Man or Gun (1958) User Reviews

For a 1950s B Western surprisingly interesting

[rmahaney4 · 7/10 · 8 February 2002]

Man or Gun is an interesting film, which is unusual as most 1950s B Westerns are definitely not very interesting, most being retreads of earlier, better films. However, in this film there is inventive camera work with interesting angles and crane shots, an intelligent plot, a good use of music, sound and silence, and decent acting. It is all the more the unusual as being well directed by a man whose career was comprised of 9 films all directed in a single 5 year period (1956-1961), Albert Gannaway. While not a great film, it is a good one.

The plot involves Fran Dare (Audrey Totter), a saloon owner, and her partner manipulating a fast drawing stranger (Macdonald Carey) with a gun that holds a growing superstitious significance to those around him. He is used to wrest control of the town from the Corleys and to extract some measure of revenge for Fran, whose father had been killed by the Corleys. The town's aged sherriff spends his time in his office, playing checkers, trying to avoid trouble, and swearing that since he had been in office there had been "no killings, only legal shootouts".

Both Audrey Totter and Macdonald Carey had long careers, both appearing in over 50 films and in various televisions series.

The film has more the feel of the great physcological westerns of the 1950s than your standard Randolph Scott oater.

The final 20 minutes of the movie include an inventive gunfight at a farmhouse and a well done climax.

Man or Gun is a good question - the answer, "meh."

[travelerx · 7/10 · 30 April 2011]

Probably one of the most original ideas for a b-western I have ever come across. Despite having all the other trappings of a b-movie, (the female saloon keeper romantic lead, the bad rich guy and his gang, the philosophical drifter etc) the basic idea, the focus on the gun of a famous (now deceased) killer and whether or not it gives its owner supernatural speed on the draw makes for an unexpected psychological thriller.

Don't misunderstand me, this is not a great movie, its nowhere near as well realised as it should be and a terrific idea is poorly served. Still, if ever a movie deserved to be revisited, this is it. Here's hoping Tarantino or someone comes across it one of these days.

"By the looks of you, I'd say you hired a gunman."

[classicsoncall · 6/10 · 10 March 2008]

This was my first look at Macdonald Carey and I can't say I was very impressed with his role as the gunman who cleans up Dutch Flats. He showed none of the charisma of a Western hero, and it didn't help that the mystique of his quick gun hand was regarded as some kind of supernatural hex placed on his Colt Wesson .44. The film could have gotten a little more mileage out of that plot element but it really didn't get the right treatment. I got the same impression as a prior reviewer on this board, and quite independently came up with a 'Twilight Zone' type link between the gun and the spooky music that celebrated each victim. The romantic link with Audrey Totter's character also didn't seem quite right to me; at least Smith (Carey) figured out that she was really the one pulling the strings against the Corleys. You know what really struck me as supernatural though? How did old man Corley know Smith/Yancey gunned his boys down when he just got in to town?

This is film noir western, a low key but good entertainment.

[Jim-Gaudet · 16 September 2001]

I just saw this on cable, and knowing nothing about it before hand, I found myself slowly drawn into the story. I wanted to know what would happen to these characters, and what was really motivating them. I ended up really enjoying it.

All the leads play characters who are intense, and are flawed in various ways. Also, we never get a whole lot of background on the characters, just enough to intrigue me and keep me watching.

At times, I found myself comparing the directorial and writing style to some of the early Dragnet TV episodes from the 1950's. Being black and white, the lighting is subdued, almost flat. The shootings are quick and intense and almost matter of fact.

In conclusion, I really enjoyed it but suspect it is not for everyone.

One of the strangest westerns I've ever seen.

[triton-85184 · 6/10 · 30 June 2022]

Seems like it should've been made in the late '60s, early '70s. In another country. The laughable dialog, we don't care. How so many people throw their lives away without hesitation, I'm sure it's happened.

The gun real or fiction?

[bigbob-21 · 10/10 · 20 September 2008]

I really enjoyed this movie it seemed to have a different flavor than most of the B westerns of that day. Pretty good acting and unusual plot. The only thing I can't understand is why did they call the gun a Colt Wesson 44. Did Colt and Wesson ever collaborate and make a .44 caliber hand gun? I've searched Google until my fingers are sore:-) I can find no references to a Colt Wesson .44. So I'm wondering why was there none made or was it such a rare gun that the complete Google catalog has no info on it? That didn't ruin the movie for me at all and then they mentioned a 7 shot revolver when Pinch was to be hired and the man (can't remember his name) but he was the partner in the saloon any way he said make sure and use a 7 shot pistol 1 more than the 44. I didn't know there were any 7 shot guns back then either. Anyone have any info on these 2 questions?

Is the West or the Twilight Zone?

[Bruce_Cook · 3 March 2002]

Despite my love for Westerns, this one was tough to enjoy. The pacing is extremely slow, the characters are not well crafted, and the dialogue is frequently ridiculous. Example: the rich old rancher who rules the town mutters `profound' dialog to himself such as, `All I know is . . . when your dead, your dead for a looooong time'.

Most of the music is produced by a sleepy harmonica, a mournful violin, and a tinkling harp -- except for the title theme, which is a plodding song with dreadful lyrics and no discernible melody, performed by an untalented baritone.

McDonald Carey does a competent acting job amidst some serious scenery chewing. Even Warren Stevens (Doc from `Forbidden Planet') is swimming upstream in this one. His dialogue is dreadfully melodramatic, and his fight scene with Carey is badly staged, clumsily edited, and unintentionally funny.

The most implausible part of the story is the characters' belief that Carey's gun is `magic'. The bad guy (Stevens) is obsessed with getting it because he thinks it'll make him a perfect shot. This misplaced supernatural element, plus the somber mood of the film, the black & white photography, and the strange, almost ghostly music during the climactic gunfight makes the film play like a `Twilight Zone' episode.

STRANGE DAYS AHEAD IN A STRANGE TOWN.

[tcchelsey · 10/10 · 14 December 2023]

A "quiet man" known as Maybe Smith rides into the desert town of Dutch Flat, and there's some surprises awaiting him. The desperadoes play it their special way. Macdonald Carey is the man to watch.

A familiar story... but this is a different type of western, playing more like a noir film. The camera angles, the strange little music background, make it all click . This also boasts an excellent cast for a low budget production, co-starring Audrey Totter as Fran and Warren Stevens as the bad guy who you can't get enough of. Old favorite James Gleason plays the sheriff.

The film also moves, and with some solid knockdowns. The fights are very well staged by director and producer Albert Gannaway, who mastered many other B westerns to his credit.

I do agree with the last few reviewers, this has a far different feel. It definately will draw you in. No doubt, an inspiration to many later contemporary westerns, certainly the mood is there for the asking.

James Craig plays Pinch and popular character actor Ken Lynch plays Buckstrom. Special thanks to GRIT Network for bringing this one back to life after many years. This could be on dvd in multiple western box sets.

Not that unusual actually

[searchanddestroy-1 · 23 July 2023]

I did not find this western that strange, I prefered TERROR IN A TEXAS TOWN, for instance, also a weird western with a very unusual and surprising ending too. But yes, this western is above average compared to many other ones speaking of similar plot. Thanks probably to the directing, camera work, atmosphere. Madonald Carey is as bland as ever but good enough to keep your attention till the end. Concerning Audrey Totter, she doesn't seem to be that concerned in her role. To briefly summarize, this western is worth watching in the grade B category, because it has the quality of a good really B movie. I would not be surprised that this plot had inspired the late nineties series THE GUN, about a gun seeked by many people.