Count Three and Pray (film)

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Count Three and Pray

Directed by	George Sherman
Produced by	Ted Richmond Tyrone Power (uncredited)
Written by	Herb Meadow
Starring	Van Heflin Joanne Woodward Raymond Burr
Release date(s)	1955
Running time	102 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English
IMDb profile

Count Three and Pray is a 1955 western film starring Van Heflin, Joanne Woodward (in her film debut) and Raymond Burr. It was based on the story Calico Pony by Herb Meadow.

[edit] Plot

Former brawler and womanizer Luke Fargo (Van Heflin) returns from the American Civil War to his Southern hometown a greatly changed man. He is now a minister, intent on rebuilding the only church. He is greeted with disbelief by his friends, including Matty (Nancy Kulp), and outright hostility by the rest of the townsfolk, as he had fought on the Union side. Particularly opposed to him is Yancey Huggins (Raymond Burr), who sees a threat to his iron-fisted control of the town.

Fargo encounters two very different women from his past. Faded Southern belle Georgina Descrais (Allison Hayes), impoverished by the war, tries to revive their former romantic relationship, as does the local madam, Selma (an uncredited Jean Willes), but he rejects them both. Meanwhile, teenage orphan tomboy Lissy (Joanne Woodward) takes a strong liking to him. This causes Fargo a great deal of trouble, as the townspeople, aroused by Huggings, suspect him of falling back on his old scandalous ways. He does not help matters when he reluctantly gambles, winning some lumber for the church in a horserace, and is goaded into fighting Yancey's men.

Finally, the bishop (Robert Burton) has to be called in to resolve the situation. He learns that Fargo, not knowing any better, had ordained himself. After hearing how much good Fargo has done in the community, the bishop makes him a real minister and then tries to get him to marry Lissy. When Fargo proves reluctant, the exasperated Lissy hands the bishop a firearm to prod the hesitant (though not unwilling) groom.