''Showdown at Boot Hill'' is a 1958 American

Western Western may refer to: Places *Western, Nebraska, a village in the US *Western, New York, a town in the US *Western Creek, Tasmania, a locality in Australia *Western Junction, Tasmania, a locality in Australia *Western world, countries that id ...

film directed by Gene Fowler Jr., written by

Louis Vittes Louis Vittes (1911–1969) was an American screenwriter who mostly wrote for television and low-budget films. Select filmography *''Villa!!'' (1958) *'' Showdown at Boot Hill'' (1959) *'' I Married a Monster from Outer Space'' (1959) *''The Eyes ...

, and starring Charles Bronson, Robert Hutton,

John Carradine John Carradine ( ; born Richmond Reed Carradine; February 5, 1906 – November 27, 1988) was an American actor, considered one of the greatest character actors in American cinema. He was a member of Cecil B. DeMille's stock company and later ...

, Carole Mathews, Fintan Meyler and

Paul Maxey Paul Regan Maxey (March 15, 1907 – June 3, 1963) was an American actor. Born in Wheaton, Illinois, the rotund Maxey played character roles in films from 1937, notably as the composer Victor Herbert in ''Till the Clouds Roll By'' (1946) ...

. The film was released on May 1, 1958, by

20th Century Fox 20th Century Studios, Inc. (previously known as 20th Century Fox) is an American film production company headquartered at the Fox Studio Lot in the Century City area of Los Angeles. As of 2019, it serves as a film production arm of Walt Dis ...

. It was the first film Gene Fowler Jr. made for Regal Films.

Plot

An unusual western plot that is character driven and reaches beyond right/wrong morality, requiring its male and female leads to develop and act on introspection. Bronson portrays a Marshall who has turned bounty hunter explicitly as a reaction to his being "short" and unable to command the allegiance of those he is to protect. His beliefs and lifestyle are challenged by Doc played by John Carradine who sees something of his younger self in this angry man with a gun. Also driving the psychological elements of the film is the Marshall's growing attachment to Jill (Carole Mathews) and her daughter Sally (Fintan Meyler).

Cast

* Charles Bronson as Luke Welsh * Robert Hutton as Sloane *

as Doc Weber * Carole Mathews as Jill Crane * Fintan Meyler as Sally Crane *

as Judge Wallen *Thomas Browne Henry as Con Maynor *William Stevens as Corky *Martin Smith as Tex *Joe McGuinn as Mr. Creavy * George Douglas as Charles Maynor *Mike Mason as Les Patton *George Pembroke as Sheriff Hinkle *

Argentina Brunetti Argentina Brunetti (born Argentina Ferraù; August 31, 1907 – December 20, 2005) was an Argentinian stage and film actress and writer. Biography Brunetti was born Argentina Ferraù in Buenos Aires, Argentina to Italian parents; her moth ...

as Mrs. Bonaventura *Ed Wright as Brent *Stacey Marshall as Saloon Girl *Shirley Haven as Customer

Production

The film was shot in late 1957, and gave an early lead role to Charles Bronson. The film was the first in a series that Gene Fowler Jr. made for Robert L. Lippert. Fowler said "that Lippert experience was wonderful in a way because we had the run of the Fox lot; whatever sets happened to be still standing, we'd use those sets. My partner, Lou Vittes and I, would walk through those sets that had already been used for more expensive pictures than we could make and we would pretty much write the script around those sets." Parts of the theme song sound similar to the theme from ''

The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance ''The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance'' () is a 1962 American Western film directed by John Ford and starring John Wayne and James Stewart. The screenplay by James Warner Bellah and Willis Goldbeck was adapted from a 1953 short story written by ...

'', directed by

John Ford John Martin Feeney (February 1, 1894 – August 31, 1973), known professionally as John Ford, was an American film director and naval officer. He is widely regarded as one of the most important and influential filmmakers of his generation. He ...

four years later and starring John Wayne, James Stewart and

Lee Marvin Lee Marvin (born Lamont Waltman Marvin Jr.; February 19, 1924August 29, 1987) was an American film and television actor. Known for his bass voice and premature white hair, he is best remembered for playing hardboiled "tough guy" characters. Alt ...

References

External links

* 1958 films 20th Century Fox films American Western (genre) films 1958 Western (genre) films Films directed by Gene Fowler Jr. Revisionist Western (genre) films 1950s English-language films 1950s American films {{1950s-Western-film-stub