THE MAN WITH THE GUN

US, 1955, 83 minutes, Black and white.
Robert Mitchum, Jan Sterling, Karen Sharpe, Henry Hull, Emile Mayer, John Lupton, Barbara Lawrence, Ted de Corsia.
Directed by Richard Wilson.

Man with the Gun is a modest but very effective classic 1950s western. Robert Mitchum is in his element as the loner, the gunfighter who has become a town-tamer. Confident in his ability to bring peace to a western town, law and order, getting rid of the villains – especially by being quick on the draw. He has a human touch to him, having been married to Nelly, who is now the madam at the saloon. She is played by Jan Sterling. A strong group of supporting actors brings the rest of the cast to life. Angie Dickinson appears in a brief scene.

The film raises the issues of law and order, the loner hired by the town to rid itself of the violent landowner and his gunmen – echoes of High Noon.

The film was written and directed by Richard Wilson, a director of an eclectic number of films including Raw Wind in Eden, Al Capone, Pay or Die, Three in the Attic.

1. A classic 50s western? The portrait of the western town, law and disorder, the town-tamer?

2. Black and white photography, the strong cast, the musical score?

3. The title, its plainness? The emphasis on the masculine hero? His way with the gun?

4. Sheridan city, the farms, the small farm owners, the ranchers, the gunfighters, the saloon and the girls, the madam? Not seeing the villain until the end – and his being large and violent?

5. The opening, the gunmen, the boy and his dog, the gunmen shooting the dog, going to the saloon, laughing and telling the stories, the girls imitating the incident? The introduction to the town and its situation? The boy, the doctor going to help, the blacksmith?

6. Robert Mitchum as Clint Tollinger, his look, walk, way of talking, his reputation, the town-tamer, his methods, his past with Nelly, wanting to see her, ask her the question, their daughter? His finally hearing the news that his daughter was dead? The effect on him – and his behaviour as the tamer?

7. The people of the town, their talk, the council meetings, the variety of opinions, the views on whether to have a town-tamer, Tollinger and his being present at the back, the vote, the contract?

8. Jeff and his building, the gunmen and the shoot-up, later burning the building? His engagement to Stella, the plans, his independence, wanting the home for him and Stella, wanting a small farm? Stella and her fears? Jeff and his wanting to stand alone? His being injured, taken hostage, the exchange for the gunmen?

9. The hotel manager, his worries, the various delegates for the council, their change of heart, fears about business?

10. Tollinger and the saloon owner, the confrontations, the personality and his accent, the chandelier, the knife-throwing, burning the saloon?

11. The gunmen, their disdain, their being taken hostage, the exchange for Jeff, the final confrontation of Tollinger, drawing their guns? Deaths?

12. Nelly, serious, the girls, Ann and her being dumb, her being used by the salesman and his working for the villain? The setup and her participation, her being bribed?

13. The performance by the girls, cut short, the end of the saloon girls, their moving on, Kitty and her going on the coach?

14. The final setup, the villain and his carriage, the gun, the gunmen, Ann, the signal, Jeff and his shooting the villain?

15. Tollinger and his being wounded, Nelly’s concern, Jeff and the future with Stella?

16. The minor characters and their contribution, well delineated, the marshal and his inability to do things, supporting Tollinger? Saul, the blacksmith, Stella as his daughter, his support of Tollinger? Jeff, his independence? The range of gunmen and villains?

17. The popular ingredients of westerns of the period – effectively done?

THE MAN WITH THE GUN

US, 1955, 84 minutes, Black and white.
Robert Mitchum, Jan Sterling, Karen Sharpe, Henry Hull, Emilie Meyer, John Lupton.
Directed by Richard Wilson.

The Man With The Gun is a small-scale western, predictable, but nonetheless effective. It was written and directed by Richard Wilson.

It is a star vehicle for Robert Mitchum as a town-tamer~, Jan Sterling is quite stern as his ex-wife and now madam in the town. There is a strong supporting cast.

The film has the town as its focus, has crisp black and white photography, has an atmosphere of tension (akin to High Noon and so many other films of the time) and has an exciting climax.

A typical enough western of any decade - but especially of the '50s.

1. Interesting and enjoyable western? The lawless town? The town tamer? A film of the '50s?

2. Black and white photography, the settings of the town, action sequences? Musical score?

3. The title and its focus on Clint? The reason for his taking the gun, the death of his unarmed father, his reaction, vengeance, his reputation as a town-tamer, his use of the gun, Jeff's use of the gun?

4. The setting of the town, its lawlessness, the rider killing the dog, the business people being afraid, the town council meeting, the possibility of hiring the town-tamer, reluctance, the vote? Leaving Clint to do his work? The interactions with the people? The man with the gun and his rules? Dangers, final confrontation?

5. Robert Mitchum as Clint, drifting through, his reputation as a town-tamer, his story about his father's death and the burning of the house, his own reactions? Being hired? Not wanting intervention? His seeking out Nellie and her refusal to give information, the truth about their daughter? His reaction and the burning of the saloon? His-relationship with the blacksmith, with individual members of the council, at the hotel? With Jeff and Stella and Jeff’s pig-headedness? Stella's attraction? The absence of the town boss? The confrontation with Lescau at the saloon? The deaths of the riders? The final plan, the lawyer and his watching Clint's behaviour? The girl and the set-up? Dade and his coming into town? The shooting, Jeff killing Dade? Clint being wounded, Nellie's contribution to helping foil the plot? Their going off together?

6. Nellie and her bitterness, the death of their daughter, businesswoman, strict with the girls, not wanting scandal, the women of the town wanting them out, the closing down of the saloon, her leaving, her hearing of the plot, trying to foil it? The gallery of girls (and Angie Dickinson in an early role)? Anne and her part in the plot, her fashions and jewels, her being upset?

7. Jeff as the town hero building the house, stances, being shot at, in the hospital? Relationship with Stella? Her concern about him, wanting Clint to help? The capturing of the gunman and the exchange for Jeff? The gratitude? Jeff finally killing Dade? The town council, their business, the blacksmith and his friendship, relationship with his daughter?

8. Dade as the boss, his death? The gunman (including an early role of Claude Akins)? Lescau and his working at the saloon, the knife, his attempt to kill Clint?

9. The picture of the lawless town, the need for justice, the role of the town tamer? The western heritage?