San Antonio (film)

Plot

Rustlers are running rampant in Texas, but at least one rancher, Charlie Bell, isn't pulling up stakes yet, particularly with the news that old friend Clay Hardin is en route from Mexico back home to San Antonio.

Clay claims to have proof, documented in a book, that Roy Stuart is responsible for the rustling. Clay arrives in town by stagecoach, as does Jeanne Starr, who is taking a job as a singer in Stuart's saloon.

Lured backstage by Jeanne, suspicious that she could be in cahoots with her boss, Clay leaves the book in Charlie's care. But a partner of Stuart's, a man named Legare, wants the book for his own reasons, so he steals it and shoots Charlie.

The shooting is witnessed by the singer's manager, Sacha, but he is too fearful to speak out. There is no law in San Antonio, only a troop of soldiers about to pull out, so Clay temporarily takes the job of marshal.

Legare is chased into the Alamo's ruins by Stuart and is killed. Clay sets out in hot pursuit of Stuart, determined to arrest him, but ultimately Stuart is killed when he hits his head on a rock during the climactic fist-fight with Clay. Jeanne decides to leave San Antonio for good, but Clay persuades her to stay.

Cast

Production

The film was announced for production in March 1944 with Errol Flynn attached from the beginning. It was the third in a series of Westerns he made named after a city, following Dodge City and Virginia City. Raoul Walsh was originally announced as director. Raymond Massey was going to play the second male lead. He was replaced by Zachary Scott with Alexis Smith as the female lead.

Eventually David Butler was assigned to direct and Paul Kelly, not Scott, played the villain.

Shooting started September 1944. The film was shot at Warners Calabasas Ranch.

Actor Hap Hogan died during filming.

Reception

The film was Flynn's most popular movie of the mid 1940s, earning $3,553,000.