Original subtitles

♪♪ [ Trumpet ]

Howdy.

I'm the Old Ranger,

and Death Valley's my stomping ground.

Many's the tale of adventure

I'm going to tell you about the Death Valley country.

True stories, mind you,

I can vouch for that.

Have you ever seen one of these?

This is a miner's drill,

the kind they used to use

back in the days before automatic drills were invented.

and could those boys make 'em bite into the rock.

One of the main events on Fourth of July

in every mining camp was a drilling contest,

to prove which fellow was the champion driller.

And the camp of Round Mountain, Nevada

was no exception.

[ crowd cheering ]

[ Man ] C'mon!

[ whistle blows ]

Time!

Dan Gorman.

Best score yet.

Fifteen and a quarter inches!

[ crowd cheers ]

Next and last contestant, Lew Barry!

[ Audience member ] Hey! Hey...

Try and top that score, fella!

If you know the rules, Lew,

you've got 15 minutes to show how deep you can dig

into that there block.

Get ready.

If you've got any money on me, baby,

you can start collectin'.

Oh, yeah?

Go!

[ crowd chattering ]

Come on, Lew, you can do it!

[ crowd cheering ]

Go to it, Lewie! Atta boy.

You can do it!

You're wastin' your breath, honey.

And so is he.

MAN: Come on!

[ crowd cheering ]

[ no audible dialogue ]

Keep it up!

[ whistle blows ]

Time!

Lew Barry!

Our new record!

Sixteen inches!

[ crowd cheers ]

Here's to the best plain driller in Esmeralda County.

Esmeralda County? Heck,

he's champion of the whole United States.

[ man laughs ]

The only man to ever beat that record

was Paul Bunyan.

And he just stuck his finger through that rock.

[ laughter ]

Well, Bill Houston, you're just in time.

We're celebrating Lew's victory.

Have a drink.

Thanks. I need this.

What's the matter, Bill?

My lawyer just told me

that Martin's claim on the Eureka Mine

will stand up in court.

But you located it.

It-- it was your big strike!

Yeah, but finding and owning are two different things

as far as law's concerned.

Of all the low-down, claim-jumpin' tricks.

That's why I needed this drink.

All these years,

Sarah's been countin' on that mine.

Well, fight it through anyhow.

There's always a chance!

A good chance is to go broke.

Pourin' good money after bad never did anybody any good.

He's right.

That mine closed,

I need all I've got to live on.

No, Bill, you can't give up without a struggle,

not when you're in the right,

and you never can tell what you might turn up with.

Eh, this case is air-tight.

Did you ever see his location notices?

See it?

I've been studying till my eyes are blind.

His-- his claim is dated three months before mine.

Here, look at it yourself.

[ sighs ]

♪♪ [ saloon piano ]

"December 3rd,

ten miles south west of the town of Beatty,"

That's right.

Don't that strike you as queer?

What's queer about it?

The time he said he recorded that ground,

the town of Beatty wasn't in existence.

What? There wasn't nothing there, but old man Beatty's ranch.

By golly, you're right!

Well, in that case-- In that case, Martin hasn't got a case!

Wait till I tell my lawyer!

Hey, wait a minute, Don't forget your papers!

Oh, thanks. Thanks, Lew, thanks.

All right boys, business is over.

Management can't make any money this way.

How about a dance, champ? Good idea.

This guy Barry gives me a pain in the neck.

Ever since he came into this town,

he's been trying to steal everything from me.

First off, he grabbed my job as head of the miner's union.

The boys elected him.

Just because he has a gift of gab.

Next, he cheated me out of the drilling championship.

Lew won fair and square. He naturally out drilled you.

But I'll be hanged if he's gonna steal my girl from me.

Well, if you're half the man you say you are,

why don't you do something about it?

My friend, that's just what I'm going to do.

Wait a minute, I was only kidding.

Lew Barry's no fella to go messing around with.

All right, that's enough.

You ain't dancin' with my girl anymore.

Your girl? Well, I like that!

Come on, Lew.

You heard me!

Now, take it easy, Dan.

Quit your shovin'.

Look out! [ screams ]

[ crowd screams ]

That oughta fix you, you blasted show-off!

Oh, no, no!

Get back.

Get back! All of you.

[ crowd chattering ]

[ crowd clamoring ]

And to think he was out there only yesterday,

with everybody cheering him on!

How am I ever going to tell him?

Easier with almost any other man than Lew.

Well, I guess I'd better go on in,

so I can be with him when he comes out of the ether.

Oh, Lew, I thought you'd still be under the ether.

Aren't you wonderful to snap out of it so fast?

Oh, all the boys send their best.

Bill, and Jerry, and everyone.

So they cut it off.

It was the only way, Lew.

It was your arm and your life.

Well, they made a poor choice!

A hard rock miner with only one arm.

There are other jobs besides hard rock mining.

Sure, sure. Lots of 'em.

Like being a left-handed paper hanger,

or five-fingered piano player.

Lew, don't.

What became of Dan?

He left town.

If he hadn't, folks would have killed him, the way they felt.

I'll kill him myself if I ever lay my hands on--

Why did it have to happen, Clem, why?

It don't do no good to wonder why things happen.

All you can do is make the best of it.

What hurts most is that--

Now I can't ask you to marry me.

Did you say... marry?

Yeah.

I was going to ask you last night.

A married woman.

With a home and a husband.

Instead of just a dance hall girl

that every man thinks he can buy.

Oh, Lew.

You don't understand. I said I can't ask you now.

Then I'll ask you.

Lew.

Will you marry me?

You don't know what you're saying.

I'm saying I'd rather have one of your arms around me

then two of any other man's in the world.

You sure you ain't askin' just because you're sorry?

I love you, Lew.

I love you as much as any woman ever loved a man.

Oh, Clem. Clem. [ chuckles ]

I start the song leanin' against the piano, see?

Till I get to the chorus, and then I swing myself up on it.

Oh, here let me help you.

There you are. Thanks.

Oh my gosh, it's getting late

and I gotta finish getting dressed.

You be all right? Sure, you go on.

Don't wait for me, I'm slow.

You leave the dishes, honey.

I'll do them when I get home.

Ain't that dress kind of low?

Well, it's no lower than any of the rest of them.

Don't wait up for me, I'll be late.

JERRY: Lew!

Hello, Jerry.

Glad to see you. You lookin' fine.

I'm feelin' fine.

Almost as good as new.

Give me a little more time

and I'll be able to do as much with one arm

as I used to with two.

What I came to see about, Lew,

we're having a...

a drilling contest on Labor Day.

And the boys and everyone,

we're wondering if you'd act as a judge.

Uh, none better fitted, you know, ex-champ.

And, what I mean to say is, Lew,

we'd sure be proud to have you.

Well, thanks, Jerry, but I'm afraid I'll be too busy.

You see, I got my eye on a job.

A couple of jobs as a matter of fact.

Soon as I'm feeling better, I'll be startin' work.

Oh, well, that's-that's-that's great.

I'm glad to hear it.

I'll tell the boys.

Thanks. So long, Lew.

We brought the house down, Lew.

When I hoisted myself on the piano and swung into the chorus,

they started throwing the money.

Barely rained it on me. Well, just look at this.

How do you think I feel when you bring home money like that?

Money that's been thrown at you by a bunch of men

who ain't fit to tie your shoelaces?

Don't be silly, honey.

They-- none of them mean a thing to me.

That ain't the point.

The point is you're supporting me.

I'm living off of you.

Why, I'm only too glad to do all I can to help.

I can't stand it.

It eats clear through me.

There must be something I can do.

Some kind of a job.

You got too much pride, Lew.

Here we've only been married a couple of months,

and you laid up most of that time,

and already you're blaming yourself

for something that ain't your fault.

The only thing I'm blaming myself for is having married you.

Lew! Wishing myself off on you for life.

Me, who ain't ever going to do another good day's work again.

Lew, don't say such things.

Don't even think them.

I love you, don't you understand?

I love you just as you are.

It's going to be all right, honey, you see.

It'll be all right.

Sure.

Sure, it will be all right.

[ knocking ]

Oh, hello, Bill.

Hello, Clem. I-It's late, I know.

But I couldn't wait until morning to see Lew.

It-- Lew, I won!

I won! You mean the Martin case?

Yeah, yeah, sure.

Just as easy as rolling off a log.

How wonderful! Yeah, all thanks to Lew.

I oughta pay you instead of that fool lawyer.

Oh, nonsense. It's a fact.

You got legal sense.

Why, you look at a paper,

pick a flaw just like that.

You take it from me, you oughta be a lawyer.

I'm glad you won, Bill.

And now all I gotta do is get the mine operating

on a paying basis. Yeah, the stuff's there.

Sure, sure, well--

Say, I better be going.

[ mumbles ] Thanks, Lew.

Oh.

Oh, thank you. Good night, Bill.

Good night.

Oh, hey, good night, Clem.

Good night, Bill.

Well, at least he's got something to look forward to.

And so have you, Lew.

I wonder I didn't think of it before.

You're just naturally cut out to be a lawyer.

Oh, that. Yes, that.

Me? [ chuckles ]

Well, you said yourself, before all this happened,

that you weren't going to be a $4 a day driller all your life.

How right I was.

You still got your brains, Lew.

Dan's gun didn't blow them out.

You got your tongue, your eyes, your ears.

You got everything you need to be a lawyer.

Except a little thing called education.

Nobody's born with an education.

That's something you gotta get.

That's a little too late to start at 27.

It's never too late.

All it takes is time and hard work.

And money. No, no, the whole idea is crazy.

You can do it if you want to, Lew.

But, of course, if you want to go around feeling sorry for yourself.

And be a quitter.

Who said I was a quitter?

That's more like it.

Now, you listen to me.

You're going to school and study law.

I don't care how long it takes.

One year, two years, five.

But you're going to learn all there is to know about it.

Then you're going to hang out your shingle,

Lew Barry, Attorney at Law.

Why, before you're through,

you're going to be one of the greatest lawyers in the state.

In the whole West.

But I-- But nothing.

I can take care of the money.

Why, there's no girl in this camp that makes what I do.

If it bothers you about takin' it,

well, we'll call it a loan.

After your success, you can pay me back.

1,000%.

Well, what about it?

You're the one who ought to be the lawyer, Clem.

If ever I plead cases as well as you.

Then the verdict is?

Yes, sweetheart.

Oh, Lew.

"Statutory liability...

"is one imposed upon shareholders

"by special statute...

"over and above their common-law liability...

"for the protection of creditors...

"is not generally a part of the corporate funds

for the purpose of carrying on its business."

♪♪ [piano]

♪ Frankie and Johnny

♪ Were sweethearts

♪ They were so much in love

♪ They swore to be true to each other ♪

♪ True as the stars above ♪

♪ He was a man

♪ But he done her wrong

♪ Frankie and Johnny went walkin' ♪

♪ Johnny in a brand new suit

♪ My, oh my, said Frankie

♪ Doesn't Johnny look cute?

♪ He was her man

♪ But he done her wrong

CROWD: More, more!

[ slurring ] I like your singing, girlie, you're pretty good.

Thank you.

Hey, wait a minute.

How about going someplace and singin' just for me?

Take your hand--

That's no way for a nice warm girl

to talk on a cold evening.

If you weren't so drunk,

I'd smash your skull in.

W-What's the matter? She's a dance hall gal, ain't she?

Go on and beat it and sober up.

You alright, Clem?

Oh, sure, it's just that he--

Sometimes I get so sick of all this.

I bet. Want me to see you to your door?

No, thanks. I'm used to walking it alone.

LEW: Your Honor...

gentlemen of the jury.

I am not pleading for the prisoner simply to win a case.

Any more than my respected colleague

is prosecuting in order to gain a personal triumph.

Our sole purpose, as yours must be,

is to see justice done.

So the innocent will not suffer

because of prejudice and blindness.

To prove a man guilty,

the law states

that guilt must be established beyond a shadow of a doubt.

Now, I ask you to consider carefully

the evidence, which has been placed before you

by the prosecution.

Can you honestly say, beyond a shadow of a doubt,

that the accused committed the crime for which he is charged?

Gentlemen...

I know what your answer will be.

And I thank you for your attention.

Your Honor,

the defense rests.

OLD RANGER: Lew Barry, Attorney at Law.

Just as Clem had hoped.

It hadn't been easy.

In fact, it was an uphill climb all the way.

But with Clem pushing, Lew reached the top of his profession.

[ knocking ]

Come in.

Lew.

Yes? It's me, Dan.

Don't you know me? It's Dan, Dan Gorman.

Dan Gorman?

I'm in trouble. Terrible trouble.

A-And I need help.

And you come to me for it.

I know I got no right to.

But it's you or nobody.

I've been reading about you in the paper

and listening to folks talk about you.

You're the greatest criminal lawyer in the whole state.

You've never loss an important case.

You're the only one who can help me.

What's your trouble?

They're after me for murder.

They claim I killed a man in a room in a house, and--

I only defend people I believe in.

I didn't do it, Lew, I swear I didn't.

I stooped pretty low since that night

in Round Mountain, but I never killed anybody.

Never.

Please?

Please, Lew? Please, I beg of you.

You're the only one that can get me out of this.

If you don't,

they're gonna hang me and I'm--

I'm innocent.

Look at me, and say that.

I swear, Lew.

I'm innocent.

All right, Dan, I'll defend you.

You will?

You actually will?

I guess I really owe it to you.

If it hadn't been for you,

I might still be a $4 a day driller.

Earning my living with my muscles instead of my mind.

I have to go out for a while.

You wait in there. Nobody will disturb you.

We'll talk it over when I come back.

Oh, I-- There was something I forgot to tell you.

I-- Haven't any money?

That's all right, Dan.

You won't be the first one.

[ door opens ]

Oh, excuse me.

Oh, that's all right, dear. Come right on in.

Who was that awful-looking tramp?

A very important client.

I'll tell you about him later when I have more time.

Right now, I have to get over to court.

Let's go, then.

Do you have to hear every speech I make to the jury?

Any objection?

Mmm, what do you think?

Ah-ah-ah. I haven't any time for that either.

I want to stop by the Van Ness Street jail

before we go into court.

You're the boss.

That's Lew Barry. He's the smartest attorney in the West.

Used to be a miner before he took up law.

He deserves a lot of credit.

He's a self-made man.

Self-made man indeed.

Who's the woman with him? Wife? That's his wife.

You'd think a man in his position would marry a lady.

No, Lew. She's right.

I guess in thinking about you, I forgot about myself.

As far as I'm concerned,

you're the finest lady in the land.

Thank you, darling.

But that still doesn't change other folks' opinion.

I guess it's my turn now to do some studying.

And my turn to pay the bills.

I hope I'm as good at becoming a lady

as you were a lawyer.

Now that, I have no doubts.

Shall we go in, Mr. Barry?

Yes, Mrs. Barry.

These two old newspaper clippings should wind up my story.

This one tells how Lew Barry

got Dan Gorman acquitted of murder.

And this one from the society page reads,

"Guess of Honor at Luncheon,

"Mrs. Lew Barry,

Social Leader of San Francisco."

♪♪ [ trumpet ]