"Paperback Hero" predates John Ford's "The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance" by a year, only for the printed legend to be a work of fiction about Johnny Yuma. Using the pseudonym Tex Bannister, aspiring writer Emily Mortimer Stevens (Virginia Gregg) authors exaggerated tales of Johnny's derring do after witnessing his put down of town bully Jack Slater (Robert Palmer). Eventually the entire town begins to ridicule the paperback hero, goaded by Slater, who delights in reading aloud to the boozing saloon patrons. When the final showdown takes place in that very same saloon, there will be no one laughing after Yuma shows his character, if not his exploits, to be truly larger than life. The full spectrum of Johnny Yuma is on display, defending the helpless, and humbling himself to prevent serious trouble.
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