Sagebrush Law

Sagebrush Law
Sagebrush Law
Directed by	Sam Nelson
Screenplay by	Bennett Cohen; Morton Grant
Produced by	Bert Gilroy
Starring	Tim Holt; Cliff Edwards ; Joan Barclay
Cinematography	Mack Stengler
Edited by	John Lockert
Music by	Paul Sawtell
Production; company	RKO Pictures
Distributed by	RKO Pictures
Release date	April 2, 1943 (U.S.);
Running time	55 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English

Sagebrush Law is a 1943 American Western film directed by Sam Nelson and starring Tim Holt (The Magnificent Ambersons, The Treasure of the Sierra Madre) and Cliff Edwards (perhaps best known as the original voice of Disney's Jiminy Cricket).^[2]

It is one of Holt's least regarded Westerns although the fight scene on top of the stage coach is highly regarded.^[3] It was one of six films Holt made in two months before going into the United States Army Air Forces as a B-29 bombardier during World War II.^[4]

Plot summary

Cowboy Tom Weston and his friend Ike ride anonymously into town. Upon arrival, they discover that Weston's father, the town's banker, is dead. The bank's surviving partner, Mark Carter, and a purported bank examiner named Landers have convinced the townspeople the death was a suicide. Carter and Landers also claim that Weston's father had embezzled most of the town's money from the now insolvent bank.

A suspicious Weston, aware that his left-handed father was found with a gun in his right hand, begins investigating. Carter reveals Weston's true identity prompting angry townspeople to chase Weston and Ike out of town. During their escape Weston and Ike discover a gunshot victim on the outskirts of town. Weston and Ike learn that wounded man is the real bank examiner, bolstering their suspicions of foul play. The pair return to town in a race to identify the murderer(s) before they can escape from justice with the town's money.

Cast

Tim Holt as Tom Weston
Cliff Edwards as Ike (as Cliff 'Ukulele Ike' Edwards)
Joan Barclay as Sally Winters
John Elliott as Cole Winters (as John H. Elliott)
Roy Barcroft as Mark Carter
Ernie Adams as Landers
Ed Cassidy as Sheriff (as Edward Cassidy)
John Merton as Burl Mason - Henchman
Malcolm 'Bud' McTaggart as Foley - Henchman (as Bud McTaggart)
Karl Hackett as Roberts
Edmund Cobb as Bill Lanning
Otto Hoffman as Doc Crandall

References

^ "Sagebrush Law: Detail View". American Film Institute. Retrieved April 23, 2014.
^ "Sagebrush Law (1943) - Overview - TCM.com". Turner Classic Movies.
^ Richard Jewell & Vernon Harbin, The RKO Story. New Rochelle, New York: Arlington House, 1982. p180
^ "Tim Holt and the B Western".