Stranger on Horseback (1955)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. Director:Jacques Tourneur |
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Stranger on Horseback (1955)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. Director:Jacques Tourneur |
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| Complete credited cast: | |||
| Joel McCrea | ... |
Judge Richard 'Rick' Thorne
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Miroslava | ... |
Amy Lee Bannerman
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| Kevin McCarthy | ... |
Tom Bannerman
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| John McIntire | ... |
Josiah Bannerman
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| John Carradine | ... |
Col. Buck Streeter
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Nancy Gates | ... |
Caroline Webb
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Emile Meyer | ... |
Sheriff Nat Bell
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Robert Cornthwaite | ... |
Arnold Hammer
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Jaclynne Greene | ... |
Paula Morrison
(as Jacklyn Breen)
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Walter Baldwin | ... |
Vince Webb
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Emmett Lynn | ... |
Barfly
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| Roy Roberts | ... |
Sam Kettering
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George Keymas | ... |
Bannerman's Henchman
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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.
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