West of the Santa Fe (1938)
A U.S. marshal rides hard for justice — and revenge — against the cattle rustlers who killed his sweetheart's father.
West of the Santa Fe - Movie Information
- Release Year: 1938
- Directed by: Sam Nelson
- Type: Movie
- Genres: Western
- Runtime: 57m
- Original Language: English
- Spoken Languages: English
- Release Date (Theatrical): October 2, 1938 (United States)
- Production Companies: Columbia Pictures
- Production Countries: United States of America
West of the Santa Fe - Plot
US marshal Lawlor (Starrett) takes on a gang of cattle rustlers headed by Taylor (Dick Curtis). His reasons are partly personal: Conway (Edward LeSaint), the cattle-baron father of Lawlor's sweetheart Madge (Meredith), has been murdered by Taylor's minions.
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West of the Santa Fe - Cast & Crew
Director(s)
- Sam Nelson
Main Cast
- Charles Starrett
- Iris Meredith
- Dick Curtis
- Robert Fiske
- LeRoy Mason
- Bob Nolan
- Hank Bell
- Edmund Cobb
Writers
- Bennett Cohen
West of the Santa Fe - FAQs
What is West of the Santa Fe about?
West of the Santa Fe follows U.S. marshal Steve Lawlor as he hunts down a ruthless gang of cattle rustlers led by Matt Taylor. The mission turns deeply personal when Lawlor discovers that Taylor's men murdered Conway, the father of his sweetheart Madge. Justice and revenge collide in this fast-moving 1938 Western.
Who plays the hero and villain in this film?
Charles Starrett plays the determined U.S. marshal Steve Lawlor, while Dick Curtis takes on the role of the menacing outlaw Matt Taylor. The two make for a compelling hero-villain pairing that drives the film's central conflict from start to finish.
Is West of the Santa Fe worth watching today?
For fans of classic B-Westerns, absolutely. At just 57 minutes, it delivers a tight, no-frills story with solid performances from Charles Starrett and Dick Curtis. It's a fine example of the Saturday matinee Westerns that Columbia Pictures churned out in the late 1930s — unpretentious, energetic, and entertaining.
Who directed West of the Santa Fe?
Sam Nelson directed the film. Nelson was a prolific director of B-Westerns during the 1930s and 1940s, frequently working with Charles Starrett on Columbia Pictures productions. His efficient, no-nonsense style was well suited to the fast-paced demands of the Saturday matinee Western format.
How long is West of the Santa Fe?
The film runs just 57 minutes — a notably short runtime even by B-Western standards. That brevity was entirely intentional: these Columbia Pictures programmers were designed as tight, action-packed entertainments for Saturday matinee audiences, keeping the pace brisk and the story moving without a wasted moment.
What are movies similar to West of the Santa Fe?
If you enjoy this kind of classic Western, check out Outlaw Trail (1944), Range Law (1944), Law of the Valley (1944), Outlaws of Stampede Pass (1943), and Alias John Law (1935). For bigger-budget Western fare with similar themes of lawmen and outlaws, Gunfight at the O.K. Corral (1957) and Dodge City (1939) are great picks.
Who wrote the screenplay for this Western?
The screenplay was written by Bennett Cohen, a veteran writer of B-Westerns who contributed to dozens of low-budget oaters throughout the 1930s and 1940s. Cohen had a knack for crafting straightforward, action-driven stories that fit neatly into the short runtimes these Columbia programmers demanded.
Was West of the Santa Fe based on a true story?
No, West of the Santa Fe is an original fictional story. It's a classic B-Western programmer built around familiar genre conventions — a heroic U.S. marshal, a villainous outlaw gang, and a personal vendetta. While it draws on the mythology of the American West, the characters and plot are entirely invented.
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