The film's screenplay was adapted by Frank S.Nugent (director Ford's son-in-law) from Alan Le May's 1954 novel of the same name, that was first serialized as a short story in late fall 1954 issues of theSaturday Evening Post, and first titledThe Avenging Texans.The embittered anti-hero decided to form his own independent record label to avoid a recurrence.He soon became an overnight sensation, and was quickly seduced by the decadent lifestyle of a pop star.There are habitable worlds within reach.We can begin by using the old outposts...Give me control of the Codex.I will ensure the survival of our race." He desired control of he planet's 'Codex' [Note: The Codex, or Growth Codex, was a skull hat contained the genetic information for the entire Kryptonian race.So they become a black sheriff, a racist own, a sex-obsessed Governor, and so forth.In addition, there are other anachronistic elements - Hedley Lamarr (a misnaming of actress Hedy Lamarr), hints of the seductive character Frenchy (played by Marlene Dietrich) inDestry Rides Again (1939), a medieval executioner, a Cole Porter song, redneck bigotry of all flavors, and a 'film-within-a-film' concept, exemplified by Lamarr exclaiming: "Drive me off this picture.