description The Tall Stranger Overview
The Tall Stranger is a Western novel by Louis L'Amour, published in 1957. Its story is set against a wagon train journey and a violent dispute between competing cattle interests, combining travel across the frontier with conflict over land and power. The novel was adapted into a 1957 feature film directed by Thomas Carr and starring Joel McCrea.
help The Tall Stranger FAQ
What is the plot of The Tall Stranger?
Louis L'Amour's 1957 novel follows Ned Bannon after he is left for dead and taken in by a wagon train. The travelers are drawn into a land and cattle conflict in Bishop's Valley, where Bannon confronts men trying to control the settlers.
Who is Ned Bannon?
Ned Bannon is the wounded former Union soldier at the center of the story. He becomes the wagon train's guide and protector while trying to identify the rustlers who shot him.
Was The Tall Stranger adapted into a film?
Yes, a 1957 Western directed by Thomas Carr starred Joel McCrea as Ned Bannon and Virginia Mayo as Ellen. AFI notes that the film material connects to L'Amour's earlier story Showdown Trail, later rewritten as The Tall Stranger. [Paramount](https://www.paramountpictures.com/movies/tall-stranger).
What kind of conflict drives The Tall Stranger?
The wagon journey is only the outer frame; the central struggle is over land, settlers, and competing cattle interests. The story begins in the post-Civil War Colorado Territory and mixes frontier travel with rustling and family resentment.
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