The Marshal Of Mesa City

The Marshal Of Mesa City

Year: 1939

Runtime: 62 mins

Language: English

Director: David Howard

Western

TERROR TOWN OF THE YUMA TRAIL! …Tamed by the wildcat whose aim was as sure as his heart was true! A retired lawman gets back into action to fight political corruption.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline & Setting – The Marshal Of Mesa City (1939)

Explore the full timeline and setting of The Marshal Of Mesa City (1939). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

1880

The story unfolds in the American West during the 1880s, a period of frontier towns and improvised justice. Law enforcement is often entangled with crime, and gunfights can decide the fate of towns. The era emphasizes personal valor, injury, and the fragile boundary between law and vigilantism. The events reach a climax through a barroom showdown and a jail escape that hinge on civic action.

Location

Mesa City, Arizona

Mesa City, Arizona in 1880, is a rough frontier town where law is often what the sheriff can get away with. Its sheriff, Jud Cronin, and his cronies control the town through bribery and intimidation. The ambush of a stagecoach exposes the depth of corruption and the weakness of the local justice system. A new marshal must confront both criminals and a compromised official apparatus to restore order.

🏜️ Desert frontier 🏙️ Western town 🗳️ Corruption ⚖️ Law and order

Last Updated: October 05, 2025 at 08:41

Main Characters – The Marshal Of Mesa City (1939)

Meet the key characters of The Marshal Of Mesa City (1939), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Cliff Mason

A retired lawman drawn back into Mesa City's turmoil, Cliff Mason accepts the marshal's badge to confront Cronin's corruption. He fights with practical resolve and a sense of duty, arresting criminals while confronting a broken legal system. He is disgusted by the leniency of the courts, yet remains determined to restore order, even if it means risking his future in town.

⚔️ Heroic 🧭 Leader

Virginia King

A principled schoolteacher who refuses Cronin's advances and becomes Cliff's ally. She identifies Pete Henderson and pushes Cliff to stay and fight for the town. Her resolve anchors the community's stand for justice, and she ultimately asks to join Cliff in leaving Mesa City together.

💪 Determined 📚 Educator

Jud Cronin

The corrupt sheriff who wields power to shield criminals and manipulate the town's judiciary. He seeks to crush Cliff and Duke, using threats, a compromised court, and a plan to burn evidence to protect his regime. His downfall comes through a combination of gunfights and the public exposure of his schemes.

💰 Corrupt 🗡️ Ruthless

Duke Allison

A notorious gunman who proves a loyal ally after Cliff saves him. He accepts deputization and fights alongside Cliff, providing pragmatic firepower. He dies heroically, saving Cliff during the final battles against Cronin's gang.

🛡️ Loyal 🔫 Gunfighter

Pete Henderson

Leader of Cronin's gang whose actions ignite the town's turmoil. Henderson is identified by Virginia and responsible for violence that escalates the conflict. He is outdrawn and killed by Cliff, ending a key thread of Cronin's backroom crime network.

⚔️ Villainous 🕶️ Henchman

Mayor Sam Bentley

The town mayor who navigates between Cronin's influence and public hope for reform. He acknowledges the futility of pursuing justice through Cronin at first, then ultimately supports legal scrutiny and promises U.S. Attorney involvement to address corruption. He plays a pivotal role in maintaining civic legitimacy through the crisis.

🏛️ Politician 🧭 Pragmatic

Last Updated: October 05, 2025 at 08:41

Major Themes – The Marshal Of Mesa City (1939)

Explore the central themes of The Marshal Of Mesa City (1939), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

⚖️ Corruption

Corruption is the central obstacle to justice in Mesa City. Sheriff Cronin uses his power to shield criminals and manipulate the judiciary, undermining the rule of law. The mayor and judge collaborate with him, perpetuating a cycle of evasion and fines instead of real punishment. Cliff Mason's rise as marshal frames the struggle as a fight to restore legitimate authority.

🛡️ Duty

Cliff Mason embodies a reluctant duty to uphold the law, even when the system itself seems compromised. His initial outrage gives way to renewed commitment after witnessing the town's corruption firsthand. The film traces how personal honor competes with public expectations, testing whether one man can restore order. The conclusion pivots on whether duty can survive in a tainted environment.

👥 Community

The townspeople, led by the mayor, rally to resist Cronin's tyranny and support Cliff's crackdown. Virginia King's courage and the crowd's aid help break the gang's grip and enable a jailbreak escalation that ends in a fight for the town's soul. The final victory relies on collective action alongside legal reform, not only brute force.

Last Updated: October 05, 2025 at 08:41

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The Marshal Of Mesa City Summary

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The Marshal Of Mesa City Summary

The Marshal Of Mesa City Timeline

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The Marshal Of Mesa City Timeline

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