Terror in a Texas Town – A Classic Western Movie

A 1958 Western film that tells the story of a Swedish American whaler George Hanson returning to his Texas hometown after 20 years at sea. Upon his return he is shocked to learn that his father was murdered just two days prior. The feckless local sheriff won’t do anything about it, so George investigates on his own and discovers that an oil speculator had his father killed for refusing to sell his land at an unfair price. Enraged, and armed only with a speargun, George goes looking for justice. The script of Terror in a Texas Town was written by Dalton Trumbo. Due to Trumbo’s status on the Hollywood blacklist, Ben Perry initially received screenwriting credit, lending his name as a front for Trumbo. Both Nedrick Young, who contributed to the screenplay as well as acting in the film, and Sterling Hayden had also been subject to the Blacklist and the investigations of Communist influence in the movie industry by the House Committee on Un-American Activities.

This is the final film in our spring film series with Kevin Sandler. Sandler, Associate Professor at Arizona State University in the Film and Media Studies Program, will add important context to the movie and engage the audience with focused discussion followed by a Q&A session.

Program Info:

Friday, May 16 | 2:00 – 4:30 p.m.
FREE for Museum Members (Members, log-in first to reserve tickets)
FREE with Museum Admission
$10 for just the program