By Frank Miller
Cherokee Strip
Brief Synopsis
A newly appointed U.S. Marshal faces off against a criminal family.
Cast & Crew
Read More
Lesley Selander
Director
Richard Dix
Dave Morrell
Florence Rice
Kate Cross
Victor Jory
Coy Barrett
Andy Clyde
Tex Crawford
George E. Stone
Abe Gabbert
Film Details
Genre
Western
Release Date
Oct
11,
1940
Premiere Information
not available
Production Company
Harry Sherman Productions, Inc.
Distribution Company
Paramount Pictures, Inc.
Country
United States
Technical Specs
Duration
1h 24m
Film Length
7,686ft
(9 reels)
Synopsis
In 1893, Texan Dave Morrell is appointed U.S. Marshal and sent to Goliath, Oklahoma to restore law and order to the Cherokee Strip, the last of the Indian land, which is about to be opened for colonization. Dave's first brush with lawlessness occurs when he receives a telegram notifying him that the Poncha Center State Bank has been robbed. Soon after, outlaws Ben Blivens and Carter ride into town bearing money bags and enter the bank owned by Coy Barrett. Inside the bank, Coy accommodates the robbers by depositing the stolen money in return for a twenty-five percent "commission." After depositing their money, Carter and Blivens use the new marshal's sign for target practice, and Dave slaps them with a fine. Dave's boldness draws the attention of Senator Cross, who is drafting legislation to open the strip, and the Senator's son and daughter, Tom and Kate, who are conducting a census. Dave also attracts the attention of Ned Strawn and his cousin, Alf Barrett, whose family was embroiled in a feud with the Morrells in their home state of Texas. The feud was settled when Alf's brother Coy assured Dave that Alf, who murdered Dave's brother, was dead. Alf warns his brother that Dave is in town, and the Barrett clan begins to plot Dave's elimination. Soon after, Dave's deputy, Tex, walks into town after losing his horse and saddle at the Barrett hideout, where the gang runs a gambling house. That night, the town holds a welcoming party for Dave, and while Coy dances with Kate, Dave breaks into the bank and finds the stolen money bags, which he presents to Coy. The next day, the rest of the Morrell brothers, led by Frank Morrell, ride into Goliath, and Dave tells them that he suspects the Barretts of rustling Morrell cattle and asks them to wait outside of town until he sends for them. Meanwhile, Dave and Kate begin to fall in love but disagree over Tom's desire to carry a gun. When Tom, wearing his newly bought gun, visits the Barrett hideout on census business, he quarrels with Alf, who pulls a gun and shoots him. Under the pretext of retrieving Tex's horse, Dave and Tex ride to the hideout, where they find Tom's census paper with Alf's name on it. Hank Barrett realizes that Dave knows that Tom was there, and sends four of his men to ambush Dave and Tex. After driving off their ambushers, the lawmen find Tom's carriage bearing his dead body, and Dave sends Tex for his brothers, while he returns to town with Tom's body. Tom is greeted by Kate's recriminations and Coy's accusation of murder. When Alf rides into town to warn Coy of the approaching Morrells, the Barretts barricade the street. In the ensuing shootout, Frank and Alf kill each other and Dave arrests Coy. With law and order restored, Kay apologizes to Dave, who accompanies her and the Senator to open the new territory.
Director
Lesley Selander
Director
Cast
Richard Dix
Dave Morrell
Florence Rice
Kate Cross
Victor Jory
Coy Barrett
Andy Clyde
Tex Crawford
George E. Stone
Abe Gabbert
William Henry
Tom Cross
Morris Ankrum
Hawk [Barrett]
Douglas Fowley
Alf [Barrett]
Addison Richards
Ned Strawn
Charles Trowbridge
Senator Cross
Tom Tyler
Frank [Morrell]
William Haade
Grimes
Ray Teal
Smokey [Morrell]
Hal Taliaferro
Ben Blivens
Jack Rockwell
Ace Eastwood
Robert Winkler
A Barrett kid
Crew
D. M. Abrahams
Assistant Director
Henry Donovan
Props
Jos. W. Engel
Associate Producer
Russell Harlan
Photography
Norman Houston
Screenwriter
Emile Kuri
Set Decoration
John Leipold
Music Score
Carrol Lewis
Editing
Bernard Mcconville
Original Story
Bernard Mcconville
Screenwriter
Earl Moser
Wardrobe
L. J. Myers
Sound
Joe Popkin
Production Manager
Lewis J. Rachmil
Art Director
Sherman A. Rose
Supervising Film Editor
Harry Sherman
Producer
Irvin Talbot
Music Director
Film Details
Genre
Western
Release Date
Oct
11,
1940
Premiere Information
not available
Production Company
Harry Sherman Productions, Inc.
Distribution Company
Paramount Pictures, Inc.
Country
United States
Technical Specs
Duration
1h 24m
Film Length
7,686ft
(9 reels)
Articles
The Cherokee Strip -
Harry Sherman was one of Hollywood's top Western producers, working independently then releasing his films through United Artists or, as in this case, Paramount. His most famous pictures were the Hopalong Cassidy films, which started in 1934, but he also produced individual films often labeled "B plus" for their high production values. This time out, he dramatizes the opening up of the Cherokee Strip, though the reason given here is to drive out outlaw gangs hiding out there. Supposedly this is all for the benefit of the Native population, though none of them appear in this film. Richard Dix, one of the best actors ever to strap on a pair of six guns, represents the law as the recently appointed Marshal of Goliath, OK. Working against him is Victor Jory, the town banker who's secretly laundering his family's criminal gains. And just to spice things up, Dix's and Jory's families have been engaged in a feud since they both lived in Texas. Sherman used actors like Dix and Jory and directors like Lesley Selander repeatedly. Their presence gives the film a drive and purpose that belie its low budget.
By Frank Miller
By Frank Miller
The Cherokee Strip -
Harry Sherman was one of Hollywood's top Western producers, working independently then releasing his films through United Artists or, as in this case, Paramount. His most famous pictures were the Hopalong Cassidy films, which started in 1934, but he also produced individual films often labeled "B plus" for their high production values. This time out, he dramatizes the opening up of the Cherokee Strip, though the reason given here is to drive out outlaw gangs hiding out there. Supposedly this is all for the benefit of the Native population, though none of them appear in this film. Richard Dix, one of the best actors ever to strap on a pair of six guns, represents the law as the recently appointed Marshal of Goliath, OK. Working against him is Victor Jory, the town banker who's secretly laundering his family's criminal gains. And just to spice things up, Dix's and Jory's families have been engaged in a feud since they both lived in Texas. Sherman used actors like Dix and Jory and directors like Lesley Selander repeatedly. Their presence gives the film a drive and purpose that belie its low budget.
By Frank Miller
Quotes
Trivia
Notes
The credits and plot summary for this film were taken from a Paramount release dialogue script contained at the AMPAS Library and the opening credits of the film itself. Although onscreen credits list the family as "Morrell," the copyright records and New York Times list the family "Lovell." A news item in Hollywood Reporter adds that the film was shot on location in Lone Valley, CA. Producer Harry Sherman and director Lesley Selander also worked together on the Hopalong Cassidy series. Modern sources add Tex Cooper to the cast.
