Lone Star (1952 film)

Lone Star is a 1952 American Western film starring Clark Gable, Ava Gardner, Broderick Crawford, Ed Begley, and Lionel Barrymore (in his final role) as President Andrew Jackson. The film also marks the first (uncredited) screen appearance by then-13-year-old George Hamilton, playing beside Barrymore in the role of Jackson's servant.

The movie is considered both Western and romance, set in Texas shortly before statehood.

Plot
Devereaux Burke (Clark Gable) gets a personal request from former President Andrew Jackson (Lionel Barrymore) to facilitate the annexation of Texas into the United States. Opposition to annexation is gaining favor because it is mistakenly believed that Texas pioneer Sam Houston (Moroni Olsen) opposes statehood.

The opposition leader is wealthy rancher Thomas Craden (Broderick Crawford), but when Craden is ambushed by Comanches, Dev comes to his rescue. Dev and Craden travel to Austin, where they meet Martha Ronda (Ava Gardner), who runs the local newspaper. Craden does not know Dev supports annexation when he invites him to a dinner he planned that night for a number of senators at his home. When the senators will not all agree to vote against annexation, Craden refuses them permission to leave. Dev is allowed to leave, but soon returns with a group of armed men to rescue the senators and reveal his support for annexation.

The senators inform Dev that Sam Houston is on the other side of the Pecos River, negotiating a peace treaty with the Apache. Dev leaves to find Houston, but is followed by Craden. Dev and Craden find Houston with the Apache. Dev gets a signed letter from Houston telling of Houston's actual position, but the ink smears when Dev falls into a river while fleeing from Craden's men. Dev has difficulty persuading Martha that he is telling the truth, but after confirming the facts with Craden, she publishes the correct story about Houston's position.

When the people of Austin are told the truth of Houston's position, they rally in support of annexation. Craden resorts to force to stop the Texas Congress from voting on annexation. Dev is called on to organize the defense of the Texas Congress. Craden attacks the fort-like congress building with several dozen armed men on horseback. Dev leads the defenders as they repulse two waves of attack, but the battle begins to turn against them during the third wave of attack. Houston arrives with the Apache just in time to end the battle before any senators are killed. Dev and Craden fight each other hand-to-hand until Dev knocks out Craden. Annexation succeeds, Craden concedes, and Dev wins Martha over and saves the day.

Cast

 * Clark Gable as Devereaux Burke (alias, Mr. Bill Jones)
 * Ava Gardner as Martha Ronda
 * Broderick Crawford as Thomas Craden
 * Lionel Barrymore as Andrew Jackson
 * Beulah Bondi as Minniver Bryan
 * Ed Begley as Senator Anthony Demmet (credited as Claud Demmet)
 * James Burke as Luther Kilgore
 * William Farnum as Senator Tom Crockett
 * Lowell Gilmore as Captain Charles Elliot
 * Moroni Olsen as Sam Houston
 * Russell Simpson as Senator Maynard Cole
 * William Conrad as Mizette
 * Lucius Cook as Seth Moulton
 * Ralph Reed as Bud Yoakum
 * Ric Roman as Gurau
 * Victor Sutherland as President Anson Jones
 * Jonathan Cott as Ben McCulloch
 * Charles Cane as Mr. Mayhew
 * Nacho Galindo as Vincente
 * Trevor Bardette as Sid Yoakum
 * Harry Woods as George Dellman
 * Dudley Sadler as Ashbel Smith
 * Emmett Lynn as Josh
 * George Hamilton as Noah (uncredited)
 * Mitchell Lewis as Senator (uncredited)

Reception
According to MGM records, the film made $2,478,000 in the US and Canada and $1,444,000 elsewhere, resulting in a profit of $990,000.

The New York Times' reviewer observed: “If there is any doubt at the end of "Lone Star," which clattered into the Capitol yesterday, that Texas went through some terrific growing pains before joining the United States, then Clark Gable and the other stalwarts from Metro's varsity are wasting a lot of time. There is a disturbing suspicion in this corner that, indeed, they are and that, despite its historic overtones, "Lone Star" is merely a king-size Western in which love is as mighty as muscle. It isn't art and it isn't history precisely, but the producers have Mr. Gable tussling with assorted villains and the prettiest gal north of the Rio Grande, so it probably doesn't matter, after all….Suffice it to say that Mr. Gable is a man who is ready to throw a punch and fire a six-gun as well as pitch woo. And before the besieged Congres in Austin has voted to make Texas part of the union, he has settled his differences with Broderick Crawford…and Ava Gardner, as unlikely a newspaper publisher as any we've seen…Mr. Crawford, who loses that battle, his dreams of empire and his girl, is a standard, snarling bad man but one who ultimately has the grace to join his conqueror against the common Mexican enemy. Miss Gardner, on the other hand, is decorative but not much more as the lady who is torn by love and political affiliations… Luckily for "Lone Star" the principals don't take much time out for either romance or tears.”