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Cast
Donald Woods
as John Abbott
Evelyn Venable
as Miriam Naab
Russell Hayden
as David Naab
Robert Barrat
as Andrew Naab
Sidney Toler
as Nosey
C. Henry Gordon
as Henry Holderness
Willard Robertson
as Henchman Nebraska
Paul Guilfoyle
as Snap Thornton
Paul Fix
as Henchman Chick Chance
John 'Skins' Miller
as Postmaster John Twerk
Movie Info & Details
Release Year1939
Runtime1h 13m
LanguageEnglish
CertificationNR
GenresWestern
Votes5
DirectorLesley Selander
WritersNorman Houston
TypeFeature Film
Rating6.6 out of 10
Cast10 credited
Also Known AsHeritage of the Desert
About Heritage of the Desert
John Abbott returns to the desert land he owns, and after being wounded by hired gunman Chick Chance, he is befriended by rancher Andrew Naab and his son, Marvin. Naab's daughter, Marian, falls in love with John but is about to marry Snap Thornton to keep a promise made by her father. She runs away on her wedding day but is captured and held hostage by outlaw Henry Holderness. John, the Naabs and fellow ranchers rush to her rescue.
Directed by Lesley Selander, Heritage of the Desert leans on a strong ensemble — Donald Woods, Evelyn Venable, Russell Hayden — to carry a story that balances spectacle with character.
The film landed with audiences for its craft and performances, and remains one of the most talked-about western titles of 1939.
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