Stranger on the Run (1967)

Former inmate and drunkard Ben Chamberlain arrives in a railroad town looking for a woman, causing the railroad police deputies to manhunt for Ben.

Director:

Don Siegel (as Donald Siegel)

Writers:

Dean Riesner (teleplay), Reginald Rose (based on a story by)

Stars:

Henry Fonda, Anne Baxter, Michael Parks

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Henry Fonda	...	Ben Chamberlain
Anne Baxter	...	Valverda Johnson
Michael Parks	...	Vince McKay
Dan Duryea	...	O.E. Hotchkiss
Sal Mineo	...	George Blaylock
Lloyd Bochner	...	Mr. Gorman
Michael Burns	...	Matt Johnson
Tom Reese	...	Leo Weed
Bernie Hamilton	...	Dickory
Zalman King	...	Larkin
Madlyn Rhue	...	Alma Britten
Walter Burke	...	Abraham Berk
Rodolfo Acosta	...	Mercurio
George Dunn	...	Pilney
Pepe Hern	...	Manolo

Storyline

In search of a woman, the washed-up alcoholic vagabond and former convict, Ben Chamberlain, ends up in a god-forsaken and dusty railhead town, where Sheriff McKay and his trigger-happy deputies rule with a heavy hand. Under those circumstances, the drifter who thirsts for answers, and above all, redemption, will begin his investigation, only to soon find himself wrongfully accused of murder. Inevitably, as Ben runs for cover in the rough wilderness, an angry posse of hateful gunslingers will hunt him down before he reaches the borders. Can Ben make it out alive?

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Plot Keywords:

manhunt | sheriff | desert | horse | posse | 

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Taglines:

Before he finished with this town, every gunslinger would know he was a man.

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Genres:

Drama | Thriller | Western

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Certificate:

TV-PG

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

16 December 1967 (UK)

Also Known As:

Bad Day at Banner

Filming Locations:

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

Company Credits

Production Co:

Universal Television

Technical Specs

Runtime:

97 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Soundtracks

Stranger on the Run
Written by Kay Scott
Sung by Bill Anderson

User Reviews

Something of a gem

I'd love to know more about how this made-for-TV movie came about. It's got Don Siegel for it's director and Henry Fonda leading a first rate cast -- Dan Duryea is a stand out as the older, wiser gun-hand well past his prime (although he's actual a year younger that Fonda, Duryea looks at least 15 years older, but I gather he was in ill health). Not to give too much away, Fonda is a bum who drifts into town and upsets the apple cart by inquiring about the sister of a friend. The story builds quickly and is intriguing, but it is the characterizations of the players that give the movie it's greatest appeal. Even the minor characters are given some depth and not just the stereotypical kind of depth that is generally used as a kind of short-hand. The production values are just what they should be and the photography is excellent. I would suggest you go out of your way to try to catch this little gem of a western.