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Western

Red Headed Stranger (1986): Cast & Plot

Red Headed Stranger (1986) movie poster

Red Headed Stranger is a 1986 western directed by William D. Wittliff, starring Willie Nelson as Rev. Julian Shay, Morgan Fairchild and R.G. Armstrong. It runs 1 hour 45 minutes.

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Red Headed Stranger (1986) movie poster
Released
Runtime
1h 45m (105 min)
Genre
Western
Original language
English
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is Red Headed Stranger About?

The premise of Red Headed Stranger without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.

Reverend Julian Shay, played by Willie Nelson, storms into a saloon and draws his six‑shooter, shooting his way out of a betrayal by his wife, portrayed by Morgan Fairchild, and her lover. The brutal act marks the start of his descent from a God‑loving preacher into a ruthless outlaw in the unforgiving Old West.

Red Headed Stranger Themes & Keywords

· 50 tags
  • newlywed couple
  • montana
  • covered wagon
  • dead wolf
  • church
  • hymn
  • church service
  • prayer
  • curse
  • saloon
  • frontier justice
  • range feud
+38 more
  • threat
  • new in town
  • skinning an animal
  • wolf head
  • well
  • sabotage
  • water rights
  • buried alive
  • posse
  • mud
  • water tower
  • telegram
  • windmill
  • hanged from a horse
  • horse thief
  • plowing
  • farm
  • widow
  • single mother
  • husband murders his wife
  • shooting a woman
  • husband wife relationship
  • nipples visible through clothing
  • woman bathing in a pond
  • nipples visible through wet cloth
  • revenge murder
  • wedding day
  • horse drawn carriage
  • female star appears in underwear
  • wet lingerie
  • cleavage
  • scantily clad woman
  • horse drawn wagon
  • forced to strip
  • parasol
  • animal head
  • clerical collar
  • butchering an animal
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Cast & crew

Red Headed Stranger Cast & Characters

Willie Nelson leads the cast as Rev. Julian Shay, with Morgan Fairchild as Raysha Shay and R.G. Armstrong as Sheriff Reese Scoby. Directed by William D. Wittliff; 112 actors are credited in all.

Also Starring in Red Headed Stranger

· 108 more
Show all 112 cast members
Plot

Red Headed Stranger Plot Summary

What happens in Red Headed Stranger from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 13 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 3-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

In 1901, Julian Shay, a steadfast preacher, and his new wife Raysha Shay leave Philadelphia for Driscoll, Montana, to take over a ministry and escape the shadow of the past. They are warned by the town’s former minister that Julian will be fighting the devil on his own ground here, sir:

You’ll be fighting the devil on his own ground here, sir.

Full summary

The whole story of Red Headed Stranger, scene by scene

Read the full summary
Quiz

How Well Do You Know Red Headed Stranger?

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

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What year does the story of 'Red Headed Stranger' begin?

Details

Red Headed Stranger Also Known As

3 alternative titles, including “몬타나의 혈투” and “Pelirrojo”.

Also known as
  • 몬타나의 혈투
  • Pelirrojo
  • Рыжеволосый странник

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FAQ

Red Headed Stranger FAQ: Cast, Runtime & Release Date

Runtime, release date, director, cast and post-credit scenes of Red Headed Stranger, each answered in a sentence.

How long is Red Headed Stranger?

Red Headed Stranger runs 1 hour 45 minutes (105 minutes).

When was Red Headed Stranger released?

Red Headed Stranger was released on October 31, 1986.

Who directed Red Headed Stranger?

Red Headed Stranger was directed by William D. Wittliff.

More films by William D. Wittliff

Who is in the cast of Red Headed Stranger?

Red Headed Stranger stars Willie Nelson as Rev. Julian Shay, Morgan Fairchild as Raysha Shay and R.G. Armstrong as Sheriff Reese Scoby, among 112 credited actors.

Does Red Headed Stranger have a post-credit scene?

No. Red Headed Stranger has no extra scene during or after the credits.

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