Drifting Along
Cast & Crew
Derwin M. Abrahams
Johnny Mack Brown
Lynne Carver
Raymond Hatton
Douglas Fowley
Smith Ballew
Film Details
Technical Specs
Synopsis
While Oklahoman Steve Garner is hunting for a job, he learns that rancher Pat McBride needs ranch hands. When Steve arrives at Pat's ranch, she tells him that if he can ride a wild horse that she owns, she will give him the horse and a job. Steve is thrown, however, and when the horse runs off, he chases it, using a horse belonging to ranch hand Pawnee Jones. Pat, whose father was killed during a trip to Kansas City, has been harassed by rustlers, but because she is in debt to banker Jack Dailey, she cannot afford to pay enough men to guard her cattle. Desperate, she asks Dailey for another loan, but he turns her down, adding that a woman cannot run a ranch. He then proposes to her, and she responds by asking Steve, who has returned with the now tame horse, to ramrod her ranch. Later, Dailey, who owns most of the town, hosts "Cowhand Day," a celebration during which all drinks are free. The celebration is followed by a barn dance. At the dance, Steve tells Pat that he will try to discover who is responsible for the rustling. Unknown to Pat, Dailey is trying to gain control of her ranch because he knows that a railroad spur is planned and will pass close to the property. Dailey, who is in league with two of Pat's men, was also responsible for the murder of Pat's father. On Pat's behalf, Steve speaks with the local banker, who tells him that Dailey endorsed Pat's loans. The news raises Steve's suspicions because earlier, Dailey had told him that Pat's loans were controlled by the bank. Later, at the dance, Lou Woods, acting under a threat from Dailey, identifies Steve as the head of the rustlers. After Sheriff Devers arrests Steve, Pedro, one of Pat's men, helps him escape. Dailey then suggests that Lou stay with him for safety. Dailey secretly plans to kill Lou and blame his death on Steve. Later, Steve overhears Dailey confess to Lou that he killed Pat's father. Steve intervenes, saving Lou's life, and then turns them all over to the sheriff. Now that Pat's problems are solved, Steve continues drifting along.
Director
Derwin M. Abrahams
Cast
Johnny Mack Brown
Lynne Carver
Raymond Hatton
Douglas Fowley
Smith Ballew
Milburn Morante
Thornton Edwards
Steve Clark
Marshall Reed
Jack Rockwell
Lynton Brent
Terry Frost
Leonard St. Leo
Ted Mapes
Curt Barrett
Crew
Charles J. Bigelow
Harry Bourne
Adele Buffington
Eddie Davis
Scott R. Dunlap
Glen Glenn
Louis Herscher
Edward Kay
Edward Kay
Carrol Lewis
Harry Neumann
Roy Newell
Vin Taylor
Film Details
Technical Specs
Quotes
Trivia
Notes
The film's working title was Rollin' Along. Milburn Morante's name was misspelled as "Milbourne" in the onscreen credits. Modern sources add: Harry Cheshire, Ted French and The Hollywood Exhibition Square Dancers to the cast.
