Stranger on Horseback (1955)

Director:

Jacques Tourneur

Writers:

Louis L'Amour (story)
Don Martin (writer)

Release Date:

23 March 1955 (USA)

Genre:

Western

Plot:

A circuit judge in the old west attempts to bring a suspected killer to justice. The judge runs afoul of the killer's rich cattle baron father in the process. |

Cast

Joel McCrea	...	Judge Richard 'Rick' Thorne
Miroslava	...	Amy Lee Bannerman
Kevin McCarthy	...	Tom Bannerman
John McIntire	...	Josiah Bannerman
John Carradine	...	Col. Buck Streeter
Nancy Gates	...	Caroline Webb
Emile Meyer	...	Sheriff Nat Bell
Robert Cornthwaite	...	Arnold Hammer
Jaclynne Greene	...	Paula Morrison (as Jacklyn Breen)
Walter Baldwin	...	Vince Webb
Emmett Lynn	...	Barfly
Roy Roberts	...	Sam Kettering
George Keymas	...	Bannerman's Henchman

Runtime:

USA:66 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Anscocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Finland:K-16 | Sweden:15

Filming Locations:

Sedona, Arizona, USA

Company:

Robert Goldstein Productions

Quotes:

[After water's thrown in his face.]
Thorne: Thanks, it's a hot day.
Baddie: I don't like what you said.
Thorne: I said it was a hot day.
Baddie: Well, I don't like the way you said it.

"A law book, a horse and a gun"

Stranger on the Horseback is the first and less seen of the three westerns Jacques Tourneur directed in the 1950s, the other two being Wichita and The Great Day in the Morning. And in my opinion is the best of them.

This time the main character is not a sheriff, but a judge Rick Thorne (Joel McCrea) who comes to the small town in the west with the intent of establishing the thing that simply didn't exist there before - the law. Very soon he's joined by Colonel Streeter (John Carradine) who offers Rick his help.

The town is completely under control of a rich and powerful cattle baron Josiah Bannerman and his family gang. But Rick's determination is unshaken.

Soon Rick discovers that a little time before his arrival into town a man was killed by Josiah Bannerman's son - Tom. Tom claims that it was self defense, but Rick begins to conduct his own investigation with the intent to find witnesses and bring Tom to trial. Meanwhile he meets a beautiful Josiah Bannerman's daughter - Amy (Miroslava Stern) who falls in love with him.

Stranger on the Horseback is the best western Jacques Tourneur ever directed. Smoothly paced, with interesting characters, finely acted and with intelligent and witty dialogs it's a pleasure to watch from the beginning to the end. 8/10