- For the MST3K episode, see MST3K 611 - Last of the Wild Horses.
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. However, Cooper's villainous ranch manager Riley (Reed Hadley) is manipulating Cooper for his own nefarious purposes.
Suddenly, Duke Barnum rides in. He is about to rob a stagecoach when he is interrupted by several ranch hands from the Double C. The crime is averted, but he's arrested for assault and suspicion of attempted robbery, and earns their enmity.
Two local ranchers, tomboy Terry (Mary Beth Hughes) and comic relief "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 spread. Terry begins metamorphosing into a woman because of Barnum's presence.
Barnum begins spending time with Charlie Cooper's daughter Jane. He is drawn into the wild horses dispute which, due to Riley's easy manipulation of Cooper, escalates to mass violence including murder and arson.
When Charlie Cooper discovers Riley's sinister machinations through eavesdropping, Riley and another ranch hand kill him and implicate Barnum for it. Barnum is apprehended and a murder trial gets underway with Remedy acting as his defense.
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
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.