The Light of Western Stars (1940) User Reviews

"Without faith, we are only dust."

[classicsoncall · 6/10 · 12 September 2004]

Paramount's "The Light of Western Stars" is based on a Zane Grey novel, and with it's writing and characters, cuts a notch above the average "B" Western of the era. Victor Jory stars as Gene Stewart, and opens the story by betting Sheriff Tom Hawes (Tom Tyler) that he'll marry the first girl who arrives in town. Boston socialite Madeline Hammond (the striking Jo Ann Sayers) turns out to be the sister of Stewart's best friend Al, portrayed by Russell Hayden. Learning this, all bets are off!

Tom Tyler cuts an imposing figure on screen as the sheriff, but is cast alongside the villainous Nat Hayworth (Morris Ankrum). Together, they form a gunrunning alliance across the border into Mexico. In an unlikely final showdown, Stewart's loyal friend Poco (Noah Beery Jr.) guns it out with the sheriff and his henchman Sneed (Earl Askam).

There's a great cast of supporting players here, including Eddie Dean, Ruth Rogers, and although you don't get to see his face much, future star Alan Ladd. For Zane Grey fans, I also recommend the following films based on his novels - "Heritage of the Desert" with Randolph Scott in his first starring role, "Drift Fence" with Buster Crabbe, and "Fighting Caravans" featuring Gary Cooper.

Singularly devoted

[bkoganbing · 5/10 · 11 October 2014]

Victor Jory who was so much better as a villain is the hero of this Paramount adaption of Zane Grey's classic western novel The Light Of Western Stars. Jory plays the hell raising foreman of a ranch who makes a bet with crooked sheriff Tom Tyler that he'll marry the next woman who arrives in town.

Which happens to be Ruth Rogers brother of Russell Hayden and they're the new owners of the ranch he's foreman of. Hayden is already there learning the ranch business from J. Farrell MacDonald.

Tyler provides protection for the gun running and smuggling activities of Morris Ankrum who sets up on the Hayden/Rogers spread. It all ends in a nasty shootout with Ankrum's bunch and still another showdown with Tyler.

Noah Beery, Jr. plays the Mexican sidekick of Jory in a role that I can only describe as gay. He's so singularly devoted to Jory you have to believe it's beyond friendship. Alan Ladd is seen briefly as one of the ranch hands and I doubt he could have imagined within two years he'd be ruling the roost over at Paramount.

Zane Grey fans should be pleased with this film. For others it's a rather routine shoot 'em up western with a rather unique angle on male bonding for a western. The most unique until Brokeback Mountain.

An Old-Fashioned Western

[Uriah43 · 5/10 · 5 January 2022]

This film begins with a rich, young woman named "Madeline Hammond" (Jo Anne Sayers) traveling out west from Boston to see her younger brother "Al Hammond" (Russell Hayden). Being so refined, she doesn't quite understand why Al would want to work as a regular cowhand and hopes to convince him to come back to Boston with her. Her low opinion of cowboys is even further bolstered by the fact that, once she steps off the train at her final destination, she is accosted by a drunken cowboy by the name of "Gene Stewart" (Victor Jory) who insists that they get married that same night. Regardless, one thing leads to another and eventually Madeline ends up buying the ranch where her brother worked and chooses Gene to be her foreman. What she doesn't know, however, is that part of her land is secretly being used by an influential businessman by the name of "Nat Hayworth" (Morris Ankrum) to smuggle guns to Mexico and he is being aided in this effort by a corrupt sheriff named "Tom Hawes" (Tom Tyler)-and only Gene has the courage or ability to stand up against them. Now, rather than reveal any more I will just say that-even though this was a rather short film (approximately 64 minutes)-it still managed to keep my attention pretty much from start-to-finish. On that note, however, I must also admit that this is a somewhat old-fashioned Western which hasn't aged well. Yet, despite that fact, I still enjoyed it for the most part and I have rated it accordingly. Average.

This certainly didn't help Victor Jory become a star!

[planktonrules · 3/10 · 31 October 2014]

In his career, Victor Jory generally played villains or supporting characters. Here, however, he stars in a western--and that is VERY unusual. Unfortunately for him and his career, the film just isn't very good and I doubt if it did a thing to help him as a star. But, at least you can watch it if you'd like to see Alan Ladd before he was 'discovered' or if you'd like to see Noah Beery Junior embarrass himself.

When the film begins, Jory plays a nice-guy who seems to be equally concerned with protecting the town from a bully and his paid sheriff as he is about getting drunk. He is certainly no hero in this role--though eventually he reforms and finally does the right thing. In the process, he meets a stuck up rich lady and has a few not particularly interesting adventures.

So why did I give this one a 3? Well, there are many reasons--and the biggest is that the film never really gets very interesting. There are also some poorly written plot elements (such as the stuck up lady who almost instantly changes and the film never allows any realistic development of her character). Additionally, Noah Beery Jr. plays a horrible role as a Mexican--and seems completely out of place. Finally, the big showdown fizzles and makes little sense. All in all, perhaps a 3 is being a bit generous.

Good old fashion western just getting beyond the old shoot'em up

[Tony-252 · 7/10 · 7 November 1999]

An entertaining movie just over the hump of the 30's shoot'em up westerns, taking on social values as alcoholism, race prejudice, and the basic frailties of man. Most westerns of this time were usually the White hat vs the Black hat and were rather simple. Victor Jory's character is basicly a good guy but had been a hired gun in Mexico and turned into a common drunk due to his conscience. He is saved by Jo Ann Sayers who won't give up on him and leads him on the path of righteousness. You can see from Victor Jory's performance (looks and mannerism's), although good, why he eventually took on the parts of villains. He made a better villain than a hero by just being himself, he had a natural sinister manner which projected on the screen.

Not Your Usual Western Hero

[dougdoepke · 13 October 2019]

Victor Jory as a top-billed leading man! I just had to see this role reversal after years of seeing his commandingly villainous roles. Actually it's a shrewd bit of casting since Jory's Gene Stewart is a flawed hero, to say the least. He picks fights, makes stupid bets, and gets sodden drunk; that is, when he's not running guns to Mexico. In short, he's no Roy Rogers, Hopalong Cassidy, or even Lash LaRue. So will Stewart ever reform and deserve top-billing hero in an oater. Well, maybe if snobby easterner Majesty Hammond (Sayers) will get off her high horse and give him a job at her new ranch. Then maybe he'll have a chance. (Actually that "high horse" is the renowned Trigger of the popular Roy Rogers series.) But first Stewart will have to deal with baddie Hayworth (Ankrum) who also runs guns Mexico way. Good thing Stewart's got Mexican sidekick Poco (Beery Jr.) to fill-in the cracks.

Jory's adept in his conflicted role, but I'm especially impressed with the stately Sayers' range of subtle emotions. Too bad her career ended rather abruptly. The narrative's first part is mainly in town, but once the scenery moves out to the familiar Alabama Hills, things really pick up. Director Selander makes good use of the rock monoliths, while that impressive series of dynamite explosions looks real and not processed. After all, this is Paramount Studio, so they've got the bucks to back up even a 60-minute programmer like this. So, all in all, catch this rather unusual oater if you can.

Poor take on a great book.

[gary_sites · 3/10 · 20 February 2022]

About the only thing resembling Zane Grey's wonderful novel is the names of the lead characters. This thing's plot was never clear--just a choppy mess. Don't waste your time.

A Fine, If Abbreviated Telling of the Tale

[boblipton · 7/10 · 8 September 2017]

Victor Jory gets drunk and bets he can marry the next girl who comes into town. He finds pretty Jo Ann Sayers, who is the sister of his good friend, Russell Hayden, slugs the sheriff and high-tails it to Mexico, where he becomes a pistolero in the fifth -- and so far, the latest -- filmed version of the Zane Grey western.

Jory is great in it, big and bluff and talkative, or drunk and self-pitying as the scene calls for. His career was on the downslide and he would take leading roles in westerns and the occasional supporting role in other B productions, but he was recognized as a fine actor and was in demand for small roles through his death in 1982. Miss Sayers is not very good, and her career went to pieces soon afterwards. Her three-year credited career ended with the picture after this one, although she had an uncredited bit a dozen years later. The cast is ably eked out with J. Farrel MacDonald, a brief appearance by Alan Ladd at the beginning and Noah Beery Jr. in a sizable role as a Mexican (!).

It's one of 20 Zane Grey westerns filmed by by Paramount from 1930-1940. It is well directed by Lesley Selander and produced by Harry "Pop" Sherman, Paramount's go-to producer for western programmers. He is probably best remembered for producing the Hopalong Cassidy movies, before William Boyd bought the rights and took the franchise independent.

Excellent script with superb cast

[morrisonhimself · 9/10 · 1 May 2015]

Superb actors with an excellent script are skillfully directed by Lesley Selander and beautifully photographed by that great veteran Russell Harlan.

Don't let the inventiveness and beauty of the camera work and directing distract you from the skill and beauty of, for example, actress Jo Ann Sayers, of whom I know nothing else than that she was marvelous in this role. She expresses so much with her eyes and face and doesn't need words.

Victor Jory is probably better known as a villain, but in "The Light of Western Stars" he is a great hero cowboy, giving one of his best performancess of my knowledge.

Noah Beery, Jr., is somewhat of a disappointment in his role as a "Mexican" sidekick: His accent is less than impressive, though as usual Mr. Beery himself is very likable and, other than the accent, his acting is more than adequate.

Russell Hayden, on the other hand, gives one of his very best performances. I have had trouble before with his enunciation; he often sounded as if he had badly fitting dentures.

Here, he is clear and solid, and his facial expressions and body movement are those of a real pro.

There are other great old veterans giving great performances in this involved story of the not-so-old West, a clever and inventive Zane Grey story, crafted into an excellent script by Norman Houston.

I highly recommend "The Light of Western Stars," which you can see at YouTube.

A top budget western!

[JohnHowardReid · 8/10 · 1 February 2018]

Present-day fans will probably find it hard to believe that Alan Ladd was once a top Western star. In fact, a top movie star, period. In England, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand, he always rated well ahead of John Wayne.

In fact, Ladd's name on a cinema billboard guaranteed sell-out business. The only time that Wayne ever achieved this sort of overseas popularity was when he co-starred with Maureen O'Hara in The Quiet Man (1952).

Ladd's following was highest of the high in the States too. In 1953, over two million readers of Photoplay magazine voted him as the world's number one male movie star. (Marilyn Monroe was the 1953 female choice).

Ladd westerns that continued to draw huge British, Irish and Oz crowds long after their original release, included: The Light of Western Stars (1940) (available on Public Domain DVDs) in which Ladd's role was small and which director Lesley Selander had him play mostly with his back to the camera - an exciting film anyway, the third version of the Zane Grey novel, produced by "Pop" Sherman on a top budget, this one also starred Victor Jory and Jo Ann Sayers;