''At Gunpoint'' is a 1955 American

CinemaScope CinemaScope is an anamorphic format, anamorphic lens series used, from 1953 to 1967, and less often later, for shooting widescreen films that, crucially, could be screened in theatres using existing equipment, albeit with a lens adapter. Its cr ...

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

Alfred L. Werker Alfred L. Werker (December 2, 1896 – July 28, 1975) was a film director whose work in movies spanned from 1917 through 1957. After a number of film production jobs and assistant directing, Werker co-directed his first film, ''Ridin' the Wind' ...

and starring

Fred MacMurray Frederick Martin MacMurray (August 30, 1908 – November 5, 1991) was an American actor. He appeared in more than one hundred films and a successful television series in a career that spanned nearly a half-century. His career as a major film le ...

Dorothy Malone Dorothy Malone (born Mary Dorothy Maloney; January 29, 1924 – January 19, 2018) was an American actress. Her film career began in 1943, and in her early years, she played small roles, mainly in B-movies, with the exception of a supporting rol ...

and

Walter Brennan Walter Andrew Brennan (July 25, 1894 – September 21, 1974) was an American actor and singer. He won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for ''Come and Get It (1936 film), Come and Get It'' (1936), ''Kentucky (film), Kentucky'' (19 ...

Plot

In the

Old West The American frontier, also known as the Old West, and popularly known as the Wild West, encompasses the geography, history, folklore, and culture associated with the forward wave of American expansion in mainland North America that bega ...

, brothers Alvin and Bob Dennis and their gang plan to rob the bank in Plainview, believing that it will be an easy job. During the ensuing robbery, the gang shoots a teller and kills the elderly marshal MacKay. Store owner Jack Wright grabs MacKay's gun and townsman George Henderson kills Alvin. The stolen money is recovered as the rest of the gang escapes. The town is appreciative of Jack's and George's heroism, especially banker Livingstone. The Amarillo newspaper publishes photos of the Plainview heroes, and Bob vows revenge. The gang returns to Plainview to kill George, who has been named the new town marshal. Jack realizes that he could be next. A federal marshal arrives to monitor the town but leaves after an uneventful two weeks. Jack and his family notice that the town is shunning him and his business is declining. A $2,500 reward for Alvin's capture is a pleasant surprise for Jack, but when Jack's brother-in-law Wally is mistaken for Jack and murdered by Bob, no one is willing to help. In fact, he is offered more money by Livingstone and other frightened citizens if he will sell the store and leave town. Doc Lacy and the Wrights are ashamed of everyone's lack of support in Jack's hour of need. Jack arms himself to face Bob and his gang. He is initially outmatched, but the men in town come to Jack's aid, demanding the gang's surrender. All of the men surrender except Bob, who is shot by Doc Lacy while approaching Jack. The townspeople offer apologies to the Wrights, all of whom are willing to forgive and forget, except Doc.

Cast

as Jack Wright *

as Martha *

as Doc *

Skip Homeier George Vincent Homeier (October 5, 1930 – June 25, 2017), known professionally as Skip Homeier, was an American actor who started his career at the age of eleven and became a child star. Career Child actor Homeier was born in Chicago, Illino ...

as Bob Dennis *

Tommy Rettig Thomas Noel Rettig (December 10, 1941 – February 15, 1996) was an American child actor, computer software engineer, and author. He portrayed the character "Jeff Miller" in the first three seasons of CBS's '' Lassie'' television series, f ...

as Billy *

John Qualen John Qualen (born Johan Mandt Kvalen, December 8, 1899 – September 12, 1987) was a Canadian-American character actor of Norwegian heritage who specialized in Scandinavian roles. Early years Qualen was born in Vancouver, British Columbia, ...

as Livingstone *

Whit Bissell Whitner Nutting Bissell (October 25, 1909 – March 5, 1996) was an American character actor. Early life Born in New York City, Bissell was the son of surgeon Dr. J. Dougal Bissell and Helen Nutting Bissell. He was educated at the Allen-S ...

as Clem Clark * Jack Lambert as Kirk

Reception

In a contemporary review for ''

The New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''NYT'') is an American daily newspaper based in New York City. ''The New York Times'' covers domestic, national, and international news, and publishes opinion pieces, investigative reports, and reviews. As one of ...

'', critic

Bosley Crowther Francis Bosley Crowther Jr. (July 13, 1905 – March 7, 1981) was an American journalist, writer, and film critic for ''The New York Times'' for 27 years. His work helped shape the careers of many actors, directors and screenwriters, though some ...

lambasted ''At Gunpoint'' as a poor imitation of ''

High Noon ''High Noon'' is a 1952 American Western (genre), Western film produced by Stanley Kramer from a screenplay by Carl Foreman, directed by Fred Zinnemann, and starring Gary Cooper. The plot, which occurs in Real time (media), real time, centers ...

'' (1952):

"At Gunpoint" is another barefaced imitation of that memorable Western "High Noon,'' but it suffers severely by comparison—as well as in other ways. In the first place, Fred MacMurray is no
Gary Cooper Gary Cooper (born Frank James Cooper; May 7, 1901May 13, 1961) was an American actor known for his strong, silent screen persona and understated acting style. He won the Academy Award for Best Actor twice and had a further three nominations, ...
in the role of a mild-mannered local stalwart. As the hero who refuses to get out of town when threatened by vengeful bandits, but remains to shoot it out with them despite the fears of the townsfolk, Mr. MacMurray is pretty much of a dud. Likewise, Dorothy Malone is no
Grace Kelly Grace Patricia Kelly (November 12, 1929 – September 14, 1982), also known as Grace of Monaco, was an American actress and Princess of Monaco as the wife of Prince Rainier III from their marriage on April 18, 1956, until her death in 1982. ...
as the young wife who tries to encourage this singularly heroic fellow to run. Miss Malone gives the impression of practicing what they preach at charm school. And certainly the script of Daniel B. Ullman and the direction of Albert Werker cannot hold a candle to the ''High Noon" contributions in those departments of
Carl Foreman Carl Foreman, CBE (July 23, 1914 – June 26, 1984) was an American screenwriter and film producer who wrote the award-winning films '' The Bridge on the River Kwai'' and ''High Noon'', among others. He was one of the screenwriters who were bla ...
and
Fred Zinnemann Alfred Zinnemann (April 29, 1907 – March 14, 1997) was an American film director and producer. He won four Academy Awards for directing and producing films in various genres, including thriller film, thrillers, western (genre), westerns, film ...
. Mr. Ullman and Mr. Werker have contributed routine efforts, at best, to this film. "At Gunpoint'' is obvious and sluggish, even as average Westerns go.

References

External links

* * * {{Alfred L. Werker 1955 films 1955 Western (genre) films Allied Artists films American Western (genre) films CinemaScope films 1950s English-language films Films directed by Alfred L. Werker Films scored by Carmen Dragon 1950s American films English-language Western (genre) films

Plot

Cast

Reception

See also

References

External links