HERITAGE OF THE DESERT (1939) Donald Woods, Evelyn Venable & Russell Hayden | Western | B&W

Heritage of the Desert is a 1939 American Western film directed by Lesley Selander and written by Norman Houston and Harrison Jacobs. The film stars Donald Woods, Evelyn Venable, Russell Hayden, Robert Barrat, Sidney Toler, C. Henry Gordon and Willard Robertson. It is based on the 1910 novel The Heritage of the Desert by Zane Grey. The film was released on June 23, 1939, by Paramount Pictures.

SYNOPSIS
Easterner John Abbott heads west to investigate the trouble on the ranch he owns. Abbott's manager Holderness is the culprit and has his man shoot Abbott and leave him for dead. But Abbott recovers, and practicing with a gun, will be ready the next time.

John Abbott returns to the desert land he owns, and after being wounded by hired gunman Chick Chance, he is befriended by rancher Andrew Naab and his son, Marvin. Naab's daughter, Marian, falls in love with John but is about to marry Snap Thornton to keep a promise made by her father. She runs away on her wedding day but is captured and held hostage by outlaw Henry Holderness. John, the Naabs and fellow ranchers rush to her rescue.

CAST & CREW
Donald Woods as John Abbott
Evelyn Venable as Miriam Naab
Russell Hayden as David Naab
Robert Barrat as Andrew Naab
Sidney Toler as Nosey
C. Henry Gordon as Henry Holderness
Willard Robertson as Henchman Nebraska
Paul Guilfoyle as Snap Thornton
Paul Fix as Henchman Chick Chance
John 'Skins' Miller as Postmaster John Twerk
Reginald Barlow as Judge Stevens

Directed by Lesley Selander
Screenplay by Norman Houston, Harrison Jacobs
Based on The Heritage of the Desert by Zane Grey
Produced by Harry Sherman
Cinematography Russell Harlan
Edited by Sherman A. Rose
Music by Victor Young
Production company Paramount Pictures
Distributed by Paramount Pictures
Release date June 23, 1939
Running time 73 minutes
Country United States
Language English