Skip to content
What's After the Movie?
Western

Belle Starr (1941): Cast & Plot

Belle Starr (1941) movie poster

Belle Starr is a 1941 western directed by Irving Cummings, starring Gene Tierney as Belle Starr, Randolph Scott and Norman Willis. It runs 1 hour 23 minutes.

Loading streaming availability…
Belle Starr (1941) movie poster
Released
Runtime
1h 23m (83 min)
Director
Irving Cummings
Genre
Western
Original language
English
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is Belle Starr About?

The premise of Belle Starr without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.

After Yankee soldiers burn her family’s mansion for sheltering rebel leader Captain Sam Starr, Belle Shirley swears revenge. She frees Starr from prison and joins his guerrilla band, spearheading raids on banks, railroads, carpetbaggers and Union troops. Her daring earns her local fame and Starr’s love; they marry, but their bond strains when Starr lets volatile rebels into the gang, leaving Belle to doubt his true commitment to the Southern cause.

Belle Starr Themes & Keywords

· 16 tags
  • gang member
  • desperation
  • despair
  • belle starr character
  • horse
  • horseback riding
  • gun
  • classical western
  • southern belle
  • name in title
  • character name as title
  • two word title
+4 more
  • civil war
  • disillusionment
  • american civil war
  • character name in title
Loading streaming availability…
Cast & crew

Belle Starr Cast & Characters

Gene Tierney leads the cast as Belle Starr, with Randolph Scott as Sam Starr and Norman Willis as Union Corporal (uncredited). Directed by Irving Cummings; 37 actors are credited in all.

Also Starring in Belle Starr

· 33 more
Show all 37 cast members
From the director

More from Irving Cummings

More films directed by Irving Cummings: Double Dynamite, The Dolly Sisters, The Impatient Years and What a Woman.

Full filmography
Plot

Belle Starr Plot Summary

What happens in Belle Starr from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 13 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 4-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

After the Civil War, Belle Shirley is reunited with her brother Ed Shirley and remains determined to press the fight for the South, a cause she holds close as she moves through a landscape torn by victory and vengeance. She becomes a defender of Sam Starr, a Confederate-leaning rebel who refuses to back down in the face of Major Grail, a Yankee officer and a man from Belle’s past who once knew her brother and now longs to rekindle Belle’s love. The rekindling is complicated by loyalties, betrayals, and the brutal realities of a nation rebuilding itself.

Full summary

The whole story of Belle Starr, scene by scene

Read the full summary
Quiz

How Well Do You Know Belle Starr?

10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.

Question 1 of 10

  1. Question 1: not answered
  2. Question 2: not answered
  3. Question 3: not answered
  4. Question 4: not answered
  5. Question 5: not answered
  6. Question 6: not answered
  7. Question 7: not answered
  8. Question 8: not answered
  9. Question 9: not answered
  10. Question 10: not answered

What is the name of the Confederate-leaning rebel that Belle protects?

Seen Belle Starr?

FAQ

Belle Starr FAQ: Cast, Runtime & Release Date

Runtime, release date, director, cast and post-credit scenes of Belle Starr, each answered in a sentence.

How long is Belle Starr?

Belle Starr runs 1 hour 23 minutes (83 minutes).

When was Belle Starr released?

Belle Starr was released on September 12, 1941.

Who directed Belle Starr?

Belle Starr was directed by Irving Cummings.

More films by Irving Cummings

Who is in the cast of Belle Starr?

Belle Starr stars Gene Tierney as Belle Starr, Randolph Scott as Sam Starr and Norman Willis as Union Corporal (uncredited), among 37 credited actors.

Does Belle Starr have a post-credit scene?

No. Belle Starr has no extra scene during or after the credits.

Coming soon to your phone

The Plot Explained Movie Summary App

From blockbusters to hidden gems: plot summaries, endings explained and timelines on your phone. Save your favorites and never miss a twist again.

Be the first to know when it launches. Your email stays private, always. Learn more about the app