Seven Guns to Mesa

The 1950s were really the Golden Years of the Western. This particular film is an unfortunate example of how some producers mistakenly believed that as long as you put together the standard issue storyline - it would be a success.

Producing a film with third rate actors (except for Griffith) a juvenile storyline, and dialogue written by an 8th grader will result in what this film represents. It is a disgrace to the industry and to art in general.

Unfortunately a number of these trashy Westerns were made during the 50s and put up as second features in many side street movie theaters.

It is fitting that they end up on YouTube as an example of the extreme negative end of moviemaking.

Well the town of Mesa might have had 643 living in it at some point but by the time this disparate group of stagecoach travellers arrive, there isn't a soul to be seen. Even the saloon is all liquored out! Except, they quickly discover that "Papa" (James Griffith) and his gang are holed up awaiting a gold shipment which they plan to divert. Things don't look great for the passengers as he doesn't really want any witnesses, but then the lone rider "Trey" (Charles Quinlivan) shows up and you just know that he is going to put a spoke in things. He's a cool customer, though, is old "Trey" and is swiftly playing the thugs against each other whilst trying, increasingly shirtless, to protect the damsel in distress that is "Julie" (Lola Albright). The rest of this plays out pretty much as expected, but I did think that Griffith turned in a decent enough effort as the baddie whilst the others very much went through the motions. There's a paucity of real action until the end where, again, you don't need the tea leaves to see the conclusion and the dialogue, well really, the less said about that the better. Standard afternoon drive-in fodder - no better nor no worse.