The Light of Western Stars
“Flaming Guns... Flashing Hoofs... as knights of the sage-brush roar across the plains!”
Synopsis
Easterner Madeline Hammond buys a ranch not knowing Hayworth is using it to smuggle ammunition across the border. When trouble starts, she brings back Gene Stewart ex-foreman who left the country after fighting with the Sheriff.
Top Cast
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Victor Jory
Gene Stewart
Jo Ann Sayers
Madeline Hammond
Russell Hayden
Al Hammond
Morris Ankrum
Nat Hayworth
Noah Beery Jr.
Poco
J. Farrell MacDonald
Bill Stillwell
Ruth Rogers
Florence Kingsley
Tom Tyler
Tom Hawes
Rad Robinson
Monty
Eddie Dean
Nels
Esther Estrella
Bonita
Alan Ladd
Danny
Georgia Ellis
Helen
Earl Askam
Sneed
Lucio Villegas
Don Manuel
Ted Billings
Saloon Waiter
Roy Bucko
Henchman
Bob Burns
Informer
Release History & Theatrical Window
April 17, 1940
Wide Cinema Exhibition
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Lesley Selander
- Screenplay & Story
- Norman Houston
- Original Score
- Victor Young
- Original Title
- The Light of Western Stars
- Country of Origin
- United States of America
- Spoken Languages
- English
- Runtime
- 1h 4m
- Production Studios
- Harry Sherman Productions, Paramount Pictures
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Lesley Selander
Norman Houston, Zane Grey
Victor Young
Russell Harlan
Sherman A. Rose
Harry Sherman
Department Leadership Roster
Lesley Selander
Director
Norman Houston
Screenplay
Russell Harlan
Director of Photography
Victor Young
Original Music Composer
Sherman A. Rose
Editor
Harry Sherman
Producer
Age Classification & Content Advisories
Official viewer rating standards and content warnings across international classification boards.
NR: Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.
International Certification Matrix
Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for The Light of Western Stars.
Featured In Curated Collections
Editorial lists, community rankings, and cinematic collections featuring The Light of Western Stars.
MGM+ US - Western Movies
Curated list of Most Popular on MGM+ (US). Updated frequently. Last updated August 28, 2026.
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Frequently Asked Questions About The Light of Western Stars
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is The Light of Western Stars about?
Easterner Madeline Hammond buys a ranch not knowing Hayworth is using it to smuggle ammunition across the border. When trouble starts, she brings back Gene Stewart ex-foreman who left the country after fighting with the Sheriff.
Who directed The Light of Western Stars?
The Light of Western Stars was directed by Lesley Selander.
Who stars in The Light of Western Stars?
The principal cast of The Light of Western Stars includes Victor Jory, Jo Ann Sayers, Russell Hayden, Morris Ankrum, Noah Beery Jr..
When was The Light of Western Stars released and how long is it?
The Light of Western Stars was released in 1940 with a total runtime of 1h 4m.
Who composed the musical score for The Light of Western Stars?
The original motion picture soundtrack for The Light of Western Stars was composed by Victor Young.
Is The Light of Western Stars based on a book or true story?
The Light of Western Stars is adapted from the following source material: Novel: "Zane Grey".
What is the age rating and content advisory for The Light of Western Stars?
The Light of Western Stars holds official age classifications: US: NR (Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.).