The Return of Wild Bill (1940)
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- Approved
- 1h 0min
- Drama, Western
- 27 Jun 1940 (USA)
- Movie
Photos and Videos
Cast
| Bill Elliott | ... |
Wild Bill Saunders
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| Iris Meredith | ... |
Sammy Lou Griffin
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| George Lloyd | ... |
Matt Kilgore
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| Luana Walters | ... |
Kate Kilgore
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| Edward LeSaint | ... |
Lige Saunders
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| Frank LaRue | ... |
Ole Mitch
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| Francis Walker | ... |
Jake Kilgore
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Chuck Morrison | ... |
Henchman Bart
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| Dub Taylor | ... |
Cannonball
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Buel Bryant | ... |
Henchman Deputy
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| Bruce Kellogg | ... |
Deputy Hep
(as William Kellogg)
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Donald Haines | ... |
Bobby
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| Rest of cast listed alphabetically: | |||
| Tex Cooper | ... |
Townsman (uncredited)
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| Jim Corey | ... |
Henchman Mike (uncredited)
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| John Ince | ... |
Sam Griffin (uncredited)
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| John Merton | ... |
Dusty Donahue (uncredited)
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| Bill Nestell | ... |
Blacksmith (uncredited)
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| Jack Rockwell | ... |
Sheriff (uncredited)
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Directed by
| Joseph H. Lewis | ||
Written by
| Robert Lee Johnson | ... | (screenplay) and |
| Fred Myton | ... | (screenplay) (as Fred K. Myton) |
| Walter J. Coburn | ... | (original story) (as Walt Coburn) |
Produced by
| Leon Barsha | ... | producer |
Cinematography by
| George Meehan | ... | director of photography |
Editing by
| Richard Fantl | ||
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
| Robert Farfan | ... | assistant director (as Bob Farfan) |
Stunts
| Buel Bryant | ... | stunts (uncredited) |
Music Department
| Sidney Cutner | ... | composer: stock music (uncredited) |
Production Companies
Distributors
- Columbia Pictures (1940) (United States) (theatrical) (as Columbia Pictures Corporation)
- Columbia Pictures of Canada (1940) (Canada) (theatrical)
- Columbia Pictures Corporation (1940) (United Kingdom) (theatrical)
- Columbia Pictures Proprietary (1940) (Australia) (theatrical)
- Columbia Films S. A. (1940) (Mexico) (theatrical)
- Columbia Pictures of Chile (1940) (Chile) (theatrical)
- Columbia Pictures do Brasil (1940) (Brazil) (theatrical)
- Christiaan van der Ree (1940) (Venezuela) (theatrical)
- Columbia Pictures of Peru (1940) (Peru) (theatrical)
- Astor Pictures Corporation (1949) (United States) (theatrical) (reissue)
Special Effects
Other Companies
Storyline
| Plot Summary |
To get possession of choice ranch lands, Matt and Jake Kilgore frame Sam Griffin for stealing cattle from Lige Saunders, set themselves up as vigilantes and then hang him. Then they urge Ol' Mitch, who has taken in Griffin's daughter, Sammy Lou, to take revenge against Saunders. Turning about, the brothers incite Saunders to go gunning first. Neither rancher falls for the trap; Saunders because Kate Kilgore, the only decent member of the family, tells him about her brothers' plan. Saunders sends for his son, Wild Bill Saunders, the most feared gunman in the southwest. Later, Jake Kilgore pretends to want to buy the Saunders place and, when ordered off, he shoots Saunders and leaves behind a gun that will incriminate Old Mitch. Bill arrives a few minutes later, learns from his dying father what happened and takes after Jake. A running gun fight ends in a canyon where the two men struggle hand to hand, and Jake falls dead from a bullet from his own gun intended for Bill. Meanwhile, Matt and his gang ride to Ole Mitch's place, intending to lynch him for killing Saunders, Bill gets there first and drives them off. Bart, one of the henchmen, drops behind to spy on the newcomer. He hears Bill tell Kate, who had also came to warn Ole Mitch, about Jake's death. Bart hurries to tell his boss, and when Kate returns home Matt beats her, ties her to a chair, and then sends two of his henchmen, posing as deputy sheriffs, to arrest Bill for the death of Jake. Bill, over the protests of Sammy Lou, gives up his guns and the henchmen start him off for what is to be a rendezvous with a lynching party. Kate gets free and rides to get help from Old Mitch, Cannonball and other ranchers. Bill is about to be hanged when Kate, Sammy Lou, Mitch and the others arrive. In the exchange of bullets, Kate is killed by her brother Matt, who escapes. Bill pursues him and kills him in a gun duel. Peace is restored to the community and Bill settles down on the ranch he inherited from his father, with Sammy Lou not far from his side.
Written by Les Adams |
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| Taglines | DRILLING DAYLIGHT THROUGH KILLERS! (original poster-all caps) See more » |
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| Parents Guide | Add content advisory for parents » |
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Did You Know?
| Movie Connections | Edited into Meanwhile, Back at the Ranch (1976). See more » |