The Fastest Gun Alive
Directed by Russell Rouse
Written by Frank D. Gilroy and Russell Rouse from a story by Gilroy
1956/USA
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
First viewing/Amazon Instant
Clint Fallon: Mr. I don’t want to fight! But don’t push it!
There are several reasons I did not like this Western, which attempts to have a broader significance a la High Noon or The Gunfighter.
As the story starts, Vinnie Harold (Broderick Crawford) and his gang of outlaws ride into town. Vinnie is there to challenge the local champion, who has a reputation as “The Fastest Gun Alive” to a quickdraw shoot out. Vinnie wins the contest. The gang then rides out to rob a bank.
We then move to Cross Creek and meet George Temple (Glenn Ford) and his wife Dora (Jeanne Crain). They have lived in town for four years and run a general store. But George is tormented by a secret past, which is hidden from us for an aggravatingly long time. Anyway, Dora is pregnant and is really worried about her man. He looks about ready to snap and she is tired of moving from town to town when he blows.
It is not too much to reveal that George is, or believes himself to be, the The Fastest Gun Alive. He has to keep one step ahead of all challengers. Things come to a head when Vinnie and his gang ride into town to get fresh horses.
I like all the actors in this one but the script dragged it out to the point where it seemed like they were all over-emoting. George’s secret adds up to a whole lot of nothing. Jeanne Crain is made up to look like Mrs. 1956. The whole thing just felt kind of phony to me.
Trailer
