THE LONE GUN

US, 1954, 76 minutes, Colour.
George Montgomery, Dorothy Malone, Frank Faylen, Neville Brand, Skip Homeier.
Directed by Ray Nazzaro.

The Loan Gun is a typical enough Western of the first half of the 1950s – and there were many of them. George Montgomery appeared in quite a number of westerns in the 1940s and 50s as did Skip Homeier. Neville Brand portrayed many criminals in his career. Dorothy Malone offers some complex love interest. The film was stolen by Frank Faylen as a card conman, Fairweather. Director, Ray Nazzaro was quite prolific in making small-budget westerns.

The story is about an initially unwilling marshall, an agreeable conman, two brothers who do not stop at murder and cattle rustling, a brother and sister who become their victims.

1. The westerns of the early 1950s, brief running time, location photography, musical score and atmosphere, the western towns, the ranches, the open plains and cattle?

2. The title, the introductory observations about Texas and frontiers, about good men and bad men, about individuals who uphold the law?

3. The introduction to Cruz, writing, the encounter with Fairweather, Fairweather shooting the snake? Three travelling together? In the town, the Moran brothers and the attack, Cruz fighting? The mayor offering him the job, his past refusal when things got difficult, his finally accepting?

4. The character of Fairweather, smooth talker, skill at cards, winning, friendship with Cruz, Cruz not giving him any favours? The drama of the card games? Fairweather and his final support?

5. The Moran brothers, thugs, stealing cattle, fighting, the pressure on the Downings, the plan with the cattle, rustling, pasturing them with the Downings, the murders, brutality, confronting Cruz?

6. The townspeople, not wanting to be part of the posse? Cruz, the evidence against the brothers, his getting the warrant, confrontation, the pursuit?

7. The final confrontation, Downing, the brothers?

8. Charlotte, her initial antipathy towards Cruz, learning the truth about her brother and the brothers, in debt, the appeal to Cruz? A love interest?