"Gunpoint" is one of Audie Murphy's later films and his last for Universal Studios. And, while some of his universal westerns were very good, this one is, at best, just average.
When the story begins, Sheriff Chad Lucas (Murphy) and his Deputy, Chad (Denver Pyle), see that a spectacular train robbery is about to occur by Drago's gang. However, what Chad doesn't realize is that his Deputy is in on the robbery. And later, when he goes off to capture the gang, his double-dealing Deputy is in tow. But to make it much worse, Chad's being helped by a thoroughly disreputable character he knows he cannot trust, Nate Harlan (Warren Stevens). Nate's reason for coming is that Drago (Morgan Woodard) has kidnapped his fiancee, Uvalde (Joan Staley). What will ultimately happen?
The story suffered from some big problems. First, it seemed that everybody had some bad story secret...EVERYBODY. That got very old with all these surprise reveals. Second, early in the film, the Sheriff is nearly blinded and his vision is a mess...but it magically seems normal until the big ending...when it suddenly returns. Not good writing, that's for sure. But the third problem really annoyed me...Morgan Woodward was barely in the film. He was a GREAT bad guy...but you barely get to see any of his usual menacing manner...which is a waste.
Now if you can look past this, the story isn't bad and it's an okay western...one which seems almost as if it could use a bit of a re-write.
When the story begins, Sheriff Chad Lucas (Murphy) and his Deputy, Chad (Denver Pyle), see that a spectacular train robbery is about to occur by Drago's gang. However, what Chad doesn't realize is that his Deputy is in on the robbery. And later, when he goes off to capture the gang, his double-dealing Deputy is in tow. But to make it much worse, Chad's being helped by a thoroughly disreputable character he knows he cannot trust, Nate Harlan (Warren Stevens). Nate's reason for coming is that Drago (Morgan Woodard) has kidnapped his fiancee, Uvalde (Joan Staley). What will ultimately happen?
The story suffered from some big problems. First, it seemed that everybody had some bad story secret...EVERYBODY. That got very old with all these surprise reveals. Second, early in the film, the Sheriff is nearly blinded and his vision is a mess...but it magically seems normal until the big ending...when it suddenly returns. Not good writing, that's for sure. But the third problem really annoyed me...Morgan Woodward was barely in the film. He was a GREAT bad guy...but you barely get to see any of his usual menacing manner...which is a waste.
Now if you can look past this, the story isn't bad and it's an okay western...one which seems almost as if it could use a bit of a re-write.