The Fastest Gun Alive

In the small western town of Cross Creek, shy, antisocial shopkeeper Glenn Ford is hiding a secret past. Selling dresses and candy all day proves to be a bore, which leads Ford to some showing off in front of the saloon with gun feats that amaze the locals; unfortunately for Ford, lightning-fast gunslinger and bank robber Broderick Crawford (!) is just outside of town and soon learns of Ford's prowess. Quick, compact western is marvelously well-done, with beautiful cinematography by George Folsey and a tight script (by Frank D. Gilroy, based on his short story, and director Russell Rouse) underlined with a touch of sardonic humor. Crawford, looking like Fred Flintstone in a cowboy hat, is raffish and wily as the brutish villain, though fast-on-the-draw seems a bit of a stretch. Still, the movie is written in such a way that we don't want to quibble, and Ford's unhappy nervousness is something we can relate to (he has some charming moments as well, such as when he compliments wife Jeanne Crain on her earrings). Russ Tamblyn has a lively dancing sequence where he struts his stuff on shovels, and the finale--while probably not realistic--is certainly a crowd-pleaser. *** from ****

Glenn Ford gives one of the best performances of his career as George Temple, a quiet, softly-spoken man who is hiding a secret that is slowly tearing him - and his marriage - apart. The screenplay, co-written by Frank Gilroy and director Russell Rouse, tends to spoon feed the audience it's psychology, but it also unfolds in measured doses that slowly ratchet up the tension to good effect. A musical number by Russ Tamblyn is a major misstep which is there for no other reason than to provide a new young talent with some exposure. It certainly adds nothing to the plot.

Directed with poise and aplomb by Russell Rouse (an illustrious unknown to me), with very good B&W photography, and terrific performances by Glenn Ford, Broderick Crawford and John Dehner, what I particularly like about this movie is its script (apart from a dancing number featuring Russ Tamblyn that has no connection whatsoever with anything else in the film).

THE FASTEST GUN ALIVE is built upon an unusual premise: Crawford wants at all costs to be the fastest gun alive, but Ford knows he is it - even though he has not killed a man yet.

The sequence in the church where people initially do not want Ford to go out and meet Crawford because they value his life, then want him to do it because Crawford orders the town's shops doused with kerosene, comes across as remarkably human and true.

There are sound moral values to this film, excellent cinematography, and believable characters. 8/10

Enjoyed this film mainly because I like Broderick Crawford, (Vinnie Harold) who was too old and too fat to be the fastest gun in this film and a great young star Glenn Ford, (George Temple) who had dark deep secrets to hid in the small town of Cross Creek. George Temple was married to Dora Temple, (Jeanne Crain) who had to suffer with her husband's past and they finally decided to locate in a new town to live in and they were store owners. However, George had a real bad habit of loving guns and also being an expert sharp shooter. Vinnie Harold went from town to town looking for the fastest gun and killed everyone that he came across who thought he could out draw him in a good old Western duel in the street of some town. Jeanne Crain gave a great supporting role and looked very young and pretty along with a very handsome looking Glenn Ford. This is a good classic 1956 black and white film, but is very entertaining.

Glenn Ford plays a storekeeper whose friends and neighbors think of him as a wimp. Finally he has enough and decides to show them how good he is with a gun, which doesn't make wife Jeanne Crain too happy. Then gunslinger Broderick Crawford comes to town. He's obsessed with being the fastest gun alive. I know what you're thinking. You're thinking nobody says anything to Crawford about Ford's ability with a gun, he leaves town without incident, and the movie ends abruptly. Well, you're wrong.

This is a very good western that has what I feel to be Glenn Ford's finest acting work. His agitated and conflicted performance is unlike anything he had done up to that point. Crawford is a mixed bag here. His acting is spot-on but he seems physically wrong for the part. An overweight 45 year-old is hardly the image that springs to mind when one thinks of a headstrong gunslinger that needs badly to prove he's the best. Perhaps someone younger and leaner would have been better. John Dehner, who played one of Crawford's cohorts, would have probably been a better fit. Still, despite my problems with his casting, Crawford gives his all and does well. Jeanne Crain does fine also. Russ Tamblyn has a somewhat out of place dance number but it's still enjoyable to watch. Overall, it's a solid western. Not at the top of my list of favorites but a good one nonetheless. Ford's bravura performance alone would be worth recommending it.