"South of St. Louis" takes place during the American Civil War in Texas near the Mexican border.
Three ranchers Kip Davis (Joel McCrea), Charlie Burns (Zachary Scott) and Lee Price (Douglas Kennedy) partner in a ranch called "The Three Bells). Each man wears a small bell attached to their spurs to signify their partnership. While away, the ranch is attacked and burned by a gang of raiders led by Luke Cottrell (Victor Jory). The ranchers vow to track down Cottrell. Kip leaves his girl Deb Miller (Dorothy Malone) behind to pursue the outlaws.
The boys become acquainted with saloon singer Rouge de Lisle (Alexis Smith) whom they discover is in the gun running business supplying arms to the Confederates from Mexico. Kip and Charlie decide to join her while Lee joins the Confederate army. Charlie along with his henchman Slim Hansen (Bob Steele) decide to keep at it while Kip wants to return to "Three Bells" and begin rebuilding however he learns that Deb will not be returning with him.
Anyway, fast forward to the end of the war and we find that Lee is now a Texas Ranger and Kip is drowning his sorrows in Mexico with Rouge at his side. Charlie and Slim meanwhile have kept the gun running profitable. Lee is assigned to clean up the gang but is alone in the task. Will Kip come to Lee's rescue? Will there be a final showdown? Of course there will.
Joel McCrea is well, Joel McCrea giving his usual even performance in the lead. He has a good fight scene with Jory along the way. You just know that the Zachary Scott character is going to turn bad at some point. Douglas Kennedy who usually played villains, gets to be on the right side of the law for a change. Alexis Smith is OK as the saloon singer/gun runner and Dorothy Malone is sweet as the girl he left behind.
Bob Steele after his "B" western starring roles ended moved on to mostly playing villains. He is a scheming knife throwing double crosser in this one. And watch for his scene stealing death scene.
Also in the cast for limited comedy relief is Alan Hale as Jake Evarts the saloon owner. Western fans will also spot veteran bad guy Harry Woods in a brief appearance as a recruiting sergeant.
Three ranchers Kip Davis (Joel McCrea), Charlie Burns (Zachary Scott) and Lee Price (Douglas Kennedy) partner in a ranch called "The Three Bells). Each man wears a small bell attached to their spurs to signify their partnership. While away, the ranch is attacked and burned by a gang of raiders led by Luke Cottrell (Victor Jory). The ranchers vow to track down Cottrell. Kip leaves his girl Deb Miller (Dorothy Malone) behind to pursue the outlaws.
The boys become acquainted with saloon singer Rouge de Lisle (Alexis Smith) whom they discover is in the gun running business supplying arms to the Confederates from Mexico. Kip and Charlie decide to join her while Lee joins the Confederate army. Charlie along with his henchman Slim Hansen (Bob Steele) decide to keep at it while Kip wants to return to "Three Bells" and begin rebuilding however he learns that Deb will not be returning with him.
Anyway, fast forward to the end of the war and we find that Lee is now a Texas Ranger and Kip is drowning his sorrows in Mexico with Rouge at his side. Charlie and Slim meanwhile have kept the gun running profitable. Lee is assigned to clean up the gang but is alone in the task. Will Kip come to Lee's rescue? Will there be a final showdown? Of course there will.
Joel McCrea is well, Joel McCrea giving his usual even performance in the lead. He has a good fight scene with Jory along the way. You just know that the Zachary Scott character is going to turn bad at some point. Douglas Kennedy who usually played villains, gets to be on the right side of the law for a change. Alexis Smith is OK as the saloon singer/gun runner and Dorothy Malone is sweet as the girl he left behind.
Bob Steele after his "B" western starring roles ended moved on to mostly playing villains. He is a scheming knife throwing double crosser in this one. And watch for his scene stealing death scene.
Also in the cast for limited comedy relief is Alan Hale as Jake Evarts the saloon owner. Western fans will also spot veteran bad guy Harry Woods in a brief appearance as a recruiting sergeant.