Cathardincu Surprisingly incoherent and boring

SoTrumpBelieve Must See Movie...

Maidexpl Entertaining from beginning to end, it maintains the spirit of the franchise while establishing it's own seal with a fun cast

Tobias Burrows It's easily one of the freshest, sharpest and most enjoyable films of this year.

wes-connors In the Southwest of the 1880s, seasoned gunfighter Gregory Peck (as Jimmy Ringo) slips into a saloon. Patrons quickly recognize the long, lean Texan as the fasted gun in the west. Looking to show-off and make a name for himself, young Richard Jaeckel (as Eddie) challenges Mr. Peck's reputation and loses decisively. Out for retribution, the kid's three older brothers form a posse and follow Peck to Cayenne. Peck is there to seek out estranged wife Helen Westcott (as Peggy), who has changed her name and works as a schoolteacher. Peck tells Cayenne sheriff and old friend Millard Mitchell (as Mark Strett) he would like to stay in town and settle down with his wife and son. The men agree the idea is impossible, because Peck is too well-known as a gunfighter...As the vengeful trio approach Cayenne, resident young hot-shot Skip Homeier (as Hunt Bromley) wastes no time engaging in a conflict with Peck. Sensing Peck's reign as the west's top gunslinger may be coming to an end, Mr. Homeier desires the title for himself. "The Gunfighter" offers an intriguing conflict between the characters played by Peck and Homeier. They come to represent two sides of the same coin. This is the western gunfighter, at odds with himself and his past..."The Gunfighter" won award consideration for its writing, by William Bowers with William sellers and Andre de Toth. There was nothing flashy enough to earn a "Best Actor" Oscar nomination for Peck; that's okay, he is even-keeled. Director Henry King and supporting actor Homeier have a couple of outstanding moments; best is their fight scene with Marshal Mitchell (also excellent), which briefly makes one think of Mr. King's colossal fight scene from "Tol'able David" (1921)...Much ado was made about Peck's moustache. The growth on his upper lip growth was cited as a reason for "The Gunfighter" performing less than spectacularly at the box office. More likely, the film's ending was the culprit. We ride off into the sunset with symmetry. By the way, the moustache worn by Peck's character was meant to contrast with the one grown by Homeier. Most viewers, apparently, missed the comparison; however, the facial hair works better on a subliminal level.********* The Gunfighter (6/23/50) Henry King ~ Gregory Peck, Skip Homeier, Millard Mitchell, Helen Westcott

LeonLouisRicci A Proud Movie that could Side with the Films of Budd Boetticher and Anthony Mann, this Early Psychological Study is one of the Best of the Loaded Western Genre. its Simplistic Style and Sombre Tone is Handled with Finesse by Director Henry King with a Mature, Classy Script by William Bowers.Tense, Tight, and Taut at 85 Minutes the Film is a Character Study, in Fact it is All About Character with no Reference to Society or Towns, Settling the West, or any such Large Notions. This is Personal. Personal Choices and Consequences. Gregory Peck at His Brooding and Suffering Best. Smoldering Regret with One Last Try to Reunite His Family and Hide Far, Far Away, "...where nobody ever heard of me." A Fine Cast Lends Support with an Outstanding and Believable Millard Mitchell as a Former Friend.This of Course is a Predetermined Self-Delusion, not Only because He can Never Outrun His Past, but the Motion Picture Code of the Time, would not have it. Utilizing Divine Intervention and Controlling the Fate of Anyone who Dare Sin on Screen.If there is one Minor Quibble, it is the Very Final Scene where we get Corny Closing Lines that may make some Cringe, it is at the Church......"I am Mrs. Jimmy Ringo"…..."and his boy".

Jeff (actionrating.com) See it – This is easily one of Gregory Peck's best movies, let alone best westerns. Let me set the mood for you. It's the story of a famous gunfighter who drifts from town to town, not looking for any trouble. But eventually some cocky young buck will try to see if he can "take him", and when the young buck gets himself shot, the gunfighter is run out of town. But he's tired of running, and there's one last stop he needs to make. Only this town is different…are you feeling the vibe yet? Alright, I'll stop. This is one of those tragic psychological westerns that doesn't have many showdowns, but the tension just builds and builds until the ending you know is coming still hits you upside the head. It won't score very high on the action scale, but this must-see classic was an early pioneer for dozens of similar westerns that would soon follow.

Tweekums When Jimmy Ringo pops into a saloon for a quiet drink every punk wanting to make a name for himself has to try it on; Ringo might not look mean but his reputation as the fastest gun in the west proceeds him and somebody always thinks they could be faster and even though he just wants a quiet life each confrontation just increases his reputation. After one such incident he leaves town followed by the now dead punk's three brothers... he disarms them and tells them to head back to the town. He rides on to the town of Cayenne and they follow on foot. It looks as if things will repeat themselves when he is recognised here too. The marshal tells him to leave town but he refuses to go until he has seen his wife and child who he hasn't seen for eight years. It turns out that Jimmy and the Marshal are old friends so he agrees to tell her Jimmy wants to talk; however she doesn't want to talk to him. Jimmy agrees to go by sunset; hoping she might change her mind. While he waits the news of his presence spreads; all the young boys skip school to see the famous gunslinger and yet another punk decides to face him down; this one gets to live however as he backs off when Jimmy suggests he already has his gun pointed at him under the table. As evening approaches the vengeful brothers reach town and it looks as though it will them or him... except in this film we don't get the cliché of the showdown, instead we get an act of cowardice followed by a fine little speech from a dying man.I hadn't heard of this film till I was lent a boxed set of Gregory Peck films; now that I've seen it I'm surprised it isn't better known. Perhaps people think it doesn't have enough gunfights or the climax isn't the heroic showdown between a hero and a villain; either way it is a shame as it is a fine film. Gregory Peck does a great job as the taciturn Jimmy Ringo; a man who has clearly done bad things in the past but just wants to go straight and lead a quiet life with his wife and child. He is ably supported by Millard Mitchell who gives a fine performance the Marshal and Skip Homeier who is suitable unpleasant as the young gun hoping to take Ringo's crown. While there might not be much action between the initial shooting and the final confrontation there is plenty of tension and the waiting lets us get to know and care about the characters. If you like westerns I'd certainly recommend this; Peck might not have John Wayne's swagger but he does bring a quiet intensity to his role.