Where the West Begins
Cast & Crew
J. P. Mcgowan
Jack Randall
Fuzzy Knight
Luana Walters
Arthur Housman
Budd Buster
Film Details
Technical Specs
Synopsis
When Lynne Reed's ranch foreman, Jack Manning, hears that there have been cattle rustlers spotted nearby, he and his pal Buzz investigate. The men get away, and Jack is suspicious because no cattle have been stolen. Lynne doesn't seem to care what happens to her ranch because she has dreams of becoming an actress and would like to sell it and move to New York. When neighboring rancher Barnes offers to buy Lynne's seemingly worthless ranch, Jack is certain that Barnes must be hiding something, but Lynne is delighted that she will get the opportunity to go East. A short time later, Jack is falsely arrested as a cattle rustler and placed in the local jail. Hoping to help Jack, Buzz pretends that he has turned on his friend and wins Barnes' confidence. He secretly works out a plan with Jack whereby he will encourage the townspeople to break Jack out of jail and lynch him, then, at the right moment, help Jack to escape so that he can find out what Barnes is up to. The first part of the plan works, but Buzz is detained by Barnes and cannot come to Jack's aid. Just before he is about to be hanged, Jack confesses that he is a rustler and promises to name others involved, but at the last moment he is able to break free and rides off. When Buzz finally does meet up with Jack, he reveals that Barnes is ready to close the deal with Lynne. Buzz then goes to the ranch and tries to stop Lynne from signing over her property, but she refuses to listen. As Barnes leaves with the deed, however, Buzz picks his pocket and gets the deed back. As Lynne later is about to leave the ranch, the sheriff, who is helping Jack, arrives to arrest her for stealing the deed, which Barnes quickly discovered was missing. After Lynne has been in jail for a few hours, Barnes shows up with a new deed, apologizing for what he says must have been a mistake. Lynne is so angry at him, however, she refuses to sign this time. Meanwhile, Jack goes to Barnes' cabin to look for information and meets a man named Hawkins who mistakes him for Barnes and explains that there are valuable sulphur deposits on Lynne's ranch. A short time later, however, Barnes arrives and ties Jack and Buzz up, then leaves them in the care of two of his henchman. While the men play cards, Jack and Buzz secretly untie their ropes and overpower their guards. During this time, Barnes has gone to see Lynne again and, after he feigns distinterest in her property, she decides to sell after all. Jack rides up just after Barnes has left, then tells Lynne about the sulphur deposits after her anger over her arrest subsides. He then chases after Barnes and overtakes him before he can have the deed recorded. After Jack bests him in a fistfight, Barnes is taken to the sheriff and signs a confession. Finally, Jack gives Lynne her deed back, along with a marriage license.
Director
J. P. Mcgowan
Cast
Jack Randall
Fuzzy Knight
Luana Walters
Arthur Housman
Budd Buster
Kit Guard
Dick Alexander
Ralph Peters
Joe Garcia
Six Bar-b Cowboys By Themselves
Norman Phillips Jr.
Arlene Leslie
Crew
Film Details
Technical Specs
Quotes
Trivia
Notes
The Variety review notes that Jack Randall, while not a good singer, had "a Gary Cooper chassis and a Robert Taylor map." Ray Whitley and Orchestra are included in the cast on a Hollywood Reporter production chart, but their participation in the released film has not been confirmed. Modern sources include The Phelps Brothers and Ken Card in the cast.
