Man in the Saddle

Man in the Saddle
Man in the Saddle
	Theatrical release poster
Directed by	Andre de Toth
Screenplay by	Kenneth Gamet
Based on	novel Man in the Saddle; by Ernest Haycox
Produced by	Harry Joe Brown
Starring	Randolph Scott
Cinematography	Charles Lawton Jr.
Edited by	Charles Nelson
Music by	George Duning
Color process	Technicolor
Production; company	Scott-Brown Productions
Distributed by	Columbia Pictures
Release date	December 2, 1951;
Running time	87 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English
Box office	$1,150,000 (US rentals)

Man in the Saddle is a 1951 American Western film directed by Andre de Toth starring Randolph Scott. The screenplay is based on the 1938 novel of the same name by Ernest Haycox.^[2]

Man in the Saddle was the third of the many lucrative collaborations between its star Randolph Scott and producer Harry Joe Brown.^[3]

Plot

A farmer, Merritt, turns to violence when a powerful and ruthless land baron tries to take over his land. In the process he is caught between two women, the ambitious Laurie and the down-to-earth Nan.

Laurie was once Merritt's girl, but she chose to marry Will Isham partly for his money. Isham develops an "Othello" complex, convinced his wife has returned to Merritt; and risks his entire empire on personal vengeance. Lee Repp, one of Isham's gunsels, is captured by Owen and makes a full confession after being on the wrong end of a camp cook's knife-throwing act. Isham leads an attempt to intercept Merritt as Merritt brings Repp into town to put Repp in jail. Merritt and his allies sneak past Isham's men and get Repp into jail. Merritt sneaks past Isham's men and meets Isham in the hotel where they make a tenuous peace. As Isham is leaving the hotel to stop the violence, Dutcher kills him. Dutcher is then killed by Merritt.

Laurie vows to take good care of the ranch she has inherited, minus the range war part. This leaves Owen free to pursue Nan.