Outlaw Queen
Cast & Crew
Herbert S. Greene
Harry James
Andrea King
Robert Clarke
Andy Ladas
Kenne Duncan
Film Details
Synopsis
Christina, the only daughter of a Greek immigrant family with seven sons, is a fast draw/trick shot artist touring the Old West with her uncle Jim and his friend, Andy Trinas, a mandolin player, who perform as "The Strolling Troubadours." After their arrival in a small western town, they are hired by Conway, the owner of the largest saloon. One night, after losing the trio's earnings in a poker game with Conway, Christina raises the stakes and beats Conway by having her uncle call out Conway's cards in Greek while he sings near the table. With her winnings, Christina opens her own saloon, "The Golden Midas," causing Conway's business to decrease. When Conway sends two gunmen to wreck Christina's saloon, she kills one of them. Although she is sickened by what she has done, Christina nevertheless continues to expand her business interests and soon owns land, cattle and a controlling interest in the local bank. Jim acts as her agent, scouting new acquisitions, and on one trip encounters Rick Mason, an ex-gunslinger, now working at a ranch as a trail boss in charge of a drive of five thousand cattle. Christina is interested in buying the herd and Mason, intrigued by her success, meets with her and not only sells her the herd, but also agrees to work at her ranch and join her battle against Conway. Soon thereafter, John Andrews, a young mining engineer comes to visit Christina and it is obvious that they have known each other previously. Andrews has been hired by Conway to survey his property for silver deposits. Conway, who has developed an almost psychotic hatred of Christina, is determined to destroy her and sets off an explosion that stampedes her cattle. Conway, aware of Mason's jealousy of Andrews' relationship with Christina, tricks the two men into a gunfight, during which Christina is accidentally shot and wounded, and Mason kills Andrews. Feeling he no longer has a place in Christina's life, Mason leaves her.
Director
Herbert S. Greene
Cast
Harry James
Andrea King
Robert Clarke
Andy Ladas
Kenne Duncan
Harold Peary
Vince Barnett
Jim Harakas
I. Stanford Jolley
William Murphy
John Heldring
Crew
Ronnie Ashcroft
Ronnie Ashcroft
Ronnie Ashcroft
Brydon Baker
John Heldring
Guenther Kauer
Pete La Roche
Paul Malcolm
Sid Manor
Norna Mcclaskey
Cy Roth
Robert Templeton
Mary Yerke
Film Details
Quotes
Trivia
Notes
No prints, production dates or reviews of Outlaw Queen were located. According to information in the file on the film in the PCA/MPAA Collection in the AMPAS Library, the completed film was approved by the PCA on July 23, 1956. The cast is listed in the order in which it appeared in press advertising. The summary above was adapted from a synopsis in the film's pressbook and from one submitted to the PCA at the time of the seal application. There are some discrepancies between the two synopses: the PCA version states that "Christina" has four brothers and that "John Andrews" is one of them. Additionally, it is implied that "Mason" does not leave at the end, but reunites with Christina.
In actor Robert Clarke's autobiography, he stated that producer Ronnie Ashcroft secured backing for the film from two Greek musicians, Jim Harakas and Andy Ladas, who also appear in the film. Clarke added that the initial director was Cy Roth, but that he was replaced by Herbert S. Greene, who had been an assistant director on earlier films in which Clarke appeared. Clarke also noted that Outlaw Queen contained stock footage from the 1943 film The Woman of the Town (see AFI Catalog of Feature Films, 1941-50).
A biography of trumpet player and band leader Harry James indicates that he was a great fan of John Wayne's films and fulfilled a lifelong dream by appearing in this western. Outlaw Queen marked James's only major acting role, although he had appeared in several films.
