The Tall Stranger

Routine plot - efficient in execution, but beware of pan and scan monstrosity. The Tall Stranger is directed by Thomas Carr and written for the screen by Christopher Knopf from a story by Louis L'Amour. It stars Joel McCrea, Virginia Mayo, Michael Ansara, George Neise, Whit Bissell, Adam Kennedy, Barry Kelley and Leo Gordon. A CinemaScope/De Luxe color production, film is filmed on location at two ranches in California, Morrison and Russell, with Wilfred M. Cline the cinematographer. Hans J. Salter scores the music. Plot sees McCrea as Ned Bannon, who has a run in with rustlers and left for…

“Bannon” (Joel McCrea) is minding his own business when both he and his horse fall foul of some cattle rustlers who leave him for dead. Luckily he is picked up by a wagon train, and as he recovers he helps guide them to the perfect spot by the river for them to build their settlement. The snag for these pioneers is that the land has already been claimed and they aren’t welcome. “Bannon” has history with the landowner, and so offers to broker some sort of deal to help them out and get them to move on, but the travellers are being goaded by “Harper” (George Neise) to dig their heels in and…