The Silver Whip

The Silver Whip
Theatrical release poster
Directed by Harmon Jones
Produced by Michael Abel
Robert Bassler
Written by Jesse L. Lasky
Based on First Blood
by Jack Schaefer
Starring Dale Robertson
Rory Calhoun
Robert Wagner
Cinematography Lloyd Ahern
Edited by George A. Gittens
Production
company
20th Century-Fox
Distributed by 20th Century-Fox
Release date
  • February 4, 1953 (1953-02-04) (Los Angeles)
Running time
 73 minutes
Country United States
Language English
Budget $560,000.[1]

The Silver Whip is a 1953 American Western film directed by Harmon Jones and starring Dale Robertson, Rory Calhoun and Robert Wagner.

Plot

Cocky young drifter Jess Harker (Robert Wagner) wants to be a driver on the stagecoach's main line, just like Race Crim (Dale Robertson), his hero. The coach line's boss, Luke Bowen, doesn't believe Jess is ready yet.

Race is tough but bad-tempered, and so reliant on his skill with a gun that his friend, Sheriff Tom Davisson (Rory Calhoun), is concerned about Race's respect for the law.

Race goes to bat for Jess in getting a chance to guard the next stage leaving Red Rock, which will be carrying $27,000 in gold dust plus two passengers, including the woman Race loves, the beautiful saloon girl Waco (Lola Albright). For good luck, Race gives a gift to Jess, a silver-handled whip.

A gang of outlaws led by Slater ambushes the stage. Jess disobeys direct orders and the results are disastrous: Slater rides off with the money and both passengers are killed. Jess is ordered to return home by an angry Bowen, but he joins the sheriff's posse and is deputized instead.

Race is out to avenge Waco in his own way. He becomes a vigilante, killing two of Slater's men before Tom's posse can get to them. Tom wants the wanted men brought back alive to stand trial. He is able to apprehend Slater, returning him to Red Rock, where a lynch mob wants the outlaw hanged.

The circuit judge isn't in town so the sheriff walks across the street to send off a wire to get the judge to come in the morning, leaving Jess to guard the prisoner. Race personally leads the vigilantes, who attack the jail's door with axes. After repeated warnings which Race won't take seriously, Jess shoots him.

The mob disperses. By the time Tom is freed after being tied up by Race, Tom and three of his men make their way inside the jail and peace is restored. Jess is ready to ride again with Kathy (Kathleen Crowley) going with him while the sheriff is pleased that his friend Race has fully recovered.

Cast

Home video

The Silver Whip has been released as a DVD in the United States.[2]

References

  1. ↑ Solomon, Aubrey. Twentieth Century Fox: A Corporate and Financial History (The Scarecrow Filmmakers Series). Lanham, Maryland: Scarecrow Press, 1989. ISBN 978-0-8108-4244-1. p248
  2. ↑ The Silver Whip (DVD-R). Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation. May 29, 2013. OCLC 859870447. Home video release of the 1953 film.

Further reading

  • Roan, Toby (August 28, 2013). "DVD Review: The Silver Whip (1953)". A rare, recent review of the film by a blogger who's working on a book about 1950s western films.


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