Gun the Man Down (1956)

Boring

How wonderful it is to see this fine actress carry a film and carry it so beautifully.

This is a coming of age storyline that you've seen in one form or another for decades. It takes a truly unique voice to make yet another one worth watching.

One of the worst ways to make a cult movie is to set out to make a cult movie.

Three outlaw buddies rob a bank, but one of them is wounded. His two partners and his girlfriend take his share of the loot and run off, leaving him to be captured by the sheriff. Years later, after he gets out of prison, he goes in search of his double-crossing partners and his faithless girlfriend.Although not widely known today, this is a great western and the precursor to "Gunsmoke" in many ways. But what really got me was how much it walks the line between a western and a gangster movie. While it is completely a western, there is a certain element that makes me think gangster: rather than ratting out his friends, a criminal is going to take care of them himself. That is very gangster.Interestingly, the producer was John Wayne's brother. Wayne's involvement in westerns is widely known, but how many people know his brother was also involved in his own way?

The first thing to note here is that James Arness is a bad guy. I don't believe I've seen him in any other pre-Gunsmoke Westerns, so his casting as an outlaw was a bit of a surprise. His was the lead role though, quite likely a favor from half brother John Wayne and his filming company, Batjac Productions. I'd say it was a pretty good team up.The film opens with an 'Introducing Angie Dickinson' credit, so that was another cool eye opener. She had an ambiguous role here as saloon gal Janice, in a romance with Rem Anderson (Arness), but forced to leave with Rem's gang members Matt Rankin (Robert Wilke) and Ralph Farley (Don Megowan) after a successful bank robbery left Rem severely wounded and unable to ride. If anything, the sticking point I have with the story is why wouldn't Jan just up and leave the pair of outlaws at some point instead of taking up with Rankin.What's cool about this Western is the subtle psychological angle offered by Anderson's patient hunt for the guys who betrayed him, and Gunther Wells Sheriff Morton's (Emile Meyer) laid back approach to waiting him out before stepping in to prevent lawlessness in his town. Again though, it's never explained how Rem Anderson achieved his fast draw status in order to take out hired gunslinger Billy Deal (Micheal Emmett). That's probably why the showdown was dealt with off screen, with the sheriff cleverly treating the five thousand dollar bounty paid by Rankin as community property.The other remaining head scratcher for this viewer had to do with how Rankin decided to use his robbery proceeds to open the Red Dog Saloon not very far away from Palace City where the original hold up took place. Seems like the outlaws should have been fingered by this time. Either way, I couldn't figure out how Rankin kept the saloon profitable with no customers; there was never anyone else in the place besides himself, Farley and Jan.Well by the time it's over, Rem Anderson is just about a good guy, coming full circle in his quest for revenge. It was probably a good idea for the story that he didn't have to make a decision about taking back his former gal Janice. That was already decided for him when Rankin shot her in the back!!! What a low down, dirty dog.

I caught this movie on TV because of the stars - James Arness & Angie Dickenson. I was pretty surprised. Expecting another western shoot-'em-up with sexy gun-moll, I saw, instead a very thoughtful story. Arness shows the acting chops that made him so successful for many years on Gunsmoke. Dickenson displayed the vague talents that pointed her to the career she enjoyed once she discovered bleach. Robert Wilke was his bad-guy best but not the truly evil character he normally plays. There's a certain "victim of circumstances" air about his character. I included a spoiler alert because I really need to talk about "plot holes". After a botched bank robbery, where a teller is shot and left for dead, one of the gang - Arness - is left behind, bleeding, for the posse to collect. But I can't understand why they never told him his cut would be waiting for him whenever he caught up with them down the road. After all, had they stayed, all would have been lost. This way, the money is saved if he (Arness) survives. I would think that would be a good deal. He couldn't ride and likely would have died if he tried. But then, there goes the whole story, I suppose. And I can't understand why Dickenson's character "takes up" with Wilke's. As "Rem Anderson's gal", Janice should have had access to a third of the loot in her own right and wouldn't need the kindness of the two remaining gang members. But then there would go THAT tension angle too. Finally, the other two gang members - Rankin & Farley - buy a saloon, but there's never anybody in it. How are they paying their rent? In fact, there's a dearth of townsfolk all around. Population appears to be about 4. Having said all that, I thought it was a great little movie. Very intriguing and excellent camera shots. Finally, one of my favorite characters may have been Emile Meyer's sheriff. Displaying all the sagacity of the old sheriff who's seen it all, and knows how best to position himself for events most likely to come. I might quarrel with his strapping on a six- shooter instead of grabbing the old sheriff's best buddy - a short-barrel shotgun, but I won't. This is one I'd watch at least a couple more times.

I remember this movie from long ago & have read comments on it & must agree it is boring & predictable, however i would watch it again because i am a fan of James Arness & like nearly all western movies. It is rather comical that they were so cheap on the making of the film & that John Wayne produced the movie is most remarkable. James Arness I think did his best work on Gunsmoke anyway, & he was not destined to became a major movie star. I think with Angie Dickinson & Wilkes the other co-star that the movie could have been much better & should have had lots more western action in it. But alas it will be just another B western movie. Thank you