''The Stranger Wore a Gun'' is a 1953 American

Western Western may refer to: Places *Western, Nebraska, a village in the US *Western, New York, a town in the US *Western Creek, Tasmania, a locality in Australia *Western Junction, Tasmania, a locality in Australia *Western world, countries that id ...

film directed by

Andre DeToth Endre Antal Miksa DeToth, better known as Andre de Toth (born Endre Antal Mihály Tóth; May 15, 1913 – October 27, 2002), was a Hungarian-American film director, born and raised in Makó, Austria-Hungary. He directed the 3D film House of Wa ...

and starring

Randolph Scott George Randolph Scott (January 23, 1898 – March 2, 1987) was an American film actor whose career spanned the years from 1928 to 1962. As a leading man for all but the first three years of his cinematic career, Scott appeared in a variety of ...

and

Claire Trevor Claire Trevor ( Wemlinger; March 8, 1910April 8, 2000) was an American actress. She appeared in 65 feature films from 1933 to 1982, winning the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role in ''Key Largo'' (1948), and received nomina ...

. Based on the short story "Yankee Gold" by John W. Cunningham, the film is about a former spy who moves to Arizona to join a gold robbery but reconsiders and decides to change his life. The film is one of the first 3-D western movies; it earned an estimated $1.6 million at the North American box office in 1953."The Top Box Office Hits of 1953", ''Variety'', January 13, 1954. The supporting cast includes

Joan Weldon Joan Weldon (born Joan Louise Welton; August 5, 1930 – February 11, 2021) was an American actress and singer in film, television, and theatre. Early years Weldon was born in San Francisco, California in 1930. Her grandmother, Olio Cornell, rai ...

George Macready George Peabody Macready Jr. (August 29, 1899 – July 2, 1973) was an American stage, film, and television actor often cast in roles as polished villains. Early life Macready was born in Providence, Rhode Island on August 29, 1899. He graduated ...

Alfonso Bedoya Benito Alfonso Bedoya y Díaz de GuzmánSan Antonio Light, Dec. 17, 1957, p. 20 (April 16, 1904 – December 15, 1957) was a Mexican actor who frequently appeared in U.S. films. He is best known for his role in ''The Treasure of the Sierra Madre ...

Lee Marvin Lee Marvin (born Lamont Waltman Marvin Jr.; February 19, 1924August 29, 1987) was an American film and television actor. Known for his bass voice and premature white hair, he is best remembered for playing hardboiled "tough guy" characters. Alth ...

, and

Ernest Borgnine Ernest Borgnine (; born Ermes Effron Borgnino; January 24, 1917 – July 8, 2012) was an American actor whose career spanned over six decades. He was noted for his gruff but relaxed voice and gap-toothed Cheshire Cat grin. A popular perfor ...

Plot

Jeff Travis, a spy for

Quantrill's Raiders Quantrill's Raiders were the best-known of the pro-Confederate partisan guerrillas (also known as "bushwhackers") who fought in the American Civil War. Their leader was William Quantrill and they included Jesse James and his brother Frank. Ea ...

, leaves when he realizes Quantrill's true nature and enlists in the Confederate Army. After the war, he narrowly escapes a gang looking for Quantrill's men by jumping off a river boat, thanks to Josie's warning. He rides to

Prescott, Arizona Prescott ( ) is a city in Yavapai County, Arizona, United States. According to the 2020 Census, the city's population was 45,827. The city is the county seat of Yavapai County. In 1864, Prescott was designated as the capital of the Arizona T ...

to start a new life. Crooked saloon owner Jules Mouret hires Jeff to monitor a series of gold shipments on the local stage line run by Jason Conroy and his daughter Shelby in preparation for a major robbery. Aided by henchmen Dan Kurth and Bull Slager, Jules runs his competitor, the Mexican bandit Degas, out of town. There is a hint of a possible romance between Jeff and Shelby, but nothing materializes once Josie arrives and sets up shop in Jules’s saloon. After the stage driver, Jim is gunned down in a stage robbery, Jeff turns honest and vows to avenge Jim. While waiting to rob the stage, Jules and his gang encounter Degas and his gang. Jules shoots Degas and tries to rob the stage but is stopped when Jeff kicks Dan off and returns to town. That night Jeff and Dan face off ready to draw but Jeff is faster. The next morning in the saloon Jeff faces off with Jules and Bull in the saloon. Bull tries to sneak his gun out but Josie yells and throws a lamp setting the saloon on fire. Bull keeps trying to shoot Jeff but Josie pulls his gun hand down allowing Jeff to shoot him, and Josie escapes. Jeff goes after Jules, but the fire is too much, trapping Jules. Jeff makes it out with only minor burns on his hands. Later that day Jeff and Josie board the stage for California to begin a new life. Shelby and her father bid them goodbye.

Cast

as Jeff Travis aka Mark Stone *

as Josie Sullivan *

as Shelby Conroy *

as Jules Mourret *

as Degas *

as Dan Kurth *

as Bull Slager *

Pierre Watkin Pierre Frank Watkin (December 29, 1887 – February 3, 1960) was an American character actor best known for playing distinguished authority figures throughout the Golden Age of Hollywood. He is best remembered for his roles of Mr. Skinner the b ...

as Jason Conroy *Joseph Vitale as Shorty *

Clem Bevans Clem Guy Bevans (October 16, 1880 – August 11, 1963) was an American character actor best remembered for playing eccentric, grumpy old men. Early life Bevans was born in Cozzadale, Ohio. Career Bevans had a very long career, starting in va ...

as Jim Martin

References

External links

* * * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Stranger Wore a Gun 1953 3D films 1953 films 1953 Western (genre) films American Western (genre) films Films based on short fiction Films directed by Andre DeToth Films set in Arizona Films shot in Lone Pine, California Columbia Pictures films 1950s English-language films 1950s American films