Texas Lady
| Texas Lady | |
|---|---|
 Original poster | |
| Directed by | Tim Whelan |
| Produced by |
Nat Holt Lewis P Rosen (uncredited) |
| Written by | Horace McCoy (story & screenplay) |
| Starring |
Claudette Colbert Barry Sullivan Ray Collins |
| Cinematography | Ray Rennahan (director of photography) |
| Editing by | Richard W Farrell |
| Distributed by | RKO Radio Pictures |
| Release dates | 23 November 1955 |
| Running time | 86 min |
| Country | USA |
| Language | English |
Texas Lady is a 1955 film made by RKO Radio Pictures, directed by Tim Whelan, and starring Claudette Colbert, Barry Sullivan and Ray Collins. It tells the story of a female publisher who encounters injustice and violence in a Texas town.
After a long, distinguished career, Colbert would make only one more film after this, 1961's Parrish.
Plot
On a riverboat, gambler Chris Mooney loses heavily to Prudence Webb, borrows another $30,000 and loses that to her, too.
He offers her a partnership. Prudence declines, informing him that her father embezzled funds to gamble with Chris, then committed suicide after he lost. Prudence has her revenge and the money to pay back her late father's employer.
She rides to Fort Ralston, Texas to claim her inheritance, the Clarion newspaper, which her dad won in a card game. Stringer Winfield, the postal carrier, warns her that town founder Micah Ralston and ranch partner Sturdy own practically everything and everybody.
Clarion editor Clay Ballard tries to get Prudence's ownership overturned, but drunken lawyer Cass Gower sobers up and wins her case, even though Judge Herzog is in Ralston's pocket. A hired gun, Jess Foley, acting as a "deputy," kills Gantz, a rival rancher. Foley then makes a play for Prudence, asking her to dance and to teach him to read.
Chris shows up. Foley objects to his romantic interest in Prudence, who warns Chris to beware of Foley's jealousy and gun. Chris manages to hold off Foley, who also has Gantz's widow after him.
The crooked sheriff, Herndon, on orders from Ralston, gives 24-hour notice to Prudence to repay $6,000 in back taxes or forfeit her property. Prudence concedes defeat and intends to ride out of town with Chris, who gambled and failed to raise the money.
Her new neighbors collect the $6,000 on her behalf, also naming Chris as the new mayor, Cass as the new judge and saloon owner Moore as the new sheriff. Stringer rides for the Texas Rangers as soon as Ralston's men come with guns blazing, Cass getting killed. Law and order arrive in town, but Prudence and Chris no longer care to live there.
Cast
- Claudette Colbert as Prudence Webb
- Barry Sullivan as Chris Mooney
- Ray Collins as Mica Ralston (rancher)
- James Bell as Cass Gower
- Horace McMahon as Stringer Winfield
- Gregory Walcott as Deputy Jess Foley
- John Litel as Meade Moore (wigwam owner)
- Douglas Fowley as Clay Ballard (Clarion owner)
- Don Haggerty as Sheriff Herndon
- Walter Sande as Whit Sturdy (rancher)
- Alexander Campbell as Judge E. Ness Herzog
- Florenz Ames as Wilson (general store owner)
- Kathleen Mulqueen as Nancy (Nanny) Winfield
- Robert Lynn as Rev. Callender
External links
- Texas Lady at the TCM Movie Database
- Texas Lady at allmovie
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