After the Civil War, an ex-Confederate soldier faces new battles, including the elements and a carpetbagger intent on destroying him.After the Civil War, an ex-Confederate soldier faces new battles, including the elements and a carpetbagger intent on destroying him.After the Civil War, an ex-Confederate soldier faces new battles, including the elements and a carpetbagger intent on destroying him.
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaOne of over 700 Paramount Productions, filmed between 1929 and 1949, which were sold to MCA/Universal in 1958 for television distribution, and have been owned and controlled by Universal ever since. Its earliest documented telecast took place in Phoenix Sunday 22 February 1959 on KVAR (Channel 12), followed by Milwaukee 25 April 1959 on WITI (Channel 6), by Asheville 24 May 1959 on WLOS (Channel 13), by Omaha 26 July 1959 on KETV (Channel 7), by both Chicago and Grand Rapids 22 November 1959 on WBBM (Channel 2) and WOOD (Channel 8), by Philadelphia 22 November 1959 on WCAU (Channel 10), by San Francisco 7 December 1959, on KPIX (Channel 5), by Johnstown 1 January 1960 on WJAC (Channel 6), and by Toledo 3 March 1960 on WTOL (Channel 11). It was released on DVD 8 May 2007 as one of of 4 titles in Universal's Classic Western Roundup Volume 2.
Featured review
An Action Filled Western That Just Misses
"The Texans" is a post civil war picture that is set in Texas. The story centers around carpetbaggers trying to cheat Texas ranchers out of their land which eventually forces them to undertake a cattle drive to Abeline.
The movie has the look and feel of a classic western but there's something missing. It has plenty of action to be sure, but the action sequences have the look of stock footage which Paramount was fond of using during the 30's. The Zane Grey series, most of which starred Randolph Scott is a case in point. The chief villain (Robert Barrat) is presented alternately as a heartless villain and buffoon, a major weakness in the story line. There are also too many obvious "studio exterior" shots for my liking.
In a major case of miscasting, Joan Bennett plays the heroine who we are to believe is a gun runner and large ranch owner. Why during her escape from town even gets a smudge of dirt on her pretty face, but not a hair is out of place. Somebody like Jean Arthur would have been more convincing. Randolph Scott is good as the hero, and May Robson as "Granna" virtually steals the picture. Robert Cummings as Scott's rival for the affections of Ms. Bennett, Walter Brennan as Bennett's crusty foreman and Raymond Hatton as Scott's sidekick are also along for the ride. Francis Ford (brother of John) stands out in a featured role as "Uncle Dud". If you look real close, you might spot Clayton Moore and Richard Denning in bit parts.
But as I suggested earlier, the picture suffers from the lack of a strong villain. A good western, but could have been much better.
The movie has the look and feel of a classic western but there's something missing. It has plenty of action to be sure, but the action sequences have the look of stock footage which Paramount was fond of using during the 30's. The Zane Grey series, most of which starred Randolph Scott is a case in point. The chief villain (Robert Barrat) is presented alternately as a heartless villain and buffoon, a major weakness in the story line. There are also too many obvious "studio exterior" shots for my liking.
In a major case of miscasting, Joan Bennett plays the heroine who we are to believe is a gun runner and large ranch owner. Why during her escape from town even gets a smudge of dirt on her pretty face, but not a hair is out of place. Somebody like Jean Arthur would have been more convincing. Randolph Scott is good as the hero, and May Robson as "Granna" virtually steals the picture. Robert Cummings as Scott's rival for the affections of Ms. Bennett, Walter Brennan as Bennett's crusty foreman and Raymond Hatton as Scott's sidekick are also along for the ride. Francis Ford (brother of John) stands out in a featured role as "Uncle Dud". If you look real close, you might spot Clayton Moore and Richard Denning in bit parts.
But as I suggested earlier, the picture suffers from the lack of a strong villain. A good western, but could have been much better.
helpful•113
- bsmith5552
- Aug 1, 2001
Details
- Runtime1 hour 32 minutes
- Color
- Aspect ratio
- 1.37 : 1
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