The Man from Colorado

The Man from Colorado is a 1948 American Western film directed by Henry Levin, produced by Jules Schermer for Columbia Pictures, and starring Glenn Ford as a Union officer who becomes addicted to killing during the American Civil War, William Holden as his best friend, and Ellen Drew as their common love interest. Robert Andrews and Ben Maddow based the screenplay on a story by Borden Chase. Although Ford received top billing as the mentally ill villain, Holden's role as the sympathetic hero is slightly larger.

Levin replaced Charles Vidor during filming.

Plot
Union Colonel Owen Devereaux (Glenn Ford) orders his regiment to fire on a detachment of Confederate soldiers, even though he (and only he) has seen that they are signaling their surrender with a white flag. Immediately after the battle, the soldiers learn the war has ended. As they celebrate, Sergeant Jericho Howard (James Millican) drinks while on duty, and Devereaux has him arrested. Later, the mayor announces Devereaux's appointment as federal judge for the region. He proposes to Caroline Emmett (Ellen Drew), who agrees to the marriage.

Afterwards, a veteran of the Confederate detachment confronts Devereaux about the white flag. Devereaux disarms him and then shoots him several times, even though the man has already been subdued. Devereaux's best friend, Del Stewart (William Holden), witnesses the act. Based on the rebel soldier's anger and apparent veracity, Del concludes Devereaux must have seen a white flag. He further surmises the war has unhinged the new judge's mind. Nevertheless, Del agrees to serve as Devereaux's marshal. Devereaux's first big case as judge involves the taking over of mines from individual soldiers once they marched off to war. They want their mines back, but businessman Ed Carter argues that according to law, the mines are rightfully his. Devereaux upholds Carter's claim.

Led by the insubordinate Jericho Howard, a contingent of ex-soldiers and miners pull off a series of robberies designed to cripple Carter's mining venture. Devereaux threatens to hang Jericho's younger brother Johnny (Jerome Courtland), based on circumstantial evidence, even though Johnny is not part of his brother's gang. After warning Devereaux not to hang Johnny, Del persuades Jericho to turn himself in. But when Devereaux hangs Johnny, Stewart resigns as marshal in disgust and joins Jericho's gang. Meanwhile, Devereaux's unstable judgment finally convinces the people to alert Colorado's territorial governor. The story finally climaxes in a confrontation between Devereaux and Jericho. They both die when a wall from a burning building falls on them. In the final scene, Del boards a stage for Washington, D.C. to plead on behalf of the dispossessed miners.

Cast

 * Glenn Ford as Owen Devereaux
 * William Holden as Del Stewart
 * Ellen Drew as Caroline Emmett
 * Ray Collins as 'Big Ed' Carter
 * Edgar Buchanan as Doc Merriam
 * Jerome Courtland as Johnny Howard
 * James Millican as Sergeant Jericho Howard
 * Jim Bannon as Nagel
 * William "Bill" Phillips as York
 * Denver Pyle (uncredited) as Easy Jarrett