Terror in a Texas Town [Blu-ray]

Director: Joseph H. Lewis Joseph H. Lewis

Overview

This near-legendary western stars Sterling Hayden as George Hanson, the son of a Swedish seaman-turned-farmer (Ted Stanhope). When he runs afoul of town boss Ed McNeil (Sebastian Cabot), Hanson's father is gunned down by McNeil's henchman Johnny Crale (Ned Young). Knowing full well that he can expect no help from the town's corrupt sheriff (Tyler McVey), Hanson takes matters in his own hands. Tension mounts steadily until the unforgettable climactic showdown, wherein Hanson arms himself with a harpoon! Extremely well written by Ben L. Perry, Terror in a Texas Town was one of the last directorial efforts of cult favorite Joseph H. Lewis.

Product Details

Release Date:	04/11/2023
UPC:	0810103688377
Original Release:	1958
Rating:	TV-PG
Source:	Mgm Mod
Language:	English
Time:	1:20:00

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

Sterling Hayden	George Hansen
Sebastian Cabot	Ed McNeil
Carol Kelly	Molly
Eugene Martin	Pepe Mirada
Victor Millan	Jose Mirada
Ann Varela	Rosa Mirada
Sheb Wooley	Baxter
Fred Kohler Jr.	Weed
Steve Mitchell	Keeno
Marilee Earle	Monsy
James Russell	Johnson,Johnson
Tyler McVey	Sheriff Stoner
Ted Stanhope	Sven Hansen
Gil Lamb	Barnaby
Frank Ferguson	Holmes
Hank Patterson	Brady
Nedrick Young	Johnny Crale
Eugenio Martín	Pepe Mirada
Eugene Mazzola	Actor
Byron Foulger	Actor
Herman Hack	Actor
Gerald Fried	Composer

Technical Credits

Joseph H. Lewis	Director
Frank N. Seltzer	Producer

Editorial Reviews

This tidy little b-western is a hidden gem of the genre. The script was pseudonymously penned by Dalton Trumbo and he clearly used his experiences as a blacklisted writer to add an element of social undercurrent that gives an added dimension to the film's standard plot. He also works in a number of unique touches, like making the hero a transplanted foreigner and creating a finale in which an unlikely weapon is used to fight the villain's guns. The performances are solid, with Sterling Hayden making a reliably square-jawed good guy (albeit one with a novel Swedish accent) and Nedrick Young offering a gangster-ish interpretation of a villainous gunslinger that owes as much to Humphrey Bogart as it does to Black Bart-style archetypes. Also worthy of note are Sebastian Cabot as the sarcastic businessman behind the villainy and Carol Kelly's sympathetic turn as the villain's tragic, self-knowing lover. However, the best part of the film is the assured direction by b-movie vet Joseph H. Lewis. He takes great delight in playing up the eccentric elements of the storyline, giving it an unearthly feel, and assembles the imagery with plenty of style. The final showdown he stages is one of the most unique in western history, bringing oddball flair and psychological drama to the face-off to create a moment of pure b-movie poetry. To sum up, Terror In A Texas Town is a keeper and well worth the time for western fans in search of something off the beaten path.

All Movie Guide