GUNFIGHTERS

US, 1947, 87 minutes, Colour.
Randolph Scott, Barbara Britton, Forrest Tucker.
Directed by Alan Le May.

Gunfighters is a routine but introduction western. It focuses on Randolph Scott, at the beginning of his almost continuous range of westerns from this period to 1962. He portrays a gunfighter with a conscience. His friend wanted to test him as to speed at drawing, so he lays down his arms, leaves the town and goes to seek a rancher. However, he finds him dead.

Complications arise with cattle wars. A rancher who has hired hands to do his dirty work, also has two daughters. One is in league with the rustlers. The other falls in love with Randolph Scott. They are played by Barbara Britton and Dorothy Hart. Forrest Tucker is one of the gunmen.

The film explores the life on the range in the 19th century, the role of the gunfighters, the rustlers, the ambitious, the sheriffs.

The film is based on a Zane Grey story, Twin Sombreros.

1. An interesting western of the 1940s? Randolph Scott and his western career?

2. Colour photography, the towns, the ranges, the mountains? The musical score?

3. The title, the focus on guns, the gunfighters, rivalries, killings, law and order, the sheriffs?

4. The focus on Randolph Scott as Brazos? In the town, his best friend trying to outdraw him? Brazos and his decision to lay down his guns, throwing them away? His riding to find the ranch? His friend dead? The immediate arrival of the gunfighters, his arrest, almost being lynched? The old man freeing him? The discussions with the sheriff? The possibilities of moving to California? His giving the bullet to Jane Banner?

5. The situation on the range, Banner, his ambitions, his hired hands, the murder of rivals? The killings throughout the film, the innocent old man who made gingerbread? The threats to rivals to Banner?

6. Brazos, with the sheriff? Discovering that there were twin girls? Bess and her trying to be seductive? His discovering the boot-print? Her guilt? Jane, the bullet, her love? Bess’s machinations? Her love for Bard? Her wanting to support him? Yet a touch of conscience? Jane, her reaction to Bess’s behaviour? The truth about her father? Saving Brazos from her father? Her leaving with him?

7. The hired men, the gunfighters, lack of scruple? The pursuit of Brazos? The fight in the town – and the tour de force of the horse, the fight under the horse’s hooves?

8. Brazos, the setup, his putting on his guns again? His holding up his hands but being quick on the draw? The other deaths? Banner’s threat?

9. Going to the sheriff, his being urged to go to California? Leaving with Jane?

10. The popular ingredients of the western, law and order, rustlers, ambitions of the cattle ranchers? The gunman with a conscience?