Six Shootin' Sheriff


59m 1938

Film Details

Also Known As
Trails West
Genre
Western
Release Date
May 21, 1938
Premiere Information
not available
Production Company
Colony Pictures, Inc.
Distribution Company
Grand National Films, Inc.
Country
United States

Technical Specs

Duration
59m
Film Length
5,322ft

Synopsis

Trigger Martin, the head of a wild gand of cowboys unjustly accused of bank robbery, goes looking for Ace Kendall, the man who framed him. During a showdown in a saloon, the lights go out and Ace is wounded by a gunshot, after which Trigger disappears. Trigger is then jailed for shooting Ace. While Trigger is in jail, the town is terrorized by the periodic wild "celebrations" of Bill Holman's gang. When Trigger gets out of jail, he happens upon one of the celebrations in progress and shoots one of Holman's rowdy men in the hand. After Trigger himself is wounded leaving the saloon, he is cared for by Zeke, a shopkeeper, and Molly Morgan, the daughter of the town postmistress. Zeke is impressed with Trigger's ability to stand up to Holman's men and asks Trigger to become the town sheriff. When Bill Holman comes to town to confront Trigger himself, he and Trigger become embroiled in a shootout. Holman is only slightly wounded, however, and is impressed with the town's tough, but fair, new sheriff. He then promises Trigger that his men will do their celebrating elsewhere and will uphold the law in town. Molly soon notices a wanted poster with Trigger's face on it, but tears the poster up, realizing that he is good for the town. One day, Chuck, Trigger's second-in-command in his old gang, sends him a note asking to meet him. Because Chuck now has evidence that will clear Trigger of the old bank robbing charge, he asks Trigger to "look the other way" when they rob the post office on the thirty-first of the month, when the Pandora Mine payroll shipment will be in the post office safe. On the night of the planned robbery, Trigger meets with Chuck and tells him not to try it, but Chuck reveals that Trigger's brother is now one of the gang. In a scuffle, Chuck gets the better of Trigger, ties him up and gets the keys to the post office safe, which Trigger had been safeguarding. The gang then prepares to go to town. Trigger reminds his brother of his promise to go straight, but the boy will not listen and rides off with the gang. Left in the care of one man, Trigger is able to get free after burning the ropes tying his hands together. After Chuck and the gang rob the safe, Molly hears something and investigates, thinking that Trigger is involved. When Trigger arrives, she tells him that the money in the safe is gone. Although the gang has scattered, Trigger is able to catch up with Chuck. Owing Chuck a favor because of the evidence which Chuck was able to uncover on the bank robbery, Trigger decides to let his former friend go after taking the money stolen from the post office safe. Trigger then puts the money back in the safe, observed by Molly, who thinks that he stole it but had a change of heart. The next day, Trigger's brother is captured and Trigger puts him in jail for safe keeping. Molly then overhears Trigger yelling at his brother and knows what has happened. After Trigger leaves, she enters the jail and lets the boy go free when he again promises to go straight. That night, at the local boardinghouse, Molly tells Trigger what she has done and he decides to stay in town and look toward the future with her.

Film Details

Also Known As
Trails West
Genre
Western
Release Date
May 21, 1938
Premiere Information
not available
Production Company
Colony Pictures, Inc.
Distribution Company
Grand National Films, Inc.
Country
United States

Technical Specs

Duration
59m
Film Length
5,322ft

Quotes

Trivia

Notes

The working title of this film was Trails West. According to a Hollywood Reporter production chart, Ruth Findley was in the cast, however, her participation in the completed film has not been confirmed. Some reviews of the film commented on the fact that star Ken Maynard recently had gained a considerable amount of weight since his previous picture. Variety credits both Bob Terry and Ben Corbett with the character name "Kid," however, onscreen credits attribute the role of "Red" to Corbett. Modern sources include the following additional cast members in the film: Glenn Strange (Andy), Bud Osborne (Ted), Ed Piel (Andy), Milburn Morante (Shorty), Carl Matthews and Herbert Holcombe (Henchmen), Jane Keckley (Mrs. Morgan), Dick Cramer, Jack Evans, Fred Parker, Buck Morgan, Bud Pope, George Morrell and Jim Corey.