The Man from Thunder River
Brief Synopsis
Cast & Crew
John English
Wild Bill Elliott
George "gabby" Hayes
Anne Jeffreys
Ian Keith
John James
Film Details
Technical Specs
Synopsis
Cowboys Wild Bill Elliott and Gabby Whittaker travel from their home in Thunder River to the ranch of their friends the Fergusons to buy a herd of cattle. Although Gabby suspects that the real reason for the trip is so that Bill can court pretty Nancy Ferguson, Bill maintains that he is interested in doing business and visiting Nancy's brother Jack and aunt Bess. After their arrival, Bill and Gabby learn that Jack wants to re-open the old Ferguson gold mine despite Bess's objections. Bess's friend and neighbor, Henry Stevens, advises her that the venture would be costly and unproductive. Unknown to the Fergusons, Stevens and his righthand man, Les Foster, have been working their mine using a secret tunnel. Stevens intends to pass off the Ferguson gold as his own, thereby inducing a mining syndicate to purchase his worthless property. Although Bill, acting on Jack's behalf, tries to persuade Bess to agree to his plan, she demurs, saying that she will be guided by Stevens. Jack has better luck with banker Daniel Bates, who agrees to finance the project. Stevens overhears their discussion and orders his henchman, Jackson, to get rid of Jack. When Jack and Bates go to the bank office to draw up their contract, Jackson knocks Jack unconscious, then shoots Bates with Jack's gun. Sheriff Thompson arrests Jack for the murder, but before he can be jailed, he is grabbed by a lynch mob organized by Jackson. Bill and Gabby rescue Jack as he is about to be hanged, then return to the Ferguson ranch the next day after making sure that Jack is hidden safely. Stevens tells Bill to bring Jack home the following morning, and Bess decides to sell the ranch in order to hire a lawyer for him. Suspicious of Stevens, Bill and Gabby insist on accompanying Jack home, where he and Bill are arrested by the sheriff, who has been tipped off by Stevens. Gabby tries to help them escape, but Jack is wounded and captured during the chase. While Jack is being tried and convicted, Stevens' men continue to work the Ferguson mine, but Bill and Gabby, who discovered the secret tunnel during their escape, decide to investigate further. They find an entrance in Stevens' office, and after entering the mine, are almost killed by Stevens and his men, who set off an explosion to seal one of the shafts. Bill and Gabby escape again, after which Bill captures Stevens and takes him to the sheriff. When Stevens is found guilty of Bates's murder, Jack's conviction is overturned and he is released. Bill and Gabby then promise to return and help work the mine after delivering their new cattle to Thunder River.
Director
John English
Cast
Wild Bill Elliott
George "gabby" Hayes
Anne Jeffreys
Ian Keith
John James
Georgie Cooper
Jack Ingram
Eddie Lee
Charles King
Jack Rockwell
Ed Cassidy
Bud Geary
Roy Brent
Al Taylor
Robert Barron
Edmund Cobb
Alan Bridge
Crew
Film Details
Technical Specs
Quotes
Trivia
Notes
The working title of this film was Overland Mail Robber.
