Gunpoint

Audie Murphy's western films of the 1950's were entertaining, action-filled and capitalized on his likable, resolute personality. The budgets for those '50's films were higher than his subsequent films in the 1960's. This average film has that weakness, but is still entertaining when viewed in that context.

This film's mediocre budget and production values disappoint, while still showcasing those aspects of Audie Murphy's talent that always appealed to his many fans. I especially liked the casting in this one, with western favorites Royal Dano and the crusty old Edgar Buchanan.

For fans of Murphy, this one is a must see...... for others, watch it in context and you will be surprised. Worth a closer look .........

Night Passage staring Jimmy Stewart and Audie Murphy, filmed in 1957 is a far better film, acting and story line wise, than the 1966 film Gunpoint.

Gunpoint staring Audie Murphy also took film scenes from Night Passage. Although I had never seeing the film Gunpoint before, I felt like I was seeing something that I had. Right from the beginning where the train is being robbed, its identical footage, other than the gang of train robbers.

Which made it appear to be a low budget film with poor acting it became boring😴 to watch. Although neither of the films I consider the best works of either actor, far from it. Gunpoint seemed to have been screened written by a junior high student as Night Passage a much more professionalism written film perhaps a senior in college writing level.

My last Audie Murphy western. Yes readers, I've now seen every one that he made as well as a few non-oaters. Needless to say I have a real fondness for the actor, much as I have for Rory Calhoun and Randolph Scott. They were the heroes of my childhood back when they were on top and Gunpoint doesn't entirely disappoint although when it starts it looks like a budget TV western episode. When we get past the inside scenes and into wide open country it improves considerably. There follows a chase by Murphy and a ramshackle posse of villain Morgan Woodward who has stolen a saddlebag of cash from the town and Murphy is determined to catch him come hell or high water or in this case, high mountains. The chase scenes up the mountain are surprisingly well filmed and authentic. Adding to the fun are an able cast, Warren Stevens as a flashy saloon owner, The beautiful Joan Staley as his girlfriend and to add complications, previous love of old Audie, aging bumbling gang leader they come across, Edgar Buchanan and half wit Royal Dano so some familiar faces. Not a great Murphy western but OK and worth watching.

As I said before I'm a great appreciator of Audie Murphy's B-Movie, even this one was one of the latest of his long career, is self-evident that Murphy already older and the film's quality is no longer were in the same level with the previous one, however this an interesting movie as well, He Plays a Sheriff Chad Lucas in charge to deliver a large amount of money carry by train to the Bank, he and his Deputy Cap (Denver Pyle) has been escorted by horses, meanwhile the Drago's gang already obstructed the railroad falling down the water reservoir, he gets up on a train's roof but he was hit by a bullet and felt down almost dying, then he settles a posse to chase Drago's gang who escape taking a his former fiancée Uvalde (Joan Staley) bringing together the newest Uvalde's lover Nate Harlan (Warren Stevens), in the way they fight with Indians until meeting a three horse's hunter leading by the fabulous Edgar Buchanan, what a character, this is the best part of the movie nearby a beauty waterfall's spot, also a little reference to Greek Nicos (Nick Demos) actually a colorful character who improve the movie widely , fine entertainment!!

Resume:

First watch: 2020 / How many: 1 / Source: DVD / Rating: 7

Gunpoint is directed by Earl Bellamy and written by Mary and Willard Willingham. It stars Audie Murphy, Joan Staley, Warren Stevens, Edgar Buchanan, Denver Pyle, David Macklin, Nick Dennis and Royal Dano. Music is by Hans J. Salter and Technicolor cinematography by William Margulies.

It's early 1880s Colorado and lawlessness is rife, mostly perpetrated by The Drago Gang who were able to enact their crimes and escape afterwards to the sanctuary of their New Mexico stronghold. One man, however, is not going to go down without a fight, the sheriff of Lodgepole, Chad Lucas (Murphy).

There's a school of thought that Audie Murphy's 1960s Westerns are far weaker than his 1950s ones? Which with one or two exceptions is rightly the case. The decade brought a wind of change in the Western genre, for soon Spaghetti would offer something new on the menu and revisionism was not far away either. With most of Audie's 60s output hindered by budget restrictions and a battle against the changing tide, one has to just hope there's enough on offer to not waste your time.

Gunpoint is a right mixed bag that shows the best and worst of Audie's genre output of the decade. Murphy is just fine in is characterisation, his fans suitably catered for, while around him is a stoic and reliable group of Western performers. There's some nifty stunt work on show, plenty of action (property destruction, horse pursuits, shoot-outs etc), and the location photography out of Utah (St. George/Snow Canyon State Park) is gorgeous. While there's also a splendid old fashioned locomotive to enjoy as well.

Narratively it's not high end, though a turn of events suggesting our hero to shockingly be a bully of sorts - which gives him emotional conflict - is a smart addition. Unfortunately the good in the production is off set by poor rear protection and polystyrene props etc, which while still carrying nostalgic value, comes with a hint of sadness of where these productions had landed at. Still, this is far from a waste of time, it holds all the requisite genre tropes for fans of Audie and the "B" Westerns we loved so much in the 50s. 6.5/10