THE SILVER STAR

 

Earlier this month I wrote a blog post about a low-budget Western called TWO-GUN LADY. One of my readers (yes, I actually have a few) made a comment on the post that the director of that film also helmed and starred in another Western called THE SILVER STAR, which also featured Lon Chaney Jr. Being that this was a Lon Jr. outing I had never heard of, I decided to seek it out. 

THE SILVER STAR is another 1955 B Western, with many of the same cast & crew as TWO-GUN LADY. It also happens to be influenced by HIGH NOON. THE SILVER STAR starts out with a plaintive ballad as the main credits roll, and this ballad is heard frequently throughout the rest of the film (just like Tex Ritter's famous song in HIGH NOON). 

THE SILVER STAR also deals with a sheriff facing a deadline from three gunmen who want to kill him. This sheriff is far from being a Gary Cooper type, however. Gregg Leech (Earle Lyon) has just been elected sheriff of a small town. Leech, however, isn't all that excited about his new position--he'd rather settle down with his lady love Karen (Marie Windsor) instead of live with the threat of violence every day. The main reason that Leech was elected in the first place is that members of his family were notable lawmen--and they all died in the line of duty. Three gunmen ride in, hole up in the main saloon, and send out word that Leech must leave town by 8 pm or be killed. Leech spends most of the day wondering if he should just avoid the situation, while the former sheriff (Edgar Buchanan) and Karen remind him of his duties and responsibilities. 

What makes THE SILVER STAR different is that the main character of the sheriff doesn't want to do his job. This also makes the movie frustrating for the viewer. Leech comes off as weak and indecisive instead of troubled and conflicted, and it's hard to feel sympathetic toward his plight. It doesn't help that Earle Lyon (who was also producer of the film) isn't the most charismatic person onscreen. (Lyon spent more time behind instead of in front of the camera--one of his other few acting roles was as the hot-headed villain in TWO-GUN LADY.) When Leech finally does get the gumption to do something, his change of attitude isn't very believable. 

Marie Windsor, as always, makes more of the generic role that she is given. (Her character would have been a far better sheriff than Leech). Edgar Buchanan is introduced sleeping on a front porch--just like he often would be in the PETTICOAT JUNCTION TV series. Buchanan isn't comic relief though--he winds up showing more courage than Leech. Director (and co-writer) Richard Bartlett plays the soft-spoken leader of the three gunmen, and he has better acting chops than producer Lyon. Veteran character actors Barton MacLane and Morris Ankrum also appear. 

As for Lon Chaney Jr., he doesn't have much screen time, even though his character is supposed to be behind all the trouble. Usually when Lon Jr. was in a Western, he played either desperadoes or ramshackle Lennie types. In THE SILVER STAR he plays an outwardly affable, well-dressed attorney who has plans to take over the town. The movie would have been better served if Lon Jr.'s role had been expanded--it's the type of person that Chaney would usually be working for in a movie. 

Richard Bartlett should get some credit for having THE SILVER STAR attempt to be a different take on the HIGH NOON type of Western, but like TWO-GUN LADY, it doesn't adequately follow thru on its premise.