The Light of Western Stars
Brief Synopsis
Cast & Crew
Lesley Selander
Victor Jory
Jo Ann Sayers
Russell Hayden
Morris Ankrum
Noah Beery Jr.
Film Details
Technical Specs
Synopsis
Boston socialite Majesty Madeline Hammond ventures to a small frontier town along the Mexican border to keep her brother Alfred from squandering his life on Flo Kingsley. While waiting at the train station, Majesty meets Gene Stewart, a hard-drinking, reckless ranch foreman, who railroads her into a wedding ceremony in order to win a bet he made with Sheriff Tom Hawes that he could marry the first woman who came to town. The ceremony is interrupted by Bonita, who is trying to protect her lover Danny from the jealous sheriff, and in the commotion, Majesty faints and Gene takes her to Flo's house. The next morning, Majesty learns that Flo has nursed the sickly Al back to health and her resentment turns to gratitude. After paying Majesty a visit, Gene learns that the sheriff, who is in league with gun runner Nat Hayworth, has made slurs about her and, after tackling Hawes in a saloon brawl, flees to join the rebels in Mexico. Meanwhile, Majesty buys the Stillwell ranch, but after Al is shot while riding the range, she decides to return to Boston when Gene's friend Poco appears and tells her that Gene is in Mexico, sick in heart and mind, and begs her to save him. After bringing Gene home from Mexico, Majesty encourages him to stop drinking and things proceed peacefully at the ranch until Gene learns that the sheriff and Hayworth have hidden an illegal store of arms in the hills and they intend to sell them in Mexico. Gene goes to stop them, and Majesty, concerned for his safety, rides toward the hideout. Gene saves her just as Hayworth blows up the cache. As Hayworth rides off, the sheriff shoots him and then proceeds to the ranch to arrest Gene for his murder. To protect his friend, Poco provokes a shootout and, after killing Hawes, dies in Gene's arms. Knowing that he must face justice for his activities with the rebels, Gene leaves Majesty, promising to return when he has paid his debt to society.
Director
Lesley Selander
Cast
Victor Jory
Jo Ann Sayers
Russell Hayden
Morris Ankrum
Noah Beery Jr.
J. Farrell Macdonald
Ruth Rogers
Tom Tyler
Rad Robinson
Eddie Dean
Esther Estrella
Alan Ladd
Georgia Hawkins
Earl Askam
Lucio Villegas
Crew
Film Details
Technical Specs
Quotes
Trivia
Notes
Zane Grey's novel was serialized in Munsey's Magazine in 1913. Ads for this picture bill it as a Harry Sherman Production, and although the onscreen credits do not list it as Sherman's personal production, Sherman's handwritten signature appears in the opening credits. The onscreen credits also note that the picture was based on a Zane Grey novel, but Screen Achievements Bulletin credits writer Norman Houston with both original story and screenplay. Three earlier films based on the Zane Grey novel were made. In 1918, Harry Sherman presented a version directed by Charles Swickard and starring Dustin Farnum for Sherman Productions (see AFI Catalog of Feature FIlms 1911-20; F1.2489). Famous Players-Lasky produced two other versions: a silent version in 1925 directed by William K. Howard and starring Billie Dove and Noah Beery; and a 1930 film directed by Otto Brower and starring Richard Arlen and Marie Brian (see AFI Catalog of Feature Films, 1921-30; F2.3069 and F2.3070.)
