Topeka (1953): cast, story & where to watch
1953 · Film · ★ 5
Released in 1953, Topeka is a western film directed by Thomas Carr, running about 69 minutes. “A TRAIL OF GUNSMOKE DREW HIM TO TOPEKA!” — that tagline sets the tone.
What it’s about. Bill Elliot emulates his idol William S. Hart in the superior western Topeka. Elliot plays the archetypal Good Bad Man, hired to kick the crooked element out of a small town. A hard-drinking, hard-living man, Elliot entertains thoughts of taking over the town himself for the benefit of his own gang. After several reels of soul-searching, Elliot decides to honor his promise to clean up the town for its decent citizens. Evidently director Thomas Carr rented a camera crane for this Allied Artists production, since the camera performs remarkable calisthenics, the kind not normally seen in a medium-budget western.
Who’s in it. Topeka stars Bill Elliott as Jim Levering, Phyllis Coates as Marian Harrison, Rick Vallin as Ray Hammond and Fuzzy Knight as Pop Harrison, among others.
How it landed. With an audience score of 5.0/10, Topeka has proved divisive with audiences.
Where to watch. Streaming options change often. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch Topeka page.
If you liked it. Fans of Topeka tend to enjoy The Good, the Bad and the Ugly, Django Unchained, Once Upon a Time in the West and For a Few Dollars More.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch Topeka (1953)?
- Streaming, rental and purchase options for Topeka change frequently. Check our where-to-watch page for the latest availability in your country.
- Is Topeka worth watching?
- Topeka holds an audience score of 5.0 out of 10, and is a strong pick if you enjoy western. Reactions are mixed, so it may depend on taste.
- Who stars in Topeka?
- Topeka stars Bill Elliott, Phyllis Coates, Rick Vallin, Fuzzy Knight and John James.