Summary
Jerry Alton is a man of simple pleasures, finding contentment in the dusty rhythms of the Bar Z Ranch. This equilibrium is shattered not by a cattle rustler or a drought, but by the arrival of Marian Faer, a new cook with a highly specific romantic requirement: she only has eyes for redheads. What begins as a lighthearted comedy of vanity—with Jerry and his fellow cowboys desperately attempting to dye their hair to win her favor—takes a sharp, jagged turn into melodrama. The arrival of Wender, a naturally flame-haired stranger, introduces a sinister element to the ranch. As Jerry and his partner Sourdough Jackson find themselves unexpectedly raising an abandoned child, the film pivots from a farce about hair follicles into a gritty tale of robbery, framing, and domestic secrets. The climax strips away the humor, forcing Jerry to confront Wender not just for Marian’s hand, but for his own reputation and the safety of the child they’ve claimed as their own.
Synopsis
Cowboy Jerry Alton is content with life on the Bar Z Ranch until Mrs. Randall hires pretty Marian Faer to assist in cooking. Marian explains that she is looking for a redheaded husband. All the men are smitten with her, and several, including Jerry, try to dye their hair red. In partnership with Sourdough Jackson, Jerry purchases a small ranch plot and builds a cabin, in hopes of presenting it to Marian. Then Wender, a man with flaming red hair, applies for work at the ranch, and to Jerry's chagrin, he seems to wield an influence over the girl. Meanwhile, Jerry and Sourdough find a child near their cabin and adopt him. "Red," with his gang, robs a mine and steals the payroll, then claims the boy as his son and later throws suspicion on Jerry. In a fight with Jerry, Red falls to his death, leaving Marian, his former wife, free to marry Jerry.
