The Capture *** (1950, Lew Ayres, Teresa Wright, Victor Jory) – Classic Movie Review 13,472

‘Killing a man is one thing… Loving his wife is another… both are DYNAMITE!’ Director John Sturges’s 1950 American Western crime drama film The Capture stars Lew Ayres, Teresa Wright, and Victor Jory.

Lew Ayres stars as oil company manager Lin Vanner, who gets tangled up with murder and the alluring Ellen (Teresa Wright) in this involved and involving little thriller, made by Niven Busch Productions for release by RKO Radio Pictures.

Lew Ayres and Victor Jory.

While working in a Mexican oil field, Ayres has killed an innocent man he suspected of snatching his company’s payroll in a holdup, but then seeks out and falls for the victim’s wife (Wright), and marries her, hoping to keep their farm going until his son is old enough to take over. He tells his story in flashback to Father Gomez (Victor Jory).

Adapting his own novel, Niven Busch comes up with an unusual, interesting script, Sturges brings some style and pace, and there’s skilled black and white photography, particularly of Mexico, from the ace cinematographer Edward Cronjager.

American novelist and screenwriter Busch, the author of the best-seller Duel in the Sun, was married to Wright from 1942 to 1952.

Teresa Wright and Lew Ayres.

The cast

The cast are Lew Ayres as Lin Vanner, Teresa Wright as Ellen, Victor Jory as Father Gomez, Jacqueline White as Luana Ware, Jimmy Hunt as Ellen’s son, Barry Kelley as Earl C Mahoney, Duncan Renaldo as Carlos, William Bakewell as Tolin, Milton Parsons as Thin Man, Frank Matts as Juan, Felipe Turich as Valdez, and Edwin Rand as Sam Tevlin.

© Derek Winnert 2025 – Classic Movie Review 13,472

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