Red Headed Stranger is a 1986 American Western drama film written and directed by William D. Wittliff.
[2] The preacher then wanders about the west until meeting Laurie (Ross), a farm widow with a young son named Nathan.
Julian helps Laurie and Nathan work their farm and considers settling down with them, but Sheriff Scoby finds him.
[1] In Julian's absence, the Clavers had attacked Scoby and disabled the well's windmill pump, then threatened to kill anyone else who stood up to them.
The Clavers notice this in the morning and Larn declares he will destroy the windmill this time, but they are immediately ambushed by Julian and Scoby.
The studio wanted Robert Redford to play the "Red Headed Stranger," a role Nelson had envisioned for himself.
The budget ended up at $1.8 million, coming from a diverse group of investors, including Bud Shrake and Darrell Royal.
The main set, a western town nicknamed "Willieville," had been built over the previous two years across the road from Nelson's golf course, thirty miles west of Austin, Texas.