The Texans (1938)

User Rating:

6.5/10   

Director:

James P. Hogan

Writers:

William Wister Haines (writer)
Emerson Hough (story)

Release Date:

12 August 1938 (USA)

Genre:

Western

Plot:

After the Civil War, an ex-Confederate soldier faces new battles, including the elements and a carpetbagger intent on destroying him. |

Plot Keywords:

Carpetbagger | Civil War | Texas | Beautiful Woman

Cast

Joan Bennett	...	Ivy Preston
Randolph Scott	...	Kirk Jordan
May Robson	...	Granna
Walter Brennan	...	Chuckawalla
Robert Cummings	...	Alan Sanford
Raymond Hatton	...	Cal Tuttle
Robert Barrat	...	Isaiah Middlebrack
Harvey Stephens	...	Lt. David Nichols
Francis Ford	...	Uncle Dud
Bill Roberts	...	Singin' Cy

Runtime:

92 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Mirrophonic Recording)

Certification:

Finland:K-16

Filming Locations:

Cotulla, Texas, USA

Company:

Paramount Pictures

Trivia:

One of over 700 Paramount Productions, filmed between 1929 and 1949, which were sold to MCA/Universal in 1958 for television distribution, and have been owned and controlled by Universal ever since.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Living Steam: Virginia and Truckee Then and Now at the Nevada State Railroad Museum (2008) (V)

Soundtrack:

Silver on the Sage

Probably reflects the real post war Texas

Some of today's viewers might be a bit put off by what they see as racism in the beginning. Just remember not to judge other times by the current time in which you dwell. Black Union soldiers did make themselves unwelcome in post Civil War South. Carpetbaggers did go to the South to take advantage. The South WAS desperately poor after the war and unfair taxes were levied. These are historical facts which do not take sides. The writer took the facts and the attitudes, of both sides, and wove them into this story. Randolph Scott as the former Confederate wanted the country reunited instead of taken over by Mexico. He said that all Yankees were not like the ones pushing their way around Texas, as he had met them in the war. The Union officer felt the same about many former Confederates. The movie showed this as the beginning of understanding between former foes. The acting was good. Perhaps one of Scott's better performances. Mae Robson was great and reminded me of Beula Bondi. Robert Cummings (well before his TV successes) was the former Confederate officer who could not accept the loss of the war. Joan Bennett was beautiful as the center of the love triangle between Scott, Cummings and herself. Character actors brought the film along quite well as they often do - Walter Brennan, Raymond Hatton, Frances Ford, Robert Barrat, Harvey Stephens. And there was Richard Denning with a small speaking part before his Mr. North fame. There was a most believable fight scene in the streets between Union troops and former confederates. It was well directed. There was an action scene of wagons, horses and cattle running from brush fire set by Indians that was very well done considering this was before digital special effects. The movie moved along nicely from the very beginning with plenty of Western excitement. Be sure to catch this Western if you get the chance. Although it has some twists and turns, it is still a good old fashioned Western.