"Rebel in Town" was an unusual low budget western for its time. It contains two graphic scenes which were not normally seen in the westerns of the day.
Following the Civil War, John Willoughby (John Payne) and his wife Ruth (Ruth Roman) and son Peety (Bobby Clark) live on a small ranch where Peety likes to play soldier (Union of course). A gang of ex-Confederates is roaming the area robbing banks in order to survive.
The gang is led by Bedloe Mason (J. Carroll Naish) who along with his four sons: Gray (Ben Cooper), Wesley (John Smith). Frank (Ben Johnson) and Cain (Sterling Franck) is looking for its next score.
One day Frank Wesley and Gray ride into town for water. Young Peety, who has just received a pair of cap pistols for his birthday, sneaks up behind the men and is shot (in a gruesome realistic scene) by the trigger happy Wesley. Wesley and Frank flee but Gray is shocked and feels remorse, but he too is forced to flee.
Willoughby and his wife are devastated by their loss and he vows revenge on the killers. Back in the rebel camp dissension among the gang develops as Gray decides to leave and go back to town to see if the young boy was killed or not and to try to atone for the tragedy on behalf of his family.
Before he can go, Wesley confronts him, stabs him in the back and takes Gray's share of the loot. Believing Gray dead, Wesley ties him to his horse and drives them off. Willoughby comes upon the wounded Gray and takes him home to be treated for his wound unaware that Gray is one of the gang who murdered his son. But Ruth had met Gray briefly on that fateful day and recognizes him.
Eventually, Willoughby finds out who Gray really is and becomes enraged to the point of taking an ax to him only to be stopped by Ruth. Gray tries to convince Willoughby of his remorse and desire to return to town to take his medicine. The two proceed to town where Gray is immediately arrested by Sheriff Adam Russell (James Griffith). A lynch mob forms led by Willoughby but the Masons arrive and......................................................
John Payne, in my opinion, gives one of his best performances as the vengeful father out to bring down his son's killer(s). The scene where he attempts to take an ax to Cooper is unexpected. He goes from a peace loving farmer to a man filled with hate seamlessly. Ruth Roman is also good as the wife who tries to clam her husband down in spite of her own sorrow.
J. Carrol Naish, complete with southern accent, makes a fearful leader of the confederates. Ben Cooper also stands out as the sympathetic and remorseful Gray. John Smith as the trigger happy "Cain like" brother also stands out. Unfortunately, Ben Johnson, whose performances I always personally liked, has little to do in this one. Sterling Franck, for some reason, is billed as his character Cain Mason. Watch for sagebrush veteran Kermit Maynard as a Deputy.
Great cast, grim humorless story well mounted.
Following the Civil War, John Willoughby (John Payne) and his wife Ruth (Ruth Roman) and son Peety (Bobby Clark) live on a small ranch where Peety likes to play soldier (Union of course). A gang of ex-Confederates is roaming the area robbing banks in order to survive.
The gang is led by Bedloe Mason (J. Carroll Naish) who along with his four sons: Gray (Ben Cooper), Wesley (John Smith). Frank (Ben Johnson) and Cain (Sterling Franck) is looking for its next score.
One day Frank Wesley and Gray ride into town for water. Young Peety, who has just received a pair of cap pistols for his birthday, sneaks up behind the men and is shot (in a gruesome realistic scene) by the trigger happy Wesley. Wesley and Frank flee but Gray is shocked and feels remorse, but he too is forced to flee.
Willoughby and his wife are devastated by their loss and he vows revenge on the killers. Back in the rebel camp dissension among the gang develops as Gray decides to leave and go back to town to see if the young boy was killed or not and to try to atone for the tragedy on behalf of his family.
Before he can go, Wesley confronts him, stabs him in the back and takes Gray's share of the loot. Believing Gray dead, Wesley ties him to his horse and drives them off. Willoughby comes upon the wounded Gray and takes him home to be treated for his wound unaware that Gray is one of the gang who murdered his son. But Ruth had met Gray briefly on that fateful day and recognizes him.
Eventually, Willoughby finds out who Gray really is and becomes enraged to the point of taking an ax to him only to be stopped by Ruth. Gray tries to convince Willoughby of his remorse and desire to return to town to take his medicine. The two proceed to town where Gray is immediately arrested by Sheriff Adam Russell (James Griffith). A lynch mob forms led by Willoughby but the Masons arrive and......................................................
John Payne, in my opinion, gives one of his best performances as the vengeful father out to bring down his son's killer(s). The scene where he attempts to take an ax to Cooper is unexpected. He goes from a peace loving farmer to a man filled with hate seamlessly. Ruth Roman is also good as the wife who tries to clam her husband down in spite of her own sorrow.
J. Carrol Naish, complete with southern accent, makes a fearful leader of the confederates. Ben Cooper also stands out as the sympathetic and remorseful Gray. John Smith as the trigger happy "Cain like" brother also stands out. Unfortunately, Ben Johnson, whose performances I always personally liked, has little to do in this one. Sterling Franck, for some reason, is billed as his character Cain Mason. Watch for sagebrush veteran Kermit Maynard as a Deputy.
Great cast, grim humorless story well mounted.