Invitation to a Gunfighter (1964)

Wonderful Movie

In truth, there is barely enough story here to make a film.

The film's masterful storytelling did its job. The message was clear. No need to overdo.

It’s fine. It's literally the definition of a fine movie. You’ve seen it before, you know every beat and outcome before the characters even do. Only question is how much escapism you’re looking for.

A very underrated western! Superb performances from Yul Brynner and Janice Rule. Arguably their best. Director Richard Wilson had worked with Orson Welles on his theater projects and that influence is evident in the adapted screenplay he wrote with his wife. The film questions the moral superiority of the Unionists over the Confederates. It asks, more importantly, if racism in USA is merely related to a white versus black confrontation or to white versus all non-whites (Mexicans, mulattos, cajuns, Native Indians, etc.). More than the action, the film is lifted by the spoken word (e.g., how an average American thinks Jules and Jewel are the same!) and misplaced morality. Needs to be more widely seen and appreciated.

People are nothing but a bunch of coward bad sheep. That's what this movie is proving. Between Chris Larabee Adams of "The Magnificent Seven" and The Gunslinger of "Westworld," Yul Brynner plays a similar role, as a paid gunman, but for a different cause. Janice Rule is beautiful and talented. George Segal, Pat Hingle and Strother Martin are credible and efficient as usual.

I saw this western for the first time in 1996 and it struck me as being an excellent movie. Years later I saw it again in 2006 and still had the same view, I have since watched it 3 more times.This is without a doubt for me Yul Brynner's best film (from what I have seen). I am not really a fan of his, but in this movie he gives a truly commanding performance that stands out. From the opening moment you see him hoisting himself onto the roof of the moving carriage to sit at the front by the driver, until the ending where he makes Brewster (The town's crooked boss played by Pat Hingle) kneel and admit his ways, it is compelling viewing. The sexual tension between Brynner and Janice Rule simmers below the surface. The moral issues explored such as racism in the town are quite weighty although they are more implied than rammed down your throat. Also Union and confederate allegiance issues exist in this town even after the war is over.Matt Weaver(played well by a young George Segal) returns home from the war to find his house sold out from under him. Then he is wrongfully accused of murder and the town having been whipped up into a frenzy by Brewster, decide to hire a gunfighter to kill him. The job is eventually taken by Brynner, and there is an interesting twist where the tables are turned when the town feel the gunfighter is not earning his money.This film kept me fully entertained with its strong performances from the three leads and other decent performances too from the rest of the cast. Although this is not one of the all time great westerns it is certainly one not to miss and any western fan should seek it out. 7/10

Knowing of writer-director Richard Wilson's connection with Orson Welles I was curious to see if any of the maestro's magic had rubbed off but alas ... What Wilson serves up is a rehash of Johnny Concho, a Sinatra vehicle from 1957. In that movie Sinatra, by virtue of his gunman brother, 'ruled' the town until William Conrad showed up having outgunned Sinatra's brother and the town is stuck with another gunman. Wilson's twist is to have citizen Pat Hingle send for gunfighter Yul Brynner to take care of George Segal; Brynner opts to spare Segal and Hingle and the townsfolk live to regret sending for Brynner. There are reasonable performances but definitely no Wellesian touches and in the end it is just another ho hum Western.