The Maverick Queen

{{Infobox film

| name = The Maverick Queen

| image = File:The Maverick Queen.jpg

| caption = Theatrical release poster

| director = Joseph Kane

| producer = Joseph Kane (assoc. producer)

| writer = Kenneth Gamet
DeVallon Scott

| story =

| based_on = {{based on|novel The Maverick Queen|Zane Grey}}

| starring = Barbara Stanwyck
Barry Sullivan

| music = Victor Young

| cinematography = Jack A. Marta

| editing = Richard L. Van Enger

| color_process = Trucolor

| studio = Republic Pictures

| distributor = Republic Pictures

| released = {{film date|1956|4|4|}}

| runtime = 90 minutes

| country = United States

| language = English

}}

The Maverick Queen is a 1956 American Western and starring Barbara Stanwyck as the title character and Barry Sullivan as an undercover Pinkerton detective out to stop outlaws Butch Cassidy, the Sundance Kid, and the Wild Bunch. It was the first film made in Republic's widescreen process Naturama. The film is based on the novel of the same name by Zane Grey.

Plot

A stranger, calling himself Jeff Young, imposes on rancher Lucy Lee for a meal and a night's rest, then saves her from being robbed. Jeff helps deliver her cattle to town, where he encounters Kit Banion running her saloon, The Maverick Queen.

Kit is secretly in cahoots with the notorious Hole in the Wall Gang, led by Butch Cassidy and Sundance, and a jealous Sundance is angered when Jeff beats him at poker and attracts romantic interest from Kit, who offers Jeff a job as a faro dealer. He reveals he is actually Jeff Younger, a relative of the Younger Gang outlaws, and wants to help Kit and her associates with their illegal holdups.

Lucy is held captive by Sundance after a train robbery, and Jeff ends up killing him to save her. Holding off the other outlaws while their cabin is on fire, Jeff is helped by Kit, who is shot and dies in his arms. The posse arrives, whereupon Jeff confesses that he is actually a Pinkerton detective, working undercover to catch the thieves.