The Stranger from Texas (1939) - Turner Classic Movies

Brief Synopsis

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With fences cut and livestock disappearing, Jeff Browning (Alan Bridge) suspects his new neighbor, Dan Murdock (Edward LeSaint.) Sheriff Fletcher (Jack Rockwell) appeals to the U. S. Marshal for help, and Tom Murdock (Charles Starrett), Dan's son, is sent. Tom arrives in Buffalo Springs, posing as cattle buyer Tom Morgan, with the Sons of the Pioneers (Bob Nolan, Tim Spencer, Lloyd Perryman, Hugh Farr, Karl Farr and Pat Brady) as his foreman and ranch hands. Browning's foreman, Bat Springer (Dick Curtis), is alarmed at the news of the impending sale of the Browning herd. He and Murdock's foreman, Carver (Edmund Cobb), have been rustling cattle from both ranches, changing the brands and loading them into railroad cattle cars at a distant siding. Dan discovers that the brands from both ranches have been changed to the Bar-X, a brand that is registered to Browning's son Ned (Richard Fiske.) As he is telling this to Browning, he is killed from ambush and Browning is knocked unconscious. But Tom has seen Bat steal Browning's unfired gun, the only clue to Browning's innocence, and tells his suspicions to Ned and his sister Jean (Lorna Gray). But Bat shows the sheriff a letter showing that the Bar-X brand is in Ned's name and Ned is also arrested. Tom and the sheriff set a trap for Bat and his henchmen by announcing that Ned and his father have escaped but, in reality, they have been transferred to the sheriff's home. But Bat learns of the plan and he and his partner capture Ned and Jeff and take them along as hostages on an escape to the border.

Cast & Crew

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Sam Nelson

Charles Starrett

Tom Murdock [also known as Tom Morgan]

Lorna Gray

Bob Nolan

Richard Fiske

Dick Curtis

Film Details

Genre

Western

Release Date

Nov 2, 1939

Premiere Information

not available

Production Company

Columbia Pictures Corp.

Distribution Company

Columbia Pictures Corp.

Country

United States

Technical Specs

Duration

54m

Sound

Mono

Color

Black and White

Theatrical Aspect Ratio

1.37 : 1

Film Length

6 reels

Synopsis

When his fences are cut, rancher Jeff Browning suspects his new neighbor, Dan Murdock, of the deed. Enmity builds between the two cattlemen, prompting Sheriff Fletcher to ask U.S. Marshal Ritchie for aid. By coincidence, the man whom Ritchie assigns to the case is Dan's son Tom. To prevent complications, Tom arrives in Buffalo Springs in the guise of Tom Morgan, a prospective buyer of Jeff's cattle. The news of an impending sale surprises Bat Springer, Browning's foreman, who is secretly in league with Murdock's foreman, Carver, to round up the cattle belonging to their employers, change the brands and load them into a distant siding. Discovering that the brand from both ranches has been changed to Bar X, which is registered to Browning's son Ned, Murdock invites Jeff to his ranch to tell him the news. Before he can complete his story, however, Murdock is murdered and Jeff felled by a revolver blow. To protect Ned, Jeff allows the sheriff to arrest him for Murdock's murder, even though Jeff's gun is missing. Soon afterward, Tom sees Bat with the missing gun and informs Ned and his sister Jean of his discovery. When evidence of the Bar X brand is discovered, Ned is arrested, but Tom is sure that Bat is behind the rustling. Tom and the sheriff devise a plan to raise a posse to trap Bat and Carver, but the rustlers learn of the scheme by torturing Clay Billings, the railroad agent. After taking Ned and Jeff hostage, the rustlers ride toward the border with their stolen cattle. Meanwhile, Billings, tied hand and foot, wriggles free from his bonds and rides for the sheriff. Tom and the sheriff then ride to arrest Bat and Carver, while the posse rescues Ned and Jeff.

Director

Sam Nelson

Cast

Charles Starrett

Tom Murdock [also known as Tom Morgan]

Lorna Gray

Bob Nolan

Richard Fiske

Dick Curtis

Edmund Cobb

Al Bridge

Jack Rockwell

Sheriff Fletcher

Hal Taliaferro

Edward Le Saint

The Sons Of The Pioneers

George Chesebro

Buel Bryant

Dick Botiller

Ethan Allen

Crew

Ford Beebe

Abby Berlin

Assistant Director

Harry L. Decker

Paul Franklin

George Meehan

Bob Nolan

Tim Spencer

Mel Thorsen

Film Details

Genre

Western

Release Date

Nov 2, 1939

Premiere Information

not available

Production Company

Columbia Pictures Corp.

Distribution Company

Columbia Pictures Corp.

Country

United States

Technical Specs

Duration

54m

Sound

Mono

Color

Black and White

Theatrical Aspect Ratio

1.37 : 1

Film Length

6 reels

Quotes

Trivia

Notes

Modern sources add Art Mix to the cast.

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