THE LUCKY TEXAN (1934) John Wayne, Barbara Sheldon & George 'Gabby' Hayes | Western | B&W

The Lucky Texan is a 1934 American Lonestar Films B-movie Western film featuring John Wayne (five years before his breakthrough appearance in Stagecoach), Barbara Sheldon, Gabby Hayes, and the legendary stuntman and actor Yakima Canutt. It was written and directed by Robert N. Bradbury. It also contains a rare (perhaps unique) appearance by "Gabby" Hayes without a beard and in drag.

The script's original working title was Gold Strike River, and the film was years later released in a colorized version on home video under that title.

The plot concerns Wayne finding gold and making the mistake of trusting the local assayer.

WNBC-TV has used a continuous loop of this from the transmitter site during testing or as emergency filler when the feed from the station has been cut off.

SYNOPSIS
Jerry Mason, a young Texan, and Jake Benson, an old rancher, become partners and strike it rich with a gold mine. They then find their lives complicated by bad guys and a woman.

Jerry visits his uncle Grandy after finishing college and they decide to look after the ranch. Grandy informs Jerry of the arrival of his grand daughter Betty and they both look forward to her joining them. One day while fixing a horse's hoof they find gold embedded in the hoof. They go to the creek and strike it gold. They bring the gold to the local assayer Mr. Harris who along with his associate Mr. Cole has been stealing Grandy's cattle. They plot to deprive Grandy of his ranch.

Everyone wants to know where Grandy and Jerry are finding their gold but they cannot trace them. One day when Grandy is at the assayer selling his mined gold the assayer cheats him into a signing away his ranch - making him think Grandy is just signing a receipt. Then a few days later they track Grandy down, finding him alone and attempt to kill him. Grandy however is knocked off his horse, suffers a head wound and falls unconscious. Mr. Harris and Mr. Cole then double back to the ranch.

Meanwhile, Grandy's dog and mule find Jerry, he is prompted to find Grandy and they decide to keep his survival a secret. As they are talking, Mr. Harris and Mr. Cole arrive at the ranch and claim to own it.

Jerry goes to town on some legal business when Mr. Harris and Mr. Cole have him arrested for suspicion of murdering Grandy. Jerry is then held for a court summons. When Betty comes to visit him in jail, Jerry tells her to bring Grandy to court in disguise.

The next day Grandy shows up in court and identifies the crooked assayers as attempted murderers. The two jump out of the court house window and escape. Jerry, Grandy and the Sheriff pursue the duo.

CAST & CREW
John Wayne as Jerry Mason
Barbara Sheldon as Betty Benson
Lloyd Whitlock as Harris
George "Gabby" Hayes as Jake "Grandy" Benson
Yakima Canutt as Joe Cole
Eddie Parker as Al Miller, the sheriff's son
Gordon De Main as Williams, the banker
Earl Dwire as Sheriff Miller

Directed by Robert N. Bradbury
Written by Robert N. Bradbury
Produced by Paul Malvern
Cinematography Archie Stout
Edited by Carl Pierson
Distributed by Monogram Pictures Corporation
Release date January 22, 1934
Running time 55 minutes
Country United States
Language English

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