The Desperados Are in Town (1956): cast, story & where to watch

Released in 1956, The Desperados Are in Town is a western film directed by Kurt Neumann, running about 73 minutes. “Spraying Its Streets With Lead! Lighting Its Skies With Gunfire!” — that tagline sets the tone.

What it’s about. In this western, a young man tries to walk the straight and narrow, but he is impeded by his past. The trouble begins when the young fellow flees his family's Texas dirt farm and becomes an outlaw. He is advised by one of the desperadoes to return home. The boy does, and with hard work, makes the farm successful. Harvest time rolls around. He is just about to celebrate when the outlaws ride up and force him to help them pull a local bank job. He refuses and kills the gang leader and his brother. Meanwhile, the boy's past is revealed to the town banker. Seeing that he truly has gone straight, the banker forgives him. The boy marries and lives with his lovely bride upon his land.

Who’s in it. The Desperados Are in Town stars Robert Arthur as Lonny Kesh, Kathleen Nolan as Alice Rutherford (as Kathy Nolan), Rhys Williams as Jud Collins and Rhodes Reason as Frank Banner, among others.

Where to watch. Streaming options change often. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch The Desperados Are in Town page.

If you liked it. Fans of The Desperados Are in Town 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.