Noose for a Gunman

Though wanted for murder, gunslinger Case Britton returns home to Rock Valley when he learns that the stagecoach carrying his fiancée is being targeted by bandit Jack Cantrell in this suspenseful Western.

Jim Davis does well as a John Wayne type - from a distance I was fooled into thinking it's the Duke! He plays a gunslinger with a bad reputation and with the townfolk not wanting him around, and it doesn't matter if he warned the sheriff of impending danger in the form of Ted De Corsia, who plays heavies like it's going out of fashion.

Noose for a gunman is a good western, has a nice plot and some suspense. It's a remake of Top Gun and was later remade a The quick gun. I prefer Top gun and the quick gun as Noose for a gunMan can lack a bit of excitement when compared with those films. It has a very good showdown at the end.

Good suspenser with a few unexpected twists. So who'll win the showdown between toughies Case (Davis) and Link (Gordon) who really stack up strongly against one another. And what will happen when the Cantrell gang riides into town to rob big money from the bank, thanks to their nasty Avery informants. Worse, which direction will the Avery-dependent town go in, since he's their main cash source.

No doubt for an oater it's a more complicated plot than usual, what with all the shifting alliances and manuevering between rival gangs. Still, the screenplay makes the various twists and turns fairly credible.

And catch the great cast of familiar B-players, from deCorsia to Sande to MacLane and especially to the always impressive Leo Gordon. Then too, shouldn't forget Harry Carey Jr., unsurprisingly the oater's one resolute good guy. And that's while Jim Davis makes a compelling John Wayne type of grim determination.

Anyway, don't expect a lot of good scenery from the greater LA locations. Nonetheless, it's a better-than average western, with a blonde lady who even knows how to shoot and surprise front-row geezers like me. So catch up with the 1959 flick if you can. After all, good drama never dates regardless of pedigree.

Here's an above-average B Western with good acting, intelligent plot & characters. Nothing special plot-wise, just a solid B western that's not stupid. Ted de Corsia does the best acting in this film, in the midst of a solid cast. Walter Sande plays an almost unique character for a B Western, the town sheriff who is not the main Good Guy, yet acts sensibly & has intelligence, how odd! Barton MacLane, Lyn Thomas, Leo Gordon, & Harry Carey Jr. are all good in supporting roles. Jim Davis, the star of the film, puts in a fine, understated performance here, that reminds me in some ways of Wild Bill Elliot, which places Davis in the upper echelon of B Western actors, along with Elliot, although neither is a match for William Boyd (Hopalong Cassidy). For some reason, this film is not listed in either Maltin book (his main movie book or the B&W films review book). The rest of the cast is fine, too. Certainly worth a watch.

Jim Davis turns in a good performance here as a former bad-guy who returns to the scene of the crime, this time to warn others of impending danger. Many of the townsfolk shun his efforts, but the town's wise lawman believes him. Together they work to save the day...

Davis does well in this meaty role..... one that allows him to draw from his years of acting experience as both a hero and villain. He is completely believable and convincing as the multi-dimensional lead. Davis was one of the few B-film actors who could have pulled this one off.

This as an average oater, with an interesting plot and fine acting. Not a bad outing for those concerned. Not bad at all .........

In 1955 'Top Gun', a black and white B western starring Sterling Hayden was relleased. This is practically the same - same story and in parts even the same dialogue. Steve Fisher is credited for the story for both films. The cast is different. Films are often remade, but generally this occurs with successful ones. It must be a rarity that a minor western such as this is copied so faithfully. Watch them both and see what you think.