The Gunfighter (1950)
A pleasant surprise with fine looking black and white western with a tight script and a fine performance by Gregory Peck. Being the fastest gun in the west isn’t as glamorous or easy as the myths about these gunmen say. Peck plays Ringo, a fast gunslinger that clearly isn’t looking for anymore trouble, but everywhere he goes people are trying to kill him to claim the fame of being the one who killed the famous Ringo. Kids are running around him hoping to see him kill somebody and half the women in town wants him hanged. He clearly don’t see himself as a murderer and just wants to settle down with his love from the past and their boy.
The movies builds a similar tension as High Noon with a clock ticking where we know three men will arrive in town out for revenge. Ringo may be a fast draw, but everything else ain’t easy for him. The tragic ending says it all.
Rating: 4