The Dawn Rider
Brief Synopsis
Cast & Crew
R. N. Bradbury
John Wayne
Marion Burns
Denny Meadows
Reed Howes
Joe De Grasse
Film Details
Technical Specs
Synopsis
When cowboy John Mason returns to town after an absence of several years to visit his father, he immediately gets into a fight with a stranger named Ben McClure. The tussle ends amicably, however, and Ben offers to buy a round of drinks and introduces John to his sweetheart, Alice Gordon. The two men quickly discover that John's father Dan is also Ben's employer, and Ben offers to accompany John to the express office managed by Dan. Arriving just in time to witness Dan being robbed and killed by a gang of bandits, John goes after the culprits and shoots two of them, but is himself wounded. Alice nurses John back to health, and as he slowly recovers, he begins to fall in love with her. In the meantime, the barkeeper of the local saloon, who is in league with the bandits, suggests to their leader that John be murdered. John's life is saved, however, when Alice unwittingly diverts the attention of the designated killer, her brother Rudd. John, suspicious of Rudd and the barkeeper, sets a trap by telling the barkeeper of a gold shipment he is guarding, and when the gang of bandits arrives to rob him, John succeeds in killing all of them except Rudd, who escapes. John confronts Rudd back at the Gordon ranch and is challenged to a duel when he refuses to leave town at Rudd's command. Rudd later suggests to Ben, who had seen him arguing with John, that their quarrel was over Alice, and Ben, consumed with jealousy, secretly empties John's revolver. As John and Rudd prepare to face off in town, Alice convinces Ben that John did not betray him, and Ben realizes that Rudd murdered Dan. Ben rides into town to save John and shoots Rudd as he is about to fire at his defenseless opponent. After being shot by the barkeeper, who is subsequently killed by John in a fight, Ben dies in John's arms while the undertaker begins to measure the barkeeper for a casket. Later, John and Alice ride off in a wagon, having just been "hitched."
Director
R. N. Bradbury
Cast
John Wayne
Marion Burns
Denny Meadows
Reed Howes
Joe De Grasse
Yakima Canutt
Earl Dwire
Nelson Mcdowell
Bert Dillard
Jack Jones
Crew
Film Details
Technical Specs
Quotes
Howdy, Bates. How's the undertaking business?- Ben McClure
Oh, this town is too healthy. If something don't happen soon, I'll have to vamoose.- Bates
Trivia
Notes
According to Hollywood Reporter production charts, the film was partially shot on location at the Trem Carr ranch. Modern sources complete the above cast with the following character names: Joe De Grasse (Henchman), Nelson McDowell (Undertaker Pete) and Earl Dwire (Expressman Pete); and add the following actors to the cast: Fred Parker (Doctor), Jack Evans (Man at bar), Herman Hack, Tex Palmer, Tex Phelps, Chuck Baldra (Henchmen) and Sherry Tansey (Townsman).
Miscellaneous Notes
Released in United States 1935
Released in United States 1935
