Forty Guns (1957)

Director:

Samuel Fuller

Guionista:

Samuel Fuller (writer)

Release Date:

septiembre 1957 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Western

Plot:

An authoritarian rancher, Barbara Stanwyck, who rules an Arizona county with her private posse of hired guns...

Plot Keywords:

Land Baron | 1880s | Arizona | Arrest | Ballad

Comentarios de los usuarios:

A Decent And Odd Western

Cast

Barbara Stanwyck	...	Jessica Drummond
Barry Sullivan	...	Griff Bonnell
Dean Jagger	...	Sheriff Ned Logan
John Ericson	...	Brockie Drummond
Gene Barry	...	Wes Bonnell
Robert Dix	...	Chico Bonnell
Jidge Carroll	...	Barney Cashman
Paul Dubov	...	Judge Macy
Gerald Milton	...	Shotgun Spanger
Ziva Rodann	...	Rio
Hank Worden	...	Marshal John Chisum
Neyle Morrow	...	Wiley
Chuck Roberson	...	Howard Swain
Chuck Hayward	...	Charlie Savage
Sandra Wirth	...	Chico's Girlfriend

También conocida como:

Woman with a Whip (USA) (original script title)

Duración:

79 min

País:

USA

Idioma:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sonido:

4-Track Stereo (RCA Sound Recording)

Clasificación:

Germany:16 | Australia:PG | France:U (2002 re-release)

Company:

Globe Enterprises

Trivialidades:

Barbara Stanwyck's stunt woman refused to draggle herself along a street by a horse. She felt confident that it is too dangerous. Without further ado Stanwyck did it by herself. She got some bruises and grazes, but was okay. At that time Stanwyck was 49 years old.

Quotes:

Wes Bonnell: I never kissed a gunsmith before.
Louvenia Spanger: Any recoil?

Movie Connections:

Referenced in À bout de souffle (1960)

Soundtrack:

God Has His Arms Around Me

A Decent And Odd Western

If you've never seen this film, I think you'll find it a bit different from most classic westerns. It's really more of a film noir, I thought, and I liked that angle. I say "film noir" because of feel. This western had stark black-and-white photography with tons of shadows and it had a dramatic scene near the end that was very noir-ish. I was very impressed with the ending, and that's all I will say as to not spoil it for others.

The DVD has the option of fullscreen or widescreen. Please consider the latter, because that is how it was presented: in "cinemascope," and you'll want to see photographer Joseph Birac's work in all its glory.

For Barbara Stanwyck fans, this might be a little disappointing because Barry Sullivan is the star of the film, not her, despite the billing. Sullivan plays "Griff Bonnell" and he is the principal figure in the movie, although Stanwyck's presence and character in the story are very strong as "Jessica Drummond." "Griff," along with his brothers, played by Gene Barry and Robert Dix, have more lines than Stanwyck, who doesn't even come on screen until 20 of the 80 minutes have elapsed.

All the characters are pretty interesting, however, no matter what their screen time. Those include some strange supporting roles, particularly two lawmen who don't sound and act like lawmen: Hank Worden's marshal role in the beginning and Dean Jagger's stint as the sheriff who has designs on Stanwyck.

To repeat, this is an odd story. I mean, how often does one see a tornado in the middle of a western movie? Some of the lines in here were quite profound, too, and some were uttered really stupidly. It's a curiosity piece, that's for sure.....but definitely worth watching if good photography and odd characters interest you.