Preacher Sam Stone and his new beautiful wife Jill stand by the grave of Sheriff Billy Kelly, who died trying to bring law-and-order to Emporia, Wyoming. Among the mourners are businessman George Gates, mayor Ned West and his daughter Patricia. The mayor rejects Gates' suggestion that he release gunfighter Waco from jail to clean up the town. When Patricia is attacked by a cowboy after leaving her boyfriend Scotty Moore, the mayor finally decides it is time accept the governor;s offer of amnesty for Waco. Jill Stone's first reaction, when learning that Waco has been released, is to leave town before Waco finds out that she, his former fiancée, has married the town preacher while Waco was in jail. Town boss Joe Gore is not overjoyed, either, but Ike and Pete Jenner eagerly await the chance to shoot Waco for the death of their brother. Written by Les Adams
Acting
Jane Russell doing heavy lifting with a thin script.
Costume
Russell's wardrobe deserves its own billing.
Director
R.G. Springsteen
Howard Keel
'Waco'
Jane Russell
Jill Stone
Brian Donlevy
Ace Ross
Wendell Corey
Sam Stone
John Agar
George Gates
Terry Moore
Dolly
John Smith
Joe Gore
Gene Evans
Jim O'Neill
Richard Arlen
Billy Kelly
Ben Cooper
Scotty Moore
Tracy Olsen
Patricia West
DeForest Kelley
Bill Rile
Robert Lowery
Ned West
Anne Seymour
Ma Jenner
Willard Parker
Pete Jenner
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
This was one of five westerns Jane Russell made in the mid-60s as her studio contract wound down—she reportedly took the role because the shooting schedule let her avoid a Vegas gig she hated.
The 'amnesty for a gunfighter' plot echoes real 1870s Wyoming politics, where territorial governors occasionally pardoned notorious figures to serve as unofficial lawmen.
US
