I love me a "last western" western, and 1950's The Gunfighter is an early example. Gregory Peck plays Jimmy Ringo, a gunslinger with a reputation for fastest gun in the West, and though that may have been fun at first, now he's sick of having to fight (and kill) every young turk who wants to test him, and indeed, the law. In this simple but effective film, Ringo just wants to talk to the woman he loves for 5 minutes, and keep his head down, but his reputation is quickly catching up, everyone after him for revenge or to take his place. It's a fine dissection of the Wild West's heroic myth, showing its allure, but exposing its darkest and destructively macho side. Trading on the Ringo name, it makes you think this really happened, but of course it was JOHNNY Ringo who tangled with the Earps in Tombstone. This is an alternate reality where JIMMY Ringo was the better gunfighter, but also the better man. Perhaps not as stylish as the similar High Noon, but it does what it came to do, and does it well.
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Comments 1 - 5 of 5
jacktrewin
fabulous script. one of the most intelligent westerns i've seen, with a central performance from Gregory Peck to do it justiceSeanMX12
Wow. Criminally underrated.Siskoid
I love me a "last western" western, and 1950's The Gunfighter is an early example. Gregory Peck plays Jimmy Ringo, a gunslinger with a reputation for fastest gun in the West, and though that may have been fun at first, now he's sick of having to fight (and kill) every young turk who wants to test him, and indeed, the law. In this simple but effective film, Ringo just wants to talk to the woman he loves for 5 minutes, and keep his head down, but his reputation is quickly catching up, everyone after him for revenge or to take his place. It's a fine dissection of the Wild West's heroic myth, showing its allure, but exposing its darkest and destructively macho side. Trading on the Ringo name, it makes you think this really happened, but of course it was JOHNNY Ringo who tangled with the Earps in Tombstone. This is an alternate reality where JIMMY Ringo was the better gunfighter, but also the better man. Perhaps not as stylish as the similar High Noon, but it does what it came to do, and does it well.beasterne
Great ending!ucuruju
Brownsville Girl