Errol Flynn

SAN ANTONIO

Warner Bros., 1945.  Directed by David Butler.  Camera:  Bert Glennon.  With Errol Flynn, Alexis Smith, S.Z. "Cuddles" Sakall, Victor Francen, Florence Bates, John Litel, Paul Kelly, Robert Shayne, John Alvin, Monte Blue, Robert Barrat, Pedro de Cordoba, Tom Tyler, Chris-Pin Martin, Charles Stevens, Poodles Hanneford, Doodles Weaver, Dan White, Ray Spiker, Al Hill, Wallis Clark, Harry Cording, Chalky Williams, Bill Steele, Howard Hill, John Sheridan, Allen E. Smith, Arnold Kent, Joe Dominguez, Dan Seymour, Zedra Conde, Eva Puig, Dolores Lamar, Norman Willis, Eddie Acuff, Si Jenks, Jasper Palmer, Fernando Alvarado, Brandon Hurst, Robert Dudley, Harry Lamont, Robert Espinoza, José Alvarado, Jack Stroll, Fred Kelsey, Harry Seymour, Francis Ford, Don McGuire, John Compton, Brad King, Johnny Miles, Hal Taliaferro, Walter de Palma, Eddie Waller, Henry Hall, James Flavin, Rodney Hildebrand, Carl Harbough, Lane Chandler, William Gould, Jack Mower.

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By 1877, cattle rustling in Southwest Texas has driven away many cattle ranchers.  One who has stayed behind to fight the rustlers is Charlie Bell of San Antonio.  When Charlie learns that his friend, Clay Hardin, is planning to return to Texas from his hideaway in Mexico, he crosses the border to warn him that his life has been threatened by the rustlers.  Clay responds that he has acquired proof against Roy Stuart, the head of the rustlers, and plans to use it to put Stuart in jail.

Despite the efforts of Stuart's men, Clay safely crosses the border and rides into San Antonio in a private coach, which is also carrying singer Jeanne Starr, who has a job singing in Stuart's saloon.  Clay attempts to present his evidence, a tally book that records the sale of stolen cattle, to the soldiers at a nearby garrison.  In the absence of the commanding officer, however, no action can be taken, and Clay decides to hold on to the tally book for the moment.

When Legare, Stuart's partner, learns about Clay's evidence, he wants to obtain the book and use it against Stuart for his own purposes.  One night, Jeanne invites Clay to visit her backstage, and Charlie, worried that Jeanne may be involved in a plot against Clay, keeps the tally book.  Legare witnesses the exchange and, later when Stuart tries unsuccessfully to kill Clay, he shoots Charlie and steals the tally book.  The murder is witnessed by Sacha Bozic, Jeanne's manager, who fearfully denies that he has seen anything.

During the inquiry into Charlie's death, Sacha reveals nothing, but Stuart quickly discovers that Legare committed the murder when he demands that Stuart share his cattle business with him in return for suppressing the evidence.  When the cavalry leaves town, Clay is temporarily appointed to be Marshal.  Stuart then summons all his men to town, and this action convinces Clay that he does not have the tally book himself.  Clay tells Stuart that he believes him to be innocent, but refuses to make a deal with him.  Clay then arrests Legare, but when they try to leave the saloon, a gunfight ensues and Legare escapes.  Stuart chases Legare into the ruins of the Alamo and kills him, and then rides out of town, pursued by Clay.  Clay finally catches Stuart, who is killed during the ensuing struggle.

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Clay returns to San Antonio with the tally book to find that Jeanne is leaving town.  He swings aboard her coach and tries to talk her into staying with him.  Jeanne inadvertently reveals that she, too, is a Texan and does not protest when Clay orders the coach to return to San Antonio.

Notes
According to a September 25, 1944 HR news item, actor Harry Carey, Sr. was released from the film at his own request because he was dissatisfied with his role.  He was to have played Errol Flynn's sidekick . Pre-production press releases included in the file on the film at the AMPAS Library state that former Olympic athelete Jim Thorpe was to play an Indian chief in the picture and Raoul Walsh was scheduled to direct it.

Ted Smith and Jack McConaghy received an Oscar nomination for Best Art Direction-Interior Decoration in a color film, and "Some Sunday Morning" was nominated for Best Song.

Music includes:  "Some Sunday Morning," music by Ray Heindorf and M. K. Jerome, lyrics by Ted Koehler; "Put Your Little Foot Right Out," music and lyrics by Larry Spier; "La Varsuviana," traditional; "Somewhere in Monterey," words by Jack Scholl, music by Charles Kisco.

American Film Institute Catalog