Raiders of Old California (1957)

At the end of the Mexican-American War, a crooked U.S. Cavalry Captain and his men force a captive Mexican officer to sign the deeds to his vast lands and large hacienda over to the Captain.

Director:

Albert C. Gannaway

Writers:

Samuel Roeca (as Sam Roeca), Tom Hubbard (as Thomas G. Hubbard)

Stars:

Jim Davis, Arleen Whelan, Faron Young

Cast

Cast overview:
Jim Davis	...	Capt. Angus Clyde McKane
Arleen Whelan	...	Julie Johnson
Faron Young	...	Marshal Faron Young
Marty Robbins	...	Cpl. Timothy Boyle
Lee Van Cleef	...	Sgt. Damon Pardee
Louis Jean Heydt	...	Judge Ward Young
Harry Lauter	...	Lt. Scott Johnson
Douglas Fowley	...	Sheriff
Lawrence Dobkin	...	Don Miguel Sebastian (as Larry Dobkin)
Bill Coontz	...	Turk
Don Diamond	...	Pepe
Rick Vallin	...	Burt (as Ric Vallon)
Tom Hubbard	...	Emmet

Storyline

Following the Mexican-American War, a small group of discharged U. S. Cavalrymen, led by Angus McKane (Jim Davis), stays on in California after the war and, through treachery, seizes a Spanish land grant, thereby gaining control of a vast area of what became the states of Arizona and California.

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Plot Keywords:

mexican american war | opening action scene | horse chase | horse | cowboy and outlaw | 

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Taglines:

They Plundered for Power Across a Fabulous Empire!

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Genres:

Drama | History | Western

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Certificate:

Approved

Did You Know?

Goofs

Although called "Raiders of Old California", it was set in the Texas/New Mexico area.

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Quotes

Don Miguel Sebastian: No my child. The land belongs to the people who live on it. And with your help, this time we will make it legal.

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Connections

Edited into Six Gun Theater (2015)

User Reviews

Subpar western

Jim Davis is star and protagonist of Raiders Of Old California, a western from the last days of Republic Pictures. Davis is an army captain who uses the Mexican War and the uniform to steal himself a Spanish land grant from the previous owner Lawrence Dobkin who after a murder attempt by Davis henchman Lee Van Cleef on his life, retires and becomes a friar.

It's been previously pointed out the disparity in times for a film set in the post Mexican War years, with Davis, Van Cleef etc. wearing Civil War era uniforms and carrying even later weaponry. Herbert J. Yates was not much for authenticity and research.

Faron Young and Marty Robbins from the Grand Ole Opry are a good guy and a bad guy in this film. It was getting a little too late for country and western stars to become western stars on the big screen. Their time to become another Gene Autry had passed.

Those who are thespians do a good job with their roles. But Raiders Of Old California is a subpar western.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

1 November 1957 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Gun and the Gavel

Filming Locations:

Kanab, Utah, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Albert C. Gannaway Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

72 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Glen Glenn Sound)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1