Noose for a Gunman (1960)

It's entirely possible that sending the audience out feeling lousy was intentional

I wanted to like it more than I actually did... But much of the humor totally escaped me and I walked out only mildly impressed.

There is, somehow, an interesting story here, as well as some good acting. There are also some good scenes

Exactly the movie you think it is, but not the movie you want it to be.

"Guns, Girls, and Gangsters" director Edward L. Cahn's predictable but entertaining oater "Noose for a Gunman" is a solid enough horse opera with a seasoned cast who have slapped leather many times. Veteran character actor Jim Davis plays Case Britton. Britton and local cattle baron Carl Avery (Barton MacLane of "G-Men") despise each other. Case gunned down Avery's two sons, and nobody in the town for Rock Valley has forgotten about his treachery. We learn later that Avery's boys were responsible for killing Case's brother. AS "Noose for a Gunman opens, Case rides back into town and passes a frayed noose dangling from a tree with his name on a signboard. Town Marshal Tom Evans (Walter Sand of "Last Train from Gun Hill" knows Case, and he isn't prepared to lock him up. Case warns the paunchy lawman that notorious outlaw Jack Cantrell (grave-voiced Ted de Corsia of "Gunfight at the O.K. Corral") and his dastardly gang aim to waylay the Rock Valley stagecoach and steal $75-thousand. When word about this impending robbery reaches stagecoach line supervisor Jim Ferguson (Harry Carey, Jr., of "Rio Grande"), Ferguson cancels the stagecoach run. It seems that Cantrell tried to persuade Case to join his dastardly outfit, but our honor-besmirched protagonist turned them down.As it turns out, Case is concerned about the welfare of one of the passengers on the stage, former dance hall songbird Della Haines (Lyn Thomas of "Triple Trouble"), who is coming to Rock Valley to marry him. Avery and his brawny right-hand hired gunman, Link (Leo Gordon of "Tobruk"), show up in town and embroil Case in trouble. During a brawl with Link on the boardwalk, Case sees Link's partner whip out his six-shooter on him. Case shoots him, and Tom has to put him under lock and key. Later, two of Cantrell's gunslingers ride into town to ferret out information. While they are wetting down their whistles in the saloon, Evans warns them that they have set up a reception committee for Cantrell. Evans rides out to confront Cantrell at the outskirts of Rocky Valley. Cantrell promptly guns down Evans and his gang storms Rock Valley. They hole up in the saloon and guzzle liquor. The Rock Valley townsmen make a deal with Case. If he can deal with Cantrell and his marauding gunmen, Case will have a new lease on life. Jim Davis of CBS-TV's "Dallas" is believable as a two-gun toting gunfighter who wants to turn over a new leaf, and Lyn Thomas is the lady who is going to straighten him out. Davis delivers a strong performance as a native son and he carries himself and his matched pair of pistols with assurance. Anybody who loves westerns where spot several old character actor hands. The story by Steve Fisher and the screenplay by Robert E. Kent of "Blood on the Arrow" boasts few surprises. Nevertheless, but this 69 minute horse opera, "Noose for a Gunman" is more than routine.

Having years of being a supporting player as a good and bad guy in various westerns, here, Jim Davis is the lead playing someone in the middle as Case Britton, who left town after shooting a couple of men for gunning down his marshal brother and is now back to warn the current marshal about a robber named Jack Cantrell (Ted de Corsia) awaiting a stagecoach to pilfer. His reasons, however, are personal as there's a woman named Della Haines (Lyn Thomas), who he plans to marry, inside. I'll stop there and just say this was another thrilling oater of Davis' that I'm glad to have seeked out on Netflix streaming. Fine direction by Edward L. Cahn helped immensely as well as good supporting turns by, besides the above, Harry Carey, Jr., Barton MacLane, Walter Sande, and Leo Gordon, among others. So on that note, Noose for a Gunman comes recommended.

Here's an above-average B Western with good acting, intelligent plot & characters. Nothing special plot-wise, just a solid B western that's not stupid. Ted de Corsia does the best acting in this film, in the midst of a solid cast. Walter Sande plays an almost unique character for a B Western, the town sheriff who is not the main Good Guy, yet acts sensibly & has intelligence, how odd! Barton MacLane, Lyn Thomas, Leo Gordon, & Harry Carey Jr. are all good in supporting roles. Jim Davis, the star of the film, puts in a fine, understated performance here, that reminds me in some ways of Wild Bill Elliot, which places Davis in the upper echelon of B Western actors, along with Elliot, although neither is a match for William Boyd (Hopalong Cassidy). For some reason, this film is not listed in either Maltin book (his main movie book or the B&W films review book). The rest of the cast is fine, too. Certainly worth a watch.

Jim Davis turns in a good performance here as a former bad-guy who returns to the scene of the crime, this time to warn others of impending danger. Many of the townsfolk shun his efforts, but the town's wise lawman believes him. Together they work to save the day...Davis does well in this meaty role..... one that allows him to draw from his years of acting experience as both a hero and villain. He is completely believable and convincing as the multi-dimensional lead. Davis was one of the few B-film actors who could have pulled this one off.This as an average oater, with an interesting plot and fine acting. Not a bad outing for those concerned. Not bad at all .........