El Paso (1949)

Ex-confederate officer Clay Fletcher jumps at the chance to reunite with his once lady-friend, Susan Jeffers, when his father, Judge Fletcher, sends him on an errand to El Paso, Texas to ... See full summary »

Director:

Lewis R. Foster

Writers:

Lewis R. Foster (screenplay), J. Robert Bren (story),

Stars:

John Payne, Gail Russell, Sterling Hayden

Cast

Complete credited cast:
John Payne	...	Clay Fletcher
Gail Russell	...	Susan Jeffers
Sterling Hayden	...	Bert Donner
George 'Gabby' Hayes	...	Pesky (Pescaloosa) Tees
Dick Foran	...	Sheriff La Farge
Eduardo Noriega	...	Don Nacho Vázquez
Henry Hull	...	Judge Henry Jeffers
Mary Beth Hughes	...	Stagecoach Nellie
H.B. Warner	...	Judge Fletcher
Robert Ellis	...	Jack Elkins (as Bobby Ellis)
Catherine Craig	...	Mrs. Elkins
Arthur Space	...	John Elkins
Steven Geray	...	Mexican Joe

Storyline

Ex-confederate officer Clay Fletcher jumps at the chance to reunite with his once lady-friend, Susan Jeffers, when his father, Judge Fletcher, sends him on an errand to El Paso, Texas to get the signature of Susan's father, Judge Jeffers, on a legal document. Once there he finds the judge has become a drunk and a laughing stock, doing the bidding of local magnate Bert Donner and his running dog, Sheriff La Farge. Just as Clay starts straightening out the town's problems, events occur which force him to abandon the legal system and instead adopt the murderous tactics of a vigilante.

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Genres:

Western

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

5 August 1949 (USA)

Also Known As:

El Paso - Die Stadt der Rechtlosen

Filming Locations:

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

Company Credits

Production Co:

Pine-Thomas Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

103 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Color:

Color (Cinecolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Quotes

Bert Donner: I see you found yourself a new coat.
Clayton Fletcher: Yes. A coat of a brave man who died defending the rights of his people. There were two bullet holes in the back of it. You heard of Señor Montez?
Bert Donner: Montez made the mistake of interfering with the law. If you're smart, you won't make the same mistake.
Clayton Fletcher: If I do, Donner, I'll remember to not turn my back on you.

User Reviews

Long Arm of the Law !

This Cinecolor Western from 1949 boasts a terrific cast and an interesting storyline. John Payne stars as a gun-toting attorney who takes on the so-called "lawmen" of El Paso. Sterling Haytden and former singin'cowpoke Dick Foran have fun roles as the bad-guys running the town. With the help of a drunken Judge, they rule with an iron fist .... until Payne arrives !

Gabby Hayes has a featured role and is as endearing as ever. This film is fun and well-produced, but is a little long & drags a bit in the middle.

Those with patience and a 100+ minutes to spare should enjoy this old-fashioned cowboy movie.