Gentleman from Dixie

In the late 1930's, convicted murderer Thad Terrell is released early from prison for good conduct. When the warden tells Thad that he finds it difficult to think of him as a killer, Thad answers that he has never killed but was convicted because of a lie told by a former friend. Feeling that he has lost everything, Thad returns to his brother Lance's horse breeding ranch in Louisiana, where he is welcomed by ranch hand Jupe, who informs him that his brother's second wife Margaret has restaffed the ranch with new people. At the ranch house, Thad meets Betty Jean, Lance's little girl by his first wife, who died. Betty Jean, an aspiring pianist, does not know that Thad is her uncle, until he introduces himself. When Lance and Margaret arrive home in their chauffeur-driven car, Lance gives Thad a warm welcome, but Margaret is cold to him and makes it clear that she does not want an ex-convict in her home. Thad offers to leave, but Lance insists that he remain, and they eventually agree that Thad will stay on as a hired hand. Despite Margaret's opposition, Lance helps Betty Jean look after Jumping Jack, a sickly newborn colt. Margaret, who has social pretensions, complains that Lance always smells of the stables and wants the colt "out of the way." Lance reluctantly tells Thad to get rid of the colt, but Betty Jean pleads with Thad and convinces him not to kill the horse. Two years later, Betty Jean and Jupe attend an important race in which Jumping Jack is entered. Jumping Jack wins, beating a horse from the stables of successful thoroughbred breeder Matthew W. Brawley, who is the man who framed Thad. Kirkland, Brawley's wastrel associate, knows of his involvement in Thad's imprisonment, but says nothing. Brawley offers to buy Jumping Jack, but Lance tells him that the horse belongs to Betty Jean and, despite Margaret's protestations, is not for sale. Brawley starts to escort Margaret to various functions and, one day, Betty Jean learns that her father intends to sell her horse to Brawley as he is in need of money. After Betty Jean takes Jumping Jack from the stables and rides off, Thad tells Lance that he is wrong to sell the horse to Brawley, whom Thad has recognized as his old nemesis. While a search party is looking for them, Betty Jean and Jumping Jack take a rest in the countryside. A cougar threatens to attack Betty Jean but the horse drives it away. The noise enables Thad to locate them and he takes Betty Jean back to the ranch, then leaves to settle matters with Brawley, whom he also regards as a threat to Lance's marriage. When Brawley comes to claim the horse, he encounters Thad, who accuses him of framing him. Brawley knocks Thad down and when Betty Jean runs to Thad, pushes her out of the way. Believing that Betty Jean is in danger, Jumping Jack breaks out of his stall, chases Brawley and stomps him to death. Later, at a hearing, the local prosecutor condemns the horse as a natural killer, but Thad refutes the charge by showing him how loving and gentle Jumping Jack is with Betty Jean. Kirkland then steps forward to admit that, earlier, he had been a coward for not giving evidence that would have proven Brawley guilty of the murder for which Thad served time, and thus Thad is exonerated. Finally seeing the error of her ways, Margaret thanks Thad and begins a new life with Lance and Betty Jean.