Watch The Tall Stranger

The Tall Stranger is a classic western movie from 1957 directed by Thomas Carr and starring the legendary Joel McCrea as Ned Bannon. The film opens with a scene of Bannon returning from the Civil War and heading back to his homestead in Texas. Along the way, he saves the life of a young boy who is being chased by Apache warriors. This chance encounter leads to Ned meeting the boy's widowed mother, Ellen (played by Virginia Mayo), and her father-in-law, Ben (played by Barry Kelley).

Ned soon learns that Ellen and Ben are in a precarious situation. Their land is coveted by a group of ruthless ranchers, led by Colonel Normand (played by Michael Ansara), who want to take over their property and use it for grazing their cattle. To make matters worse, Ellen's late husband was in debt to the Colonel, and these debts are now being called in, putting their farm at great risk.

Ned agrees to help Ellen and Ben protect their land and begins to train them how to use guns and fight back against the Colonel's henchmen. Along the way, Ned realizes that he has fallen in love with Ellen, but is hesitant to act on his feelings due to her recent widowhood.

The tension between the two sides builds as the Colonel's men become increasingly violent, and a final showdown between the two groups is inevitable. The thrilling climax of the movie involves a fierce gunfight between Ned and the Colonel's men, with Ellen and Ben fighting alongside him.

The Tall Stranger is a classic western movie that combines action, romance, and suspense in all the right ways. Joel McCrea gives an outstanding performance as the rugged hero who stands up for what is right, and Virginia Mayo shines as the strong and resourceful heroine. The movie also benefits from the strong supporting cast, with Barry Kelley and Michael Ansara turning in memorable performances as well.

The film succeeds in capturing the spirit of the old west and shows a time when men and women had to fight for their rights and courageous individuals like Ned Bannon would go to any length to protect what they believed in. The story is compelling, and the pacing of the movie is perfect, with just the right amount of action scenes interjected with moments of quiet reflection and character development.

In summary, The Tall Stranger is a classic western movie that should not be missed by genre aficionados and movie buffs alike. The movie is an excellent showcase for Joel McCrea's talents, and director Thomas Carr expertly handles the various elements of the story, creating a well-balanced movie that is both thrilling and thoughtful.

The Tall Stranger is a 1957 western with a runtime of 1 hour and 21 minutes. It has received moderate reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.4.