Deep in the Heart of Texas (1942)

Jim Malloy returns from the Civil War to Texas to find his father, Colonel Malloy, leading a band of land grabbers and carpet-baggers during the Reconstruction Era. He learns of this from ... See full summary »

Director:

Elmer Clifton

Writers:

Oliver Drake, Grace Norton (adaptation)

Stars:

Johnny Mack Brown, Tex Ritter, Fuzzy Knight

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Johnny Mack Brown	...	Jim Mallory
Tex Ritter	...	Brent Gordon
Fuzzy Knight	...	Hapworth 'Happy' T. Snodgrass
Jennifer Holt	...	Nan Taylor
William Farnum	...	Colonel Mallory
Harry Woods	...	Sergeant Idaho
Kenneth Harlan	...	Captain Sneed
Pat O'Malley	...	Jonathan Taylor
Roy Brent	...	Sam Franklin
Edmund Cobb	...	Lieutenant Matthews
Jimmy Wakely Trio	...	Saloon Musicians

Storyline

Jim Malloy returns from the Civil War to Texas to find his father, Colonel Malloy, leading a band of land grabbers and carpet-baggers during the Reconstruction Era. He learns of this from newspaper publisher Jonathan Taylor, who advocates the overthrow of Colonel Malloy's crooked regime, and his daughter Nan. Jim and his pal, "Happy" Snodgrass save Taylor from Malloy's henchmen, led by Idaho, and they side with the Governor's representative Brent Gordon against the gang. When Jim kills one of the gang members, Captain Sneed, the Colonel's main aide, has him jailed and he is to be executed. Colonel Malloy goes to Gordon and Taylor, and they agree to take up arms to free Jim on the condition that the Colonel join their crusade against the lawlessness.

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Plot Keywords:

reconstruction era | secession | corruption | singing cowboy | civil war veteran | 

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Genres:

Western

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

25 September 1942 (USA)

Also Known As:

Texasin valloittajat

Filming Locations:

Corriganville, Ray Corrigan Ranch, Simi Valley, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Universal Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

62 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Quotes

[last lines]
Jim Mallory: I pledge allegiance to the flag...
Colonel Mallory: I pledge allegiance to the flag.
Jim Mallory: Of the United States of America...
Colonel Mallory: Of the United States of America.
Jim Mallory: And to the republic for which it stands...
Colonel Mallory: And to the republic for which it stands... Jim! Jim!
[in his death spasms, Colonel Mallory tears down the flag of the Republic of the Rio Grande]

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Soundtracks

"Deep In The Heart Of Texas"
Written by Don Swander and June Hershey
Sung by Tex Ritter and The Jimmy Wakely Trio

User Reviews

"Well I can handle any job you got for me".

I saw "The Old Chisholm Trail" a few weeks ago and was surprised to see Johnny Mack Brown, Tex Ritter, Fuzzy Knight and Jimmy Wakely all together in one picture, but lo and behold, here's another one. So with more than a bit of curiosity, I did a little research and learned that after a couple of years as a solo star, Brown got some help from Tex Ritter for a series of seven Westerns over at Universal. Fuzzy and the Jimmy Wakely Trio were also on hand for more than a couple of pictures as well.

What caught me even more by surprise in this story was a reference Fuzzy Knight makes about being an entertainer in a medicine show. In "The Old Chisholm Trail", his character was just that - a side-show magician and ventriloquist who has a running gag with Earle Hodgins, who appears in this flick as Judge Peabody. The thing is, 'Chisholm' came a couple of pictures AFTER this one! As an aside, all the main players portrayed different characters in each of the films they appeared in for Universal.

The main story here has to do with large Texas land grant owners who defied professing allegiance to the Union following the Civil War. JMB's father (William Farnum) puts himself in charge of a huge tract called 'The Republic of the Rio Grande', and with a typical henchman crew, attempts to secede from Texas and set up his own government. The way it all plays out is just a little too pat, but hey, any B Western running over an hour was pushing it. Let's just say Jim Mallory (Brown) makes good on his promise to 'put Texas back into the Union'.

The action takes place in the appropriately named town of Freedom City, Texas, with an opening song number that has Fuzzy Knight taking a crack at the title tune. Things wind up with a rousing finale that features The Pledge of Allegiance and the strains of 'Deep in the Heart of Texas' looming in the background. In that regard, the picture is one of the more patriotic Westerns coming out of the era, with a prominent show of the American flag in more than one scene.