''The Light of Western Stars'' is a 1940 American Western film directed by Lesley Selander, starring Victor Jory as Gene Stewart, and based upon a 1914 novel by Zane Grey. The film is also known as ''Border Renegade'' (American alternative title). The supporting cast features Jo Ann Sayers,

Russell Hayden Russell "Lucky" Hayden (born Hayden Michael "Pate" Lucid; June 12, 1912 – June 9, 1981) was an American film and television actor. He is best known for his portrayal as Lucky Jenkins in Paramount's popular Hopalong Cassidy film series. Ear ...

, Morris Ankrum,

Noah Beery Jr. Noah Lindsey Beery (August 10, 1913 – November 1, 1994) was an American actor often specializing in warm, friendly character roles similar to many portrayed by his Oscar-winning uncle, Wallace Beery. Unlike his more famous uncle, however, ...

as Jory's character's Mexican sidekick, Tom Tyler and

Alan Ladd Alan Walbridge Ladd (September 3, 1913 – January 29, 1964) was an American actor and film producer. Ladd found success in film in the 1940s and early 1950s, particularly in films noir and Westerns. He was often paired with Veronica Lake ...

(two years out from superstardom in a supporting role as a ranch hand named "Danny"; his part in this film is much larger than his billing would indicate). That same year, another Zane Grey novel titled '' Knights of the Range'' was produced at the same studio with the same screenwriter, director, and much the same cast, albeit without Beery or Ladd.

Cast

* Victor Jory as Gene Stewart * Jo Ann Sayers as Madeline "Majesty" Hammond *

as Alfred "Al" Hammond * Morris Ankrum as Nat Hayworth *

Noah Beery, Jr. Noah Lindsey Beery (August 10, 1913 – November 1, 1994) was an American actor often specializing in warm, friendly character roles similar to many portrayed by his Oscar-winning uncle, Wallace Beery. Unlike his more famous uncle, however, Be ...

as Poco – Stewart's Sidekick * J. Farrell MacDonald as Bill Stillwell – Rancher *Ruth Rogers as Florence "Flo" Kingsley – Al's Girl * Tom Tyler as Sheriff Tom Hawes * Rad Robinson as Monty – Stilwell Ranch Hand * Eddie Dean as Nels, Stillwell Hand *

Esther Estrella Esther Estrella (born Esther Cordery; September 6, 1919 – March 29, 2005) was an American film actress from 1940 to 1942 who appeared in Western films and serials. She made ten films including '' Prairie Pioneers'' (1941) in which she was ...

as Bonita – Adobe Saloon Girl *

as Danny – Stillwell Ranch Hand *

Georgia Ellis Georgia Ellis (March 12, 1917 – March 30, 1988) was an American actress who is best known for her recurring role of Kitty in the Western radio drama ''Gunsmoke''. She was the daughter of John R. Hawkins and Blanche E. Sparling. She married K ...

as Helen – Majesty's Boston Pal *

Earl Askam Earl () is a rank of the nobility in the United Kingdom. The title originates in the Old English word ''eorl'', meaning "a man of noble birth or rank". The word is cognate with the Scandinavian form '' jarl'', and meant "chieftain", particula ...

as Sneed – Hawes' Deputy *

Lucio Villegas Lucio is an Italian and Spanish male given name derived from the Latin name ''Lucius''. In Portuguese, the given name is accented Lúcio. Lucio is also an Italian surname. Given name * Lúcio (Lucimar Ferreira da Silva) (born 1978), Brazilian f ...

as Justice of the Peace Don Manuel

External links

* * * 1940 films 1940s romance films 1940 Western (genre) films Films based on works by Zane Grey American Western (genre) films American black-and-white films 1940s English-language films Films scored by Victor Young Films based on American novels Films based on Western (genre) novels Paramount Pictures films American romance films Films directed by Lesley Selander 1940s American films {{1940s-Western-film-stub