Fighting Bill Fargo
Brief Synopsis
Cast & Crew
Ray Taylor
Johnny Mack Brown
Fuzzy Knight
Jeanne Kelly
Kenneth Harlan
Nell O'day
Film Details
Technical Specs
Synopsis
After being framed for murder and serving three years in prison, paroled Bill Fargo returns to his hometown of Buffalo Springs during its local elections. The honest people of the community are trying to oust incumbent Sheriff Hackett, who is little more than an extension of crooked businessman J. R. "Cash" Scanlon, the head of the Buffalo Springs Homestead and Development Company. Since the murder of Bill's father by Vic Savage, Scanlon's chief henchman, the family newspaper, The Buffalo Springs Independent , has been run by its half-owner, cowardly Clem Fillmore. Fillmore has become one of Scanlon's tools by allowing the newspaper to be used as a mouthpiece for Scanlon. Bill's arrival in town is hailed by his sister Julie and his old friend Scoop, who look for Bill to take his father's place as the moral leader of the community. Bill's first action is to support Tom Houston, the reform candidate for sheriff, who also has the sponsorship of the town's leading citizen, Judge Tyler. Houston, however, is soon killed in a rigged gunfight with Savage, and when Bill calls for a new reform candidate, Scanlon moves quickly to have Fillmore nominated. Scanlon then orders Savage to force Bill into a fight, knowing that the paroled man cannot legally fight back without being brought back to jail. When Bill beats Savage, the henchman pulls out his gun, but Julie kicks it out of his hand. As the townspeople have witnessed this clearly aggressive act, Hackett is forced to arrest Savage. Meanwhile, Fillmore is overwhelmed by guilt and confesses all to Bill. Before the truth can be told to the community, however, Scanlon releases Savage from jail in order to kill Fillmore secretly and frame Bill for the murder. Before Savage shoots Fillmore, however, the editor manages to take Savage's photograph. When Bill is blamed for the murder, he escapes into the hills. Hackett's re-election appears won until Judge Tyler announces his candidacy for the office. In the meantime, Scoop finds a note that Fillmore wrote just before he died, instructing him to develop the film, which confirms Savage's guilt. Bill then returns to town and puts out a special election edition of the Independent , organizing a march on city hall just as Scanlon attempts to close the polls early. Realizing they have lost, Scanlon and Savage try to escape, but Bill manages to kill the hired gun and capture his boss. With the truth finally known by all, Bill is exonerated of all charges and is once again free to court his sweetheart, Judge Tyler's daughter Linda.
Director
Ray Taylor
Cast
Johnny Mack Brown
Fuzzy Knight
Jeanne Kelly
Kenneth Harlan
Nell O'day
Ted Adams
James Blaine
Al Bridge
The Eddie Dean Trio
Joe Eggenton
Earle Hodgins
Buck Moulton
Bob Kortman
Claire Whitney
Kernan Cripps
Bud Osborne
Crew
Bernard B. Brown
Hal Bumbaugh
Everett Carter
Dorcas Cochran
Will Cowan
Ralph M. Delacy
Paul Franklin
Paul Franklin
R. A. Gausman
Charles S. Gould
Arthur V. Jones
Paul Landres
Jack Otterson
Milton Rosen
H. J. Salter
Charles Van Enger
Vera West
Film Details
Technical Specs
Quotes
Trivia
Notes
The working title of this film was The Vigilantes. While copyright records refer to Fuzzy Knight's character as "Gabby," and contemporary reviews and CBCS refer to him as "Grubby," he is called "Scoop" in the film. Modern sources include Tex Palmer, Harry Tenbrook, Kermit Maynard, Blackie Whiteford and Merrill McCormack in the cast.