Forty Guns (1957)

Forty Guns
Directed by Samuel Fuller
Written by Samuel Fuller
1957/USA
Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation/Globe Enterprises
Repeat viewing/Netflix rental

[box] Jessica Drummond: I need a strong man to carry out my orders.

Griff Bonnell: And a weak man to take them.[/box]

Fun Sam Fuller Western confirms my opinion that Barbara Stanwyck aged the most gracefully of the classic actresses.

Jessica Drummond (Stanwyck) is the boss of Cochise County, Arizona.  She backs up her iron rule with forty hired guns and the allegiance of hand-picked sheriff Ned Logan (Dean Jagger).  Logan (Dean Jagger) also has an unrequited passion for the wealthy Jessica. Jessica has been saddled with little brother Brockie (John Ericson), now a mean alcoholic loser, since his birth.

U.S. Marshall Griff Bonnell (Barry Sullivan) rides into the territory with his two younger brothers, Wes (Gene Berry) and Chico.  He aims to take fugitive Howard Swain, Jessica’s top gun, into custody.  As soon as the Bonnells arrive in town, Marshall John Chisum (Hank Warden) pleads for help but Griff refuses to lift a finger for him.  The almost blind Chisum is promptly gunned down by Brockie for kicks.

Things take their brutal course.  In the meantime, Jessica and Griff, who have a lot in common, fall in love setting up a triangle with the jealous Logan.  Brockie and Griff are inevitably drawn into conflict leaving Jessica in a sad dilemma.

I enjoy this movie a lot.  It is short, taut, and features some stunning shots of men on horses. Stanwyck retains the dignity and looks to be a believable middle-aged love interest.

Trailer