Gunman's Walk
Gunman's Walk is a 1958 American CinemaScope Western film directed by Phil Karlson and starring Van Heflin and Tab Hunter.[1]
Gunman's Walk | |
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1958 theatrical poster | |
Directed by | Phil Karlson |
Produced by | Fred Kohlmar |
Screenplay by | Frank S. Nugent |
Based on | story by Ric Hardman |
Starring | Van Heflin Tab Hunter |
Music by | George Duning |
Cinematography | Charles Lawton Jr. |
Edited by | Jerome Thoms |
Color process | Technicolor |
Production company | Columbia Pictures |
Distributed by | Columbia Pictures |
Release date |
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Running time | 95 minutes |
Country | United States |
Language | English |
Plot
Davy Hackett (James Darren) and his hot-tempered, arrogant older brother Ed (Tab Hunter) are about to assist their rancher father Lee (Van Heflin) on a cattle drive to Wyoming. The brothers meet Cecily "Clee" Chouard (Kathryn Grant), a beautiful half-French, half-Sioux woman, and when Ed makes unwanted advances toward her, Davy intervenes.
Clee's brother Paul (Bert Convy) is invited to join the cattle drive. Ed, obsessed with capturing a white mare, resents Paul's interference and pushes him off a cliff to his death. It is witnessed by two Indians, but when the case comes to court, Ed is released because Lee has bribed a man named Sieverts (Ray Teal) to lie that the death was an accident. Lee learns that Davy is in love with Clee and disowns him.
Sieverts is given 10 horses in exchange, but when he selects the white mare, Ed shoots him. Jailed once again, Ed shoots a deputy and escapes. Lee hunts down his own son and kills him, then leads Davy and Clee back to the ranch.
Cast
- Van Heflin as Lee Hackett
- Tab Hunter as Ed Hackett
- Kathryn Grant as Clee Chouard
- James Darren as Davy Hackett
- Mickey Shaughnessy as Deputy Sheriff Will Motely
- Robert F. Simon as Sheriff Harry Brill
- Edward Platt as Purcell Avery
- Ray Teal as Jensen Sieverts
- Paul Birch as Bob Selkirk, Lee's caretaker
- Will Wright as Judge
- Bert Convy as Paul Chouard (uncredited)
- Chief Blue Eagle as Black Horse, Indian (uncredited)
- Paul Bryar as Saloon bartender (uncredited)
- Harry Antrim as Doctor (uncredited)
- Everett Glass as Rev. Arthur Stotheby (uncredited)
- Dorothy Adams as Martha Stotheby (uncredited)
Production notes
Ric Hardman wrote the original script and it was adapted by Frank Nugent. Van Heflin signed to star in August 1957.[2] Rudolph Mate was originally meant to be the director but he dropped out (he would be replaced by Phil Karlson). Tab Hunter was borrowed from Warner Bros.[3]
Columbia contractee James Darren was assigned to a support role. Filming started in November 1957.[4][5]
Director Phil Karlson says the film reduced Columbia studio head Harry Cohn to tears. "He had two sons and this was a story about a father and two sons. He identified completely."[6]
Reception
The Los Angeles Times said it was "moviemaking at its best".[7]
Legacy
Quentin Tarantino later said the film was an inspiration for Tanner the fictitious movie starring Ric Dalton in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood.<ref>"Quentin Tarantino introduces and discusses "Gunman's Walk"". You Tube. August 17, 2019.<ref>
See also
References
- Gunman's Walk at AllMovie
- GOYA'S LIFE STORY PLANNED AS FILM New York Times 15 Aug 1957: 18.
- FILM WRITERS MAP TOLL-TV DEMANDS By THOMAS M. PRYOR New York Times 27 Sep 1957: 16.
- POITIER LEAVES MOVIE OF 'PORGY'By THOMAS M. PRYOR New York Times 11 Nov 1957: 34.
- James Darren Well on Way to Hitting Jackpot of Stardom Scott, John L. Los Angeles Times 27 Apr 1958: E1.
- Todd McCarthy and Richard Thompson. “Phil Karlson: Interview, November 19, 1973” Kings of the Bs; Working Within the Hollywood System, eds. Todd McCarthy and Charles Flynn (New York: E.P. Dutton, 1975), pp. 327-345. Rpt. Cine Resort, Oct. 7 2014
- Heflin and Hunter Winners in 'Walk': New Western Ranks With Best; Are Films Pampering Nazis? Scheuer, Philip K. Los Angeles Times 24 July 1958: A5.
External links
- Gunman's Walk on IMDb
- Gunman's Walk at AllMovie
- Gunman's Walk at the TCM Movie Database
- Gunman's Walk at the American Film Institute Catalog
- Review of film at Cinema Retro