- For the MST3K episode, see MST3K 611 - Last of the Wild Horses.
| “ | I warned you before, Roger, about being trigger-happy. | ” |
| - Riley Morgan |
Last of the Wild Horses is a 1948 western film directed by Robert L. Lippert with additional direction by Paul Landres.
Plot[]
The mirror universe Mads watch Last of the Wild Horses
In Oregon, hot-headed entrepreneur Charlie Cooper has developed a thriving business (the "Double C Ranch") by capturing, taming and selling wild horses. The smaller ranch owners in the area feel the horses are beginning to be over-harvested and ask him to stop for a year to replenish the stock. He is initially resistant to the idea, but after some pressure from his daughter, Jane, he agrees. Cooper's villainous ranch manager Riley is manipulating Cooper for his own nefarious purposes.
The bandit Duke Barnum arrives in the area. He is about to rob a stagecoach when he is interrupted by several ranch hands from the Double C. The crime is averted, but Barnum is arrested for assault and suspicion of attempted robbery, earning him the enmity of the ranch workers.
Two local ranchers, tomboy Terry and dilettante "Remedy" Williams believe that they can reform Barnum. They persuade Sheriff Harrison to release Barnum into their custody. Barnum becomes a ranch hand on their property. Terry begins to change her ways and act more feminine because of Barnum's presence.
Barnum begins spending time with Charlie Cooper's daughter Jane. He is drawn into the wild horses dispute which escalates into crimes including murder and arson, due to Riley's manipulation of Cooper.
When Charlie Cooper discovers Riley's sinister machinations, Riley and another ranch hand kill him and implicate Barnum for it. Barnum is apprehended and a murder trial soon commences with Remedy acting as his legal representative. The truth is discovered and Barnum is set free.
Cast[]
- James Ellison as Duke Barnum
- Mary Beth Hughes as Terry Williams
- Jane Frazee as Jane Cooper
- Reed Hadley as Riley Morgan
- Douglass Dumbrille as Charlie Cooper
- James Millican as Sheriff Steve Harrison
- Olin Howland as Remedy Williams
- Stanley Andrews as Pete Ferguson
- Grady Sutton as Curly, the cook
Notes[]
- Producer Robert L. Lippert decided he wanted to try directing a film himself, and picked this one. However, when he found himself falling behind schedule, he "fired" himself and hired director Paul Landres to finish it on time and on budget, which he did.
- In The Amazing Colossal Episode Guide, Frank Conniff wrote about how disappointed he was by actor Grady Sutton's performance as Curly, considering that he had found Sutton to be extremely funny and entertaining in the W.C. Fields film The Bank Dick (which also features actor Reed Hadley from this film).
MST3K Connections[]
- Director and producer Robert L. Lippert was also producer for Rocketship X-M, Jungle Goddess, Lost Continent, King Dinosaur, and Radar Secret Service.
- Mary Beth Hughes also portrayed Kitty Reed in I Accuse My Parents.
- Reed Hadley also portrayed the radio newscaster in Jungle Goddess.
- Stanley Andrews also portrayed Collingwood in Untamed Youth.
- Composer Albert Glasser was also musical director and orchestrator for Rocketship X-M, as well as composer for The Amazing Colossal Man, Earth vs the Spider, Teenage Cave Man, The Saga of the Viking Women and Their Voyage to the Waters of the Great Sea Serpent, War of the Colossal Beast, Indestructible Man, Tormented, Beginning of the End, and Invasion USA.
- Special effects technician Ray Mercer also did visual effects for Lost Continent and The Beast of Yucca Flats, as well as special effects for I Accuse My Parents, Radar Secret Service, and The Sinister Urge.
- Camera operator Perry Finnerman was also cinematographer for Daddy-O.
- Still photographer Milton Gold was also still photographer for Radar Secret Service.
- Wardrobe supervisor Alfred Berke was also wardrobe supervisor for Lost Continent.