The Lawless Rider
Cast & Crew
Yakima Canutt
Johnny Carpenter
Rose Bascom
Frankie Darro
Douglas Dumbrille
Frank "red" Carpenter
Film Details
Technical Specs
Synopsis
After Deputy Marshal Johnny Carpenter rescues Nancy James from a runaway horse and buggy, she tells him that she is headed for Loma County to start a newspaper. No sooner does Nancy arrive, than county boss Freno Frost tells her to leave. Frost then informs Jim Bascom that he wants to buy the ranch Jim owns with his sister Rose. Jim is eager to sell due to gambling debts owed to Frost, but Rose feels the ranch is worth at least double Frost's offer. Meanwhile, Johnny encounters a group of Frost's gunmen, who are hanging a marshal, but is unable to save the lawman. Later, Johnny talks with Marshal Brady about quitting and returning to his ranch where his sister needs him. Brady then shows him a telegram from Rose Bascom, who was once his sweetheart but ran off with another man, seeking official help against the Frost gang. However, Johnny returns to his ranch. Some time later, Frost induces Jim to sell him his half of the ranch for one dollar, then proposes to Rose that they become partners and also marry, but she rejects him. At his ranch, Johnny receives a letter from Rose asking for his help and confirming that her cattle are being rustled and that Frost has sent for a notorious killer named Rod Tatum. After Johnny's sister tells him that she knows that Tatum has just been jailed, Johnny decides to impersonate him and heads for Loma County. There, Frost has decided to get rid of Jim and sets him up in an ambush against "Tatum," but Johnny overpowers him with a whip. After Johnny meets Frost and is accepted as Tatum, he asks a blacksmith he once helped go straight, to get a message to his ranchhands asking for their help. Rose tells Johnny that other ranchers have been hit hard by the rustling and that she intends to put on a show to raise money for them. After Jim starts a fight with him, Johnny reveals to him that he is an old friend of Rose's and that she needs his help. Later, the real Tatum breaks out of jail and comes to the town, causing Frost to become confused as to which Tatum is genuine. Eventually, when Johnny and Tatum meet in a gunfight, Johnny kills Tatum and is once again accepted by Frost and his gang, although some of the gang remain suspicious. Matters come to a head when gang member Blackjack interrupts Rose's show and Johnny comes to her aid. During a fistfight, Blackjack pulls off Johnny's fake moustache, revealing his true identity. When Johnny's men come to his rescue, a brawl ensues, then develops into a gunfight, during which Frost shoots Jim and tries to escape on horseback. Frost throws ignited dynamite sticks at Johnny, but Johnny throws them back and they explode, killing Frost. After redeeming himself, Jim dies in Johnny's arms. Later, Johnny receives an assay report on material he found on Rose's ranch indicating a very high silver content and stating that a similar report had earlier been sent to Frost. The communication also tells him to hurry back, as Marshal Brady is in trouble, and Johnny rides off.
Director
Yakima Canutt
Cast
Johnny Carpenter
Rose Bascom
Frankie Darro
Douglas Dumbrille
Frank "red" Carpenter
Noel Neill
Kenne Duncan
Lennie Smith
Weldon Bascom
Bill Chaney
Bud Osborne
Lou Roberson
Bill Coontz
Roy Canada
Tap Canutt
Dale Barrell
Ted Smile
Shirley Belger
Tommy Thomas
Blackie Pickerel
Lennie Geer
Frank Robbins
Ray Morgan
Johnny Drew
Fred Carson
Skipper
Dreamboat
Honey Boy
Hank Caldwell
Crew
Weldon Bascom
George Brown
Hank Caldwell
John Carpenter
John Carpenter
John Carpenter
Rudy De Saxe
John C. Fuller
Fred Gaborie
Winifred Gibson
Glen Glenn
Alex Gordon
Fred Grossi
Willard E. Kirkham
Carlo Lodato
Marguerite Mcfarlane
Mickey Myers
Ted Smile
Bud Sweeny
William C. Thompson
Sam Tilden
Edward D. Wood Jr.
Film Details
Technical Specs
Quotes
Trivia
Notes
The cast list above is taken from the onscreen "Cast of Characters" presented at the film's conclusion. This differs from the opening credits, which are in the following order: Johnny Carpenter, Frankie Darro and Douglas Dumbrille through Roy Canada. These names are followed by the credit that reads "Introducing Texas Rose Bascom, Internationally Famous Roping Champion with Hank Caldwell and his Saddle Kings." The remainder of the cast is from the "Cast of Characters." According to a modern source, this film was shot in June 1952 under the title The Outlaw Marshal, but was not released until 1954 due to financial difficulties. The copyright year on the print is 1952. Immediately prior to release, the film was cut by approximately nine minutes, which May explain the absence of two credited songs, "Thinking of You" and "Sage Brush Blues," from the print viewed. According to a modern source, most of the film was shot on location at Jack Ingram Ranch in Woodland Hills, CA.
