Mojave Firebrand
Cast & Crew
Spencer Bennet
Wild Bill Elliott
George "gabby" Hayes
Anne Jeffreys
Leroy Mason
Jack Ingram
Film Details
Technical Specs
Synopsis
In 1877, prospector Gabby Hayes discovers a rich vein of silver and founds the town of Epitaph, Arizona, which he hopes will be a God-fearing, law-abiding community. Despite Gabby's best efforts, the boom town draws a bad crowd, and as time passes, gambler Tracy Dalton, crooked Sheriff Barker and their minion, Mayor Frisbie, gain control of Epitaph. Gabby is distraught that even his ward, young Johnny Taylor, idolizes Dalton. One afternoon, Red Collins and several other Dalton henchmen are about to beat up Gabby and shoot his mule when they are stopped by Wild Bill Elliott. Bill, a famous peace officer known as the "Mojave Firebrand," is passing through town on his way to Tucson. While Gabby is thanking Bill and apprising him of the situation in Epitaph, Dalton pretends to take an interest in Johnny and questions him about Bill. Hoping to help Gabby, Bill persuades schoolteacher Abigail Holmes to remain in town to tutor Johnny, then confronts Dalton, who he knows is a notorious outlaw who uses the alias Turkey Dameron. When Bill questions Dalton about Red, who he suspects attempted to shoot him, Dalton provides Red with an alibi. Johnny, who has eavesdropped on the proceedings, loses respect for Bill when he states that the gang must be broken up legally rather than with gunplay. Bill asks Gabby and Gail to convince the town citizens to sign affidavits stating that they were coerced into electing Frisbie, after which they can hold an honest election. Meanwhile, Dalton decides to form a protective society to shake down the mine owners, and he sends Barker to begin the collections. All of the nervous miners comply except for Frank Brady, who orders Barker off his property. Later that afternoon, Bill and Gabby are on their way to visit Brady when Brady is shot in the back by Red. Barker's collection book, detailing the protection payments, is found by Bill at the scene, however, and Bill and Gabby talk to the miners. The fearful men claim that the money was for lend repayments, but Bill sees a way to trap Dalton by having Gabby loan some marked money to one of the miners who will then give it to Barker. Their plan succeeds and Bill sees Dalton with the money, but Dalton burns it before Bill can confiscate it. Determined to silence Gabby, Dalton shoots him, but the bullet is stopped by Gabby's bible, which he always carries next to his heart. By this time, Gail and Gabby have collected enough evidence to overturn Frisbie's election, and Frisbie tells Dalton that he wants out of the gang. Dalton shoots the mayor from a rooftop, and after he climbs down, the disillusioned Johnny sees him hide his ladder. Before dying, Frisbie confesses all to Bill and Gabby, including Dalton's plan to rob the bank the next morning after the mine owners have deposited their payrolls. With the help of the miners, Bill and Gabby stop the robbery and round up Dalton, Barker and their men. Marshal Tom Scott arrives to help and then appoints the awestruck Johnny as Bill's chief deputy. After Scott reveals that he sent for Bill to clean up Epitaph, Gabby corrects him, saying that the angels sent Bill.
Director
Spencer Bennet
Cast
Wild Bill Elliott
George "gabby" Hayes
Anne Jeffreys
Leroy Mason
Jack Ingram
Harry Mckim
Karl Hackett
Forrest Taylor
Hal Price
Marshall Reed
Kenne Duncan
Bud Geary
Jack Kirk
Fred Graham
Tom London
Larry Steers
Bud Osborne
Fred Burns
Crew
Film Details
Technical Specs
Quotes
Trivia
Notes
Modern sources include the following actors in the cast: Frank Ellis, Tom Steele, Bob Burns, Art Dillard and Jess Cavan.
