MAN WITH THE GUN (1955, USA, 83m, PG) ***
Western
dist. United Artists; pr co. Formosa Productions; d. Richard Wilson; w. N.B. Stone Jr., Richard Wilson; pr. Samuel Goldwyn Jr.; ph. Lee Garmes (B&W | 1.85:1); m. Alex North; ed. Gene Milford; ad. Hilyard M. Brown.
cast: Robert Mitchum (Clint Tollinger), Jan Sterling (Nelly Bain), Karen Sharpe (Stella Atkins), Henry Hull (Marshal Lee Sims), Emile Meyer (Saul Atkins), John Lupton (Jeff Castle), Barbara Lawrence (Ann Wakefield), Ted de Corsia (Frenchy’ Lescaux), Leo Gordon (Ed Pinchot), James Westerfield (Mr. Zender), Claude Akins (Jim Reedy (uncredited)), Angie Dickinson (Kitty (uncredited)).
Well-made Western in which Sheridan City is out of control. The citizens are corrupt, the saloon is an immoral indulgence, and gunmen and greedy opportunists come and go as they please. With the town’s lawman (Hull) incapable of maintaining order, the town council brings in a hired gun, Clint Tollinger (Mitchum), who has business of his own with the saloon madame (Sterling). Tollinger sets about proving his reputation as a “town tamer” through his signature approach: eradicating violence with violence. Mitchum exudes charisma as the tough gun for hire and the story unfolds at a fair clip. The scenario of a rich rancher running roughshod over the townspeople may be a familiar one and the resolution may seem a little pat, but the strength of individual scenes and the strong cast help to elevate this above the routine. Watch out for an unbilled Angie Dickinson as a saloon girl. Aka: THE TROUBLE SHOOTER and DEADLY PEACEMAKER.
