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Belle Starr is a 1941 American Western film directed by Irving Cummings and starring Randolph Scott, Gene Tierney, Dana Andrews, and Shepperd Strudwick. Written by Lamar Trotti and based on a story by Niven Busch and Cameron Rogers, it was produced by Kenneth Macgowan for 20th Century Fox, and shot in Technicolor.[1]

Belle Starr
Theatrical release poster
Directed by	Irving Cummings
Screenplay by	Lamar Trotti
Story by	Niven Busch Cameron Rogers
Produced by	Kenneth Macgowan
Starring	Randolph Scott Gene Tierney Dana Andrews Shepperd Strudwick
Cinematography	Ernest Palmer Ray Rennahan
Edited by	Frederick Wilson
Music by	Alfred Newman
Color process	Technicolor
Production company	20th Century Fox
Distributed by	20th Century Fox
Release date	September 12, 1941 (1941-09-12)
Running time	87 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English

The film is very loosely based on the life of 19th-century American outlaw Belle Starr. It was the fourth film and the third sound film to portray Starr on the screen, but it was the first major Hollywood production to do so. Its success led to many more such portrayals, although the real Starr was fairly obscure during her lifetime.

Plot

Shortly after the Civil War, Belle Shirley hides the guerrilla leader Sam Starr, whose discovery and capture leads to the burning of the family mansion by Yankee soldiers. Vowing revenge, Belle breaks Sam and her brother out of jail and joins his band for a series of raids on banks, railroads, carpetbaggers, and enemy troops. Belle's bravado during the attacks earns her a reputation among the locals, as well as the love of Starr himself. The pair get married, but when Sam Starr lets a couple of psychotic outlaws into the gang, Belle wonders if he really cares about the Confederate cause and her doubts deepen when her brother visits and is shot down. She decides to surrender in hope that Sam will follow her, but learning of an ambush is shot by a bounty hunter as she returns to give warning. Sam and the Union commander collude in not identifying her body, allowing her to live on in legend.

Cast

• Randolph Scott as Sam Starr
• Gene Tierney as Belle Shirley / Belle Starr
• Dana Andrews as Maj. Thomas Crail
• John Shepperd as Ed Shirley
• Elizabeth Patterson as Sarah
• Chill Wills as Blue Duck
• Louise Beavers as Mammy Lou
• Olin Howland as Jasper Trench
• Paul Burns as Sergeant
• Joseph Sawyer as John Cole
• Joseph Downing as Jim Cole
• Howard C. Hickman as Col. Thornton
• Charles Trowbridge as Col. Bright
• James Flavin as Sergeant
• Charles Middleton as Carpetbagger

See also

• Belle Starr's Daughter - 1948 American Western film

References

External links

• Belle Starr at IMDb
• Belle Starr at the TCM Movie Database
• Belle Starr at AllMovie
• Belle Starr at the American Film Institute Catalog

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