Code of the Lawless
Brief Synopsis
Cast & Crew
Wallace W. Fox
Kirby Grant
Fuzzy Knight
Poni Adams
Hugh Prosser
Barbara Sears
Film Details
Technical Specs
Synopsis
In 1863, in Arizona, the Hilton corporation, which provides protection for the local ranches, informs the ranchers that their "taxes" are being raised once again. Some of the ranchers decide to confront the company's general manager, Lester Ward, but are fought off by Hilton "lawmen." Ward then appears and tells the townspeople that he is powerless to stop the rate increase, as all such decisions are made by his boss, Chadwick Hilton. In reality, though, Ward is the power behind the Hilton organization, as Hilton is an invalid. Later, Hilton receives a letter from his long-lost son, Chad, Jr., whom he has not seen in twenty years, much to the dismay of Ward, who views the young Hilton as a threat to his power. Soon thereafter, a stranger calling himself "Tex" arrives in the territory and quickly makes friends with miner Ezzarius "Bonanza" Featherston, who tells him about the injustices being imposed on the local ranchers. A short time later, Ward's men bushwhack Chad, Jr., but Tex rides to the wounded tenderfoot's rescue. Tex then takes the young man to Bonanza, who nurses him. Told that Chad, Jr. will be unconscious for three or four days, Tex takes the younger man's horse and assumes his identity. At the Hilton estate, Tex has another run-in with Ward's men when he tries to see his "father." Tex is finally allowed to see the elder Hilton, but the old man's nurse, Ruth Monroe, cuts their meeting short. Later, a dance is held in honor of Chad, Jr., but Julie Randall and Bonanza are the only locals to attend. Ward tells Hilton that the ranchers are ungrateful and have insulted him with their refusal to attend the party. Meanwhile, Tex and Bonanza secretly meet and conclude that Ward is the true evil within the Hilton organization. As Ward plots to take over the local ranches for failing to pay "back taxes," Tex asks to see the company books and Ward shows him a "fixed" set. Realizing this, Tex breaks into Ward's office and finds the real set. He is soon captured, but manages to escape with Bonanza's help. Back at the Hilton estate, Tex confesses all to the elder Hilton, who is then killed by Ward's henchman, Bert Rogan. Ward then threatens to charge Tex with Hilton's murder unless he agrees to sign over the defaulted ranches. The next day, however, Tex offers to go into business fifty-fifty with Ward and Ruth, and the greedy crooks readily agree. While being held prisoner at the Hilton estate, however, Tex offers to make Ruth his only partner if she helps him get rid of Ward. She agrees, telling him that she is aware that he is not Chad. After examining Hilton's agreement with the ranchers, Tex goes to Bonanza and tells him to organize an election petitioning Congress to include the local ranches in the new Arizona territory, an action which would invalidate the Hilton charter. On election day, however, Ward organizes a fake "gold rush" so that all the ranchers will leave town before voting. Bonanza learns the truth about the gold strike and warns the ranchers, while Tex holds Ward captive in his office. In the meantime, the now-healed Chad arrives in town, and is soon captured by Rogan. With Ruth's help, though, Tex once again gets the drop on Ward and his gang and informs them that he is really Grant Carter, a special investigator for the Department of the Interior. With Ward and his men behind bars, the election is a success and the Arizona territory is established.
Director
Wallace W. Fox
Cast
Kirby Grant
Fuzzy Knight
Poni Adams
Hugh Prosser
Barbara Sears
Edward M. Howard
Stanley Andrews
Rune H. Hultman
Pierce Lyden
Roy Brent
Edmund Cobb
Budd Buster
Rex Lease
Carey Harrison
Bob Mckenzie
Pietro Sosso
Crew
Bernard B. Brown
Wallace W. Fox
Russell A. Gausman
Maury Gertsman
Saul A. Goodkind
John B. Goodman
Abraham Grossman
Patricia Harper
Mark Levant
John Martin
Jess Moulin
Ronald K. Pierce
Milton Rosen
Ralph Warrington
Mack Wright
Film Details
Technical Specs
Quotes
Trivia
Notes
The working title of this film was Law for Pecos. The film begins with the following written foreword: "During the early years of the Civil War, chaos and confusion confronted pioneers who forged Westward...Arizona was a trackless wilderness practically forgotten by the war-harassed presidential administration...pioneers were prey to Indians and outlaws alike...Homestead claims were jumped, cattle rustled, but the neglected settlers had recourse to no organized law. Out of these chaotic conditions the powerful Hilton corporation gained control of a vast area by offering protection to the settlers." While the film's onscreen credit list Milton Rosen as the musical director, the Daily Variety review credits Mark Levant in that position. Hollywood Reporter production charts include Harry Woods in the cast, but his appearance in the released film has not been confirmed. Modern sources include Charles Miller, Blackie Whiteford, Fred Graham and Brick Sullivan in the cast.
