"Buffalo Gun" is a film that sat on the shelf for four years before it was finally released. In most cases, this is because the film is assumed to be a real dog...a movie that will lose a lot of money. While I cannot say this is the reason, it's likely...and as I watched "Buffalo Gun" I noticed it sure wasn't a very good western compared to most made during this era.
So why did I bother watching this movie? Well, two reasons. First, one of the supporting actors is Wayne Morris...and he was a fine actor and I like his films. Second, the country western singer Marty Robbins (famous for the great song "El Paso") is one of the stars...and there aren't that many chances to watch this famous singer act. I really am not a huge fan of the genre...though Robbins sure could deliver a beautiful tune.
The story starts out with one of the worst filmed gunfights in western history. A cattle drive is attacked but in so many of the scenes, the actors are shown in close-ups...a most peculiar choice and one that made it look as if they pieced together many separate clips to make the 'gun fight'. Regardless, it left me thinking that bad acting is not the only problem with the movie...the direction left a lot to be desired.
At the same time, the local Indian tribe is angry. Their government rations which were promised them haven't been delivered...and you wonder if the jerks who tried to steal the herd are also responsible for this Indian problem.
The direction isn't very good. The acting is not particularly good and the most experienced actors (Morris and Red Barry among others) are reduced to supporting three completely inexperienced and dull non-actors who were in the leads. Carl Smith, Webb Pierce and Marty Robbins all were famous country music stars and the film rests on their shoulders...a big mistake. The bottom line is having one country music star in the lead might have worked if he was paired up with a strong lead...such as when Fabian was cast in a film with John Wayne in the lead. But here, the heroes are inexperienced and bland actors...and it makes you wonder who thought this was a smart idea. In hindsight...it wasn't.
Finally, although three country music stars starred in the movie, oddly, the song they were given to sing were pretty bland...so it isn't even worth seeing in order to hear them sing.
