Law and Order (1953)

Frame Johnson already cleaned up Tombstone and hopes to settle down near Cottonwood. But a marshal's work is never done...

Director:

Nathan Juran

Writers:

W.R. Burnett (novel) (as William R. Burnett), Inez Cocke (adaptation)

Stars:

Ronald Reagan, Dorothy Malone, Preston Foster

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Ronald Reagan	...	Frame Johnson
Dorothy Malone	...	Jeannie
Preston Foster	...	Kurt Durling
Alex Nicol	...	Lute Johnson
Ruth Hampton	...	Maria
Russell Johnson	...	Jimmy Johnson
Barry Kelley	...	Fin Elder
Chubby Johnson	...	Denver Cahoon
Jack Kelly	...	Jed
Dennis Weaver	...	Frank Durling
Wally Cassell	...	Durango Kid
Richard Garrick	...	Judge Williams

Storyline

Having cleaned up Tombstone, marshal Frame Johnson quits after an attempted lynching, and hopes to settle down on a ranch near Cottonwood with his sweetheart Jeannie. Before he can do so, it looks like he may have to clean up Cottonwood too. But how great a sacrifice will he make for law and order?

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Plot Keywords:

arizona territory | outlaw brothers | coroner | law and order | lawlessness | 

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Taglines:

The story of Frame Johnson and the five days of fury when he stood alone against the last of the Southwest's renegade rule!

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Genres:

Action | Adventure | Western

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Certificate:

Passed

Did You Know?

Trivia

Even though another actor/future governor of California, Arnold Schwarzenegger, is better known for the line, Frame Johnson says "I'll be back" as he is leaving the office with Jeannie.

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Goofs

During the climatic fight between Frame Johnson (Ronald Reagan) and Kurt Durling (Preston Foster), Durling punches Johnson and then vaults over a hitching post to continue the fight. When he vaults over the hitching post, Durling grips the post firmly with his supposedly useless "wooden hand" and uses it to boost himself over the post.

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Quotes

[The town undertaker, Denver Cahoon, is trying to drum up business]
Denver Cahoon: Where's the Durango Kid?
Frame Johnson: That's him.
Denver Cahoon: You mean to say you brought him back alive?
Frame Johnson: Well, for the time being.
Denver Cahoon: Now, we've been friends for a long time, Frame. But since you cleaned up this town, I can't hardly make a living. How do you expect me to make any money off of him?
Durango Kid: Don't worry about it friend, you won't have to wait long.

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Connections

Version of Western Courage (1950)

User Reviews

Solid action western with good performances.

Too many critics sneer at Ronald Reagan's career in films. THey obviously didn't see this film. Law and Order is a solid western made in the era when westerns were made well. The script is tight, with plenty of action, but not weighted down with too much gratuitous violence that marks most of Eastwood's films. Reagan's performance as Frame Johnson is natural and believable. His skill in the saddle is displayed several times. He comes across tough and determined, yet has scruples. THe supporting cast boasts such veterans as Russell Johnson (who appears in many sci-fi films of the fifties) and Preston Foster and Dorothy Malone. Nathan Juran directed many films and television programs and was good at maximizing the low budget that Universal gave him for this effort. Another good western starring Reagan is Last Outpost (1951). Law and Order is definitely worth seeing - If Reagan had made more films of this caliber, he might not have gone into politics.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

14 December 1953 (Algeria)

Also Known As:

Law and Order

Filming Locations:

Universal Studios - 100 Universal City Plaza, Universal City, California, USA

Box Office

Gross USA:

$1,000,000

Company Credits

Production Co:

Universal International Pictures (UI)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

80 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1