The Badge of Marshal Brennan (1957)

A pseudo-marshal, a local doctor and the town sheriff must join forces to battle a greedy cattle-baron whose herd, locally sold, is contaminated with a contagious disease.

Director:

Albert C. Gannaway

Writer:

Tom Hubbard (as Thomas G. Hubbard)

Stars:

Jim Davis, Arleen Whelan, Carl Smith

Cast

Cast overview:
Jim Davis	...	'Brennan'
Arleen Whelan	...	Murdock
Carl Smith	...	Sheriff Carl Smith
Harry Lauter	...	Doc Hale
Marty Robbins	...	Felipe
Douglas Fowley	...	Marshal Matt Brennan (as Doug Fowley)
Lee Van Cleef	...	Shad Donaphin
Louis Jean Heydt	...	Col. Donaphin
Lawrence Dobkin	...	Chicamon
Eddie Crandall	...	Pepe Joe
Darryl Guy	...	George
Rick Vallin	...	Deputy Jody (as Ric Vallon)
Edward Colmans	...	Governor Ainley (as Edward Colemans)

Storyline

Jim Davis is a man on the run. He comes across the body of a dead man wearing the badge of a marshal. He buries the body and takes the badge and rides on. At the next town, he is mistaken for the dead man, a legendary marshal named Brennan. The town sent for Marshal Brennan because they were facing a crisis that includes among other things an epidemic. The Stranger decides to stay as a way of hiding from the men chasing him. What he does not realize is that when he takes on the Badge of Marshal Brennan, he takes on the responsibilities of Marshal Brennan.

---

Plot Keywords:

male female relationship | cattle baron | interrupted hanging | death of lawman | apache indian | 

---

Taglines:

BARBED WIRE SHOWDOWN...in raw territory of lynch law!

---

Genres:

Romance | Western

---

Certificate:

Approved

Did You Know?

Trivia

The on-screen crediting of Ramey Idriss as the music performer states that he was playing Fender guitars.

---

Goofs

Murdock keeps the coffeepot on a wooden counter, even after she "just made a fresh pot of coffee." There's no way it would remain hot, yet it is supposed to be hot each time she serves a cup.

---

Quotes

[first lines]
Sheriff leading posse: Let him go. Even with a price on his head, he isn't worth chasing into Apache land.

---

Soundtracks

Man on the Run
Written by Ramey Idriss, Hal Levy and Albert C. Gannaway
Performed by Carl Smith and Ramey Idriss

User Reviews

Excellent "B" western

The Badge of Marshal Brennan is a "B" western starring Jim Davis who later gained fame as the Ewing patriarch in Dallas. Davis was an imposing gentleman with a rugged face and a deep commanding voice. He played villains in "A" westerns and heroes in "B" westerns. In The Badge of Marshal Brennan he plays "The Stranger", a man on the run, who comes across a dying marshal. After the marshal dies, he buries the body and takes the badge. At the next town, he is mistaken for the dead marshal. The town had sent for Marshal Brennan because of an epidemic, outlaws and panic. The Stranger sees it as a chance to hide from his pursuers. What he doesn't realize is that by taking on the badge of Marshal Brennan, he takes on the responsibilities of the dead marshal.

It is an excellent movie, one I remember well, even after many years. Davis, as always, give a strong performance as a man who has to look inside himself and finds much more there than he thought. It has mystical overtones that are interesting but do not interfere with its tough "B" western quality.

If it ever comes out on DVD, I would strongly recommend it to any western fan.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

14 April 1957 (USA)

Also Known As:

Story of a Star

Filming Locations:

Cascade Studios, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Albert C. Gannaway Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

76 min 29 min (edited)

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System) Mono (Glen Glenn Sound)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1