique plot and plenty of action, though Tony Ballew’s motivations seemed strangely misguided to the point of implausibility.

Mitzi Gaynor, out of her normal song-and-dance element, is asked to pull off some silly lines in her only appearance in a Western. But she sure looks fine in those Western duds.

Jeffrey Hunter fairs a bit better in his first Western. He was 27 when the film was released in early 1954, making him the middle of “The Young Texans” in terms of age. Gaynor was 22; Brasselle was 30.

One note of interest: A young Aaron Spelling — yep, the soon-to-be-famous TV producer — has a prominent role as Catur, a member of the Apache Joe Gang.

Keefe Brasselle as Tony Ballew, questioned by the sheriff after spending stolen loot on a new $20 shirt in Three Young Texans (1954)

Dan Riss as Sheriff Dan Carter, trying to find $50,000 in stolen payroll money in Three Young Texans (1954)

Directed by:
Henry Levin

Cast:
Mitzi Gaynor … Rusty Blair
Jeffrey Hunter … Johnny Colt
Keefe Brasselle … Tony Ballew
Harvey Stephens … Jim Colt
Dan Riss … Sheriff Carter
Michael Ansara … Apache Joe
Aaron Spelling … Catur
Morris Ankrum … Jeff Blair
Frank Wilcox … Bill McAdoo
Helen Wallace … Martha Colt

Runtime: 77 min.

Michael Ansara as Apache Joe, leader of an outlaw gang planning a $50,000 train robbery in Three Young Texans (1954)

Aaron Spelling as Apache Joe gang member Catur, discovering Johnny Colt’s hideout in Three Young Texans (1954)

Memorable lines:

Jim Colt, about his gambling: “I lost everything sudden like. I intend to get it back the same way.”

Rusty Blair, about the robbery: “Why’d you do it, Johnny?”
Johnny Colt: “I had my reasons.”
Rusty: “That hurts, Johnny. That really hurts.”

Rusty Blair, when Johnny and Tony argue over what to do with the stolen money: “Maybe I’m not too smart, because I’m just a little confused.”

Jim Colt: “Look, Tony, try thinking back a few days. We had $700 to start a new herd and no trouble with the law. Everything was fine. The only real trouble we had was who gets Rusty. It was a good life, Tony, and like Rusty said, we can still go back to it.”

Johnny Colt (Jeffrey Hunter) and Rusty Blair (Mitzi Gaynor) look on as Tony Ballew (Keefe Brasselle) tries for a big score at the roulette wheel in Three Young Texans (1954)

Jeffrey Hunter as Johnny Colt and Harvey Stephens as his father Jim, working together to clear their names in Three Young Texans (1954)

Mitzi Gaynor as Rusty Blair and Jeffrey Hunter as Johnny Colt, listening to the sheriff announce the train holdup in Three Young Texans (1954)

Jeffrey Hunter as Johnny Colt, in the hands of Apache Joe gang members McAdoo (Frank Wilcox) and Catur (Aaron Spelling) in Three Young Texans (1954)