Vintage original 11x14 in. US lobby card from the 1950's western, THE PARSON AND THE OUTLAW, released in 1957 by Columbia Pictures and directed by Oliver Drake. Billed as "the true story of Billy the Kid," pretending death at the hands of his friend,
Marshal Pat Garrett, (Bob Duncan), Billy the Kid (Anthony Dexter) rides away to
live in peace under a new name in a far away frontier town, only to run afoul
of ruthless empire builder Col. Morgan (Robert Lowery) and his top gun Jack
Slade (Sonny Tufts). Billy's the only man who can stop Morgan but he turns down
the pleas of help from preacher Jericho Jones (Charles 'Buddy' Rogers), who
knows of Billy and his past, newspaper editor Elly McCloud (Madalyn Trahey) and
her romantic rival Tonya (Marie Windsor). It's only after the preacher is shot
down trying to stop Morgan's killers that Billy straps on his guns.
The image features an exterior long shot in front of the Weekly Bugle newspaper office and depicts Billy the Kid (Anthony Dexter) pausing to speak to the Reverend Jericho Jones (Charles "Buddy" Rogers) and his daughter, Sarah (Jean Parker). Dexter is wearing traditional western attire that consists of a tight pair of jeans. The film boasted several songs by balladeer Joe Sodja which included "Take Time to Pray," "Sunday Gospel," "Oh Susanna" and many others. This vintage original lobby card is unrestored in fine+ condition with several areas of discoloration in the right border; light signs of wear on the bottom right corner; and some light smudging in the center of the bottom border. The color tints are extremely fresh and vibrant without any signs of fading. There are no pinholes, tears, or other flaws.
The Parson and the Outlaw marked the final film appearance of actors John Davis, Bob
Duncan, Jack Lowell, Herman Pulver, Bob Reeves, Charles
'Buddy' Rogers, and balladeer Joe Sodja.
Anthony Dexter's best-known role as an actor occurred when he landed the part of Rudolph Valentino in the actor's
biopic Valentino (1951). He
was reputed to have won the role from a competitive field of 75,000 aspiring
Valentinos. The film's producer, Edward Small, claimed to have made 400
screen tests for the part until discovering Dexter--the perfect fit. So much
alike was Dexter in appearance to Valentino that Valentino fan clubs, upon
learning of Dexter, applauded the choice of him to play their star. Even the
press lauded Dexter as "incredible. The same eyes, ears, mouth--the same
grace in dancing" (according to a 1950 Los Angeles Times article
quoting George Melford, who directed Valentino in The Sheik (1921).
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