The Lawless Nineties
Encyclopedia
The Lawless Nineties is a 1936 American western film directed by Joseph Kane
. The 55 minute film starred John Wayne
, and Lane Chandler
as federal agents in Wyoming
. The film also starred a 19-year old and Ann Rutherford
.
) and Bridger (Lane Chandler
) heads for Crockett City Wyoming
to supervise the vote on whether to join the Union. One group of local outlaws organized by Charles Plummer (Harry Woods
)are using dynamite
to terrorize the populace and ensure that the vote fails. In the chaos Tipton and Bridger are separated and Tipton befriends a trio of settlers harassed by outlaws. They are Major Carter (George Hayes), his daughter Janet (Ann Rutherford
) and their servant Moses (Fred Toones).
Carter had recently become the new editor
and publisher of the local newspaper the Crockett City Blade, and when he announces plans to use the power of the press to fight lawlessness and aid the statehood cause, he is threatened by villain Charles Plummer and subsequently shot and murdered by one of his men in a staged fight.
When Plummer's henchmen eventually kill Bridger, after learning of his status as a government agent, Tipton fights on. He sends fake telegrams that trap some of Plummer's men. Then he organizes the ranchers and on election
day they descend on the town barricaded by Plummer's gang and defeated the gang leader and his henchmen.
On the day of the election the villains actually initially stop the homesteaders from voting but Tipton leads in a bunch of agents and ranchers to crush the outlaws. It results in all the baddies brought to justice, Wyoming
becoming a state and Wayne gets the pretty girl Ann Rutherford
.
, was filmed at the Trem Carr Ranch in Newhall, California
.
Joseph Kane
Jasper Joseph Inman Kane was a prolific American film director, film producer, film editor and screenwriter...
. The 55 minute film starred John Wayne
John Wayne
Marion Mitchell Morrison , better known by his stage name John Wayne, was an American film actor, director and producer. He epitomized rugged masculinity and became an enduring American icon. He is famous for his distinctive calm voice, walk, and height...
, and Lane Chandler
Lane Chandler
Lane Chandler was an American actor specializing in Westerns.-Early life:He was born as Robert Chandler Oakes on a ranch near Culbertson, Montana, the son of a horse rancher. At an early age, the family relocated to Helena, Montana, where he graduated from high school...
as federal agents in Wyoming
Wyoming
Wyoming is a state in the mountain region of the Western United States. The western two thirds of the state is covered mostly with the mountain ranges and rangelands in the foothills of the Eastern Rocky Mountains, while the eastern third of the state is high elevation prairie known as the High...
. The film also starred a 19-year old and Ann Rutherford
Ann Rutherford
Ann Rutherford is a Canadian-American actress in film, radio, and television. She has had a long career starring and co-starring in films, playing Polly Benedict on the big screen of the 1930s and 1940s in the Andy Hardy series, and on The Bob Newhart Show as Newhart's character's...
.
Plot
Set in the 1890s, undercover federal agents John Tipton (John WayneJohn Wayne
Marion Mitchell Morrison , better known by his stage name John Wayne, was an American film actor, director and producer. He epitomized rugged masculinity and became an enduring American icon. He is famous for his distinctive calm voice, walk, and height...
) and Bridger (Lane Chandler
Lane Chandler
Lane Chandler was an American actor specializing in Westerns.-Early life:He was born as Robert Chandler Oakes on a ranch near Culbertson, Montana, the son of a horse rancher. At an early age, the family relocated to Helena, Montana, where he graduated from high school...
) heads for Crockett City Wyoming
Wyoming
Wyoming is a state in the mountain region of the Western United States. The western two thirds of the state is covered mostly with the mountain ranges and rangelands in the foothills of the Eastern Rocky Mountains, while the eastern third of the state is high elevation prairie known as the High...
to supervise the vote on whether to join the Union. One group of local outlaws organized by Charles Plummer (Harry Woods
Harry Woods (actor)
Harry Woods was an American film actor. He appeared in nearly 250 films between 1923 and 1958.He was born in Cleveland, Ohio, and died in Los Angeles, California from uremia.-Selected filmography:* Tycoon...
)are using dynamite
Dynamite
Dynamite is an explosive material based on nitroglycerin, initially using diatomaceous earth , or another absorbent substance such as powdered shells, clay, sawdust, or wood pulp. Dynamites using organic materials such as sawdust are less stable and such use has been generally discontinued...
to terrorize the populace and ensure that the vote fails. In the chaos Tipton and Bridger are separated and Tipton befriends a trio of settlers harassed by outlaws. They are Major Carter (George Hayes), his daughter Janet (Ann Rutherford
Ann Rutherford
Ann Rutherford is a Canadian-American actress in film, radio, and television. She has had a long career starring and co-starring in films, playing Polly Benedict on the big screen of the 1930s and 1940s in the Andy Hardy series, and on The Bob Newhart Show as Newhart's character's...
) and their servant Moses (Fred Toones).
Carter had recently become the new editor
Editing
Editing is the process of selecting and preparing written, visual, audible, and film media used to convey information through the processes of correction, condensation, organization, and other modifications performed with an intention of producing a correct, consistent, accurate, and complete...
and publisher of the local newspaper the Crockett City Blade, and when he announces plans to use the power of the press to fight lawlessness and aid the statehood cause, he is threatened by villain Charles Plummer and subsequently shot and murdered by one of his men in a staged fight.
When Plummer's henchmen eventually kill Bridger, after learning of his status as a government agent, Tipton fights on. He sends fake telegrams that trap some of Plummer's men. Then he organizes the ranchers and on election
Election
An election is a formal decision-making process by which a population chooses an individual to hold public office. Elections have been the usual mechanism by which modern representative democracy operates since the 17th century. Elections may fill offices in the legislature, sometimes in the...
day they descend on the town barricaded by Plummer's gang and defeated the gang leader and his henchmen.
On the day of the election the villains actually initially stop the homesteaders from voting but Tipton leads in a bunch of agents and ranchers to crush the outlaws. It results in all the baddies brought to justice, Wyoming
Wyoming
Wyoming is a state in the mountain region of the Western United States. The western two thirds of the state is covered mostly with the mountain ranges and rangelands in the foothills of the Eastern Rocky Mountains, while the eastern third of the state is high elevation prairie known as the High...
becoming a state and Wayne gets the pretty girl Ann Rutherford
Ann Rutherford
Ann Rutherford is a Canadian-American actress in film, radio, and television. She has had a long career starring and co-starring in films, playing Polly Benedict on the big screen of the 1930s and 1940s in the Andy Hardy series, and on The Bob Newhart Show as Newhart's character's...
.
Cast
- John WayneJohn WayneMarion Mitchell Morrison , better known by his stage name John Wayne, was an American film actor, director and producer. He epitomized rugged masculinity and became an enduring American icon. He is famous for his distinctive calm voice, walk, and height...
as John Tipton - Ann RutherfordAnn RutherfordAnn Rutherford is a Canadian-American actress in film, radio, and television. She has had a long career starring and co-starring in films, playing Polly Benedict on the big screen of the 1930s and 1940s in the Andy Hardy series, and on The Bob Newhart Show as Newhart's character's...
as Janet Carter - Harry WoodsHarry Woods (actor)Harry Woods was an American film actor. He appeared in nearly 250 films between 1923 and 1958.He was born in Cleveland, Ohio, and died in Los Angeles, California from uremia.-Selected filmography:* Tycoon...
as Charles K. Plummer - George Hayes as Maj. Carter
- Al BridgeAl BridgeAl Bridge was an American character actor who played mostly small roles in over 270 films between 1931 and 1954...
as Steele - Fred ToonesFred ToonesFred "Snowflake" Toones was an African-American film actor comedian of the early sound era...
as Moses - Etta McDanielEtta McDanielEtta McDaniel was an African American actress who appeared in over 60 films between 1933 and 1946. She is the sister of actor Sam McDaniel and actress and Academy Award winner Hattie McDaniel....
as Mandy Lou Schaefer - Tom BrowerTom BrowerTom Brower is a Democratic House member of the Hawaii State Capitol who has represented the 23rd district— which includes Waikiki, Ala Moana and Kakaako on the island of Oahu— since 2006....
as Marshal Bowen - Lane ChandlerLane ChandlerLane Chandler was an American actor specializing in Westerns.-Early life:He was born as Robert Chandler Oakes on a ranch near Culbertson, Montana, the son of a horse rancher. At an early age, the family relocated to Helena, Montana, where he graduated from high school...
as Bridger - Cliff LyonsCliff Lyons (actor)Clifford William Lyons was an American motion picture stuntman, second-unit director, and actor, primarily of Westerns, particularly the films of John Ford and John Wayne.Lyons, the son of Garrett Thomas Lyons and Wilhamena Johnson Lyons, was raised on a South Dakota farm,...
as Davis - Jack Rockwell as Smith
- Al Taylor as Henchman Red
- Charles King as Henchman Hartley
- George ChesebroGeorge ChesebroGeorge Chesebro was an American film actor. He appeared in over 400 films between 1915 and 1954, beginning in two reelers starring Texas Guinan.He was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota and died in Los Angeles, California....
as Henchman Green - Tracy Lane as Belden
Release
The film premiered on February 15, 1936. The film, although based in WyomingWyoming
Wyoming is a state in the mountain region of the Western United States. The western two thirds of the state is covered mostly with the mountain ranges and rangelands in the foothills of the Eastern Rocky Mountains, while the eastern third of the state is high elevation prairie known as the High...
, was filmed at the Trem Carr Ranch in Newhall, California
Newhall, California
Newhall is the southernmost and oldest district of Santa Clarita, California. Prior to the 1987 consolidation of Valencia, Canyon Country, Saugus, Newhall, and other geographically proximate settlements into the conglomerate city of Santa Clarita, it was an independent but unincorporated town...
.