Gunman's Walk (1958)

Sorry, this movie sucks

Am i the only one who thinks........Average?

A terrific literary drama and character piece that shows how the process of creating art can be seen differently by those doing it and those looking at it from the outside.

The film may be flawed, but its message is not.

Gunmans Walk is a little known western but superior to many of it's better known counterparts. Quite why it's not better thought of is a bit of a mystery to me. A young man goes off the rails while his dad tries to cover up his misdeeds. Van Heflin is superb as the rich father who just wants his two lads to be like him. Tab Hunter also excels as the hot headed brother who just wants to make a name for himself without his fathers intervention. A strong supporting cast all add there bit to the impressive mix. The cinematography is outstanding and it also features a good musical score. Whilst it may lack the gun play of many westerns the clever script makes this compelling at all times. I found this to be an enthralling and intelligent western with a great ending. For lovers of westerns, this really is a must see. Highly recommended.

I've seen this movie more than a few times and it never gets old. Like Col. Potter said,, "All a good movie needs is horses, cowboys and horses." But this story goes beyond your typical oater of black hats and white hats; cowboys and Indians. It's the story of a slightly dysfunctional family that could take place in any era,, and I'm sure it has (been done before/since). What I particularly like about this movie is it is nonstop. I tend to get bored by flash-backs, flash-forwards, flash-sideways, endless chase scenes and lengthy shootouts. There was also one musical scene,, another thing I'm not fond of,, but I think it was done well and it worked for me. Always more than capable Van Heflin did a great job. Tab Hunter was a real surprise. I haven't seen all of his work,, "They Came to Cordura",, and maybe I'm biased by years of the pretty boy, can't act label but I though he turned in a journeyman performance this time. James Darren,, as always,, was a bit stiff and understated but being the shy, reserved, younger brother,, I believe understated was called for; stiff wasn't. In support there is Mickey Shaughnessy, Robert F. Simon, Edward Platt, Ray Teal, Will Wright and Paul Birch. Not that any of these guys ever mailed in a performance but Simon and Teal were very good.When I watch a movie I'm not looking to be edified, enlightened, educated, illuminated or inspired. I'm not looking for political statements or correctness (I like "Green Acres" and "The Honeymooners"). I don't delve into the mind of the character and dissect their psyche. I couldn't care less what motivates them. I have neither the time nor the inclination to do any digging. I want to be entertained and this movie did just that. I thought this was a good movie, good story and good acting.

Phil Karlson was an erratic director who could sometimes hit one out of the ball park, perhaps without meaning to, as in "Walking Tall." This is one of his better efforts, with some intrinsic ambiguity. There are some interesting moral dilemmas. For instance, you love your son. Would you kill him if he were threatening to kill you?The beetle-browed Van Heflin is splendid, as usual. After one or two stereotyped parts in his early career, he began to bring a great deal of conviction to his roles. He may have given the best performance in "Shane." And he's convincing here, too, as one of those "powerful men around here" who fought the Indians and enforced his own law when none other was available. But now, some years have gone by and that approach is out dated. Heflin doesn't quite seem to realize it. He runs his ranch honestly and he's a man of honor but he remains a racist. The town is now settled peacefully and has a sheriff and a deputy, which Heflin treats with friendly disdain.But his real trouble is with his two sons, reckless and increasingly violent Tab Hunter, and law-abiding tolerant James Darren -- one good, one bad. Heflin approves of the bad son who gets drunk sometimes, has a sweet temper, is quick with his fists, and doesn't like to be bested in any contest. It reminds Heflin of his own youth.The problem is that Hunter's infractions grow beyond the tolerable. The sheriff is an old friend of Heflin's but when Hunter shoots and kills a couple of men, he has to draw the line. So does Heflin, who now sees what he's responsible for.Heflin is fine. Katherine Grant is a half breed who is only around so that the tender-hearted Darren can fall in love with her and Heflin can vent his hatred of Indians. ("That SQUAW!") The supporting cast is fine, a good handful of seasoned professionals.The sons are two handsome young heart throbs of the period. Neither can act. There is handsome young Tab Hunter, outfitted in tight shirts and slacks; and there is handsome young James Darren, in looser clothing as befits someone who doesn't like guns but can love a squaw. Behind the nicely chiseled Aryan face of Tab Hunter lies Arthur Andrew Kelm, a strapping kid from New York who looked good enough to get into the movies although he never uttered a believable word. And behind the troubled yet hopeful eyes of James Darren, we find James William Ercolani, a kid from Philadelphia who looked good enough to get into the movies although he never uttered a believable word.The story's moral complexity lifts it out of the ordinary shoot-'em-up Western. The two heart throbs almost sink it but it survives despite the carnage they've wrought.

Van Heflin played second lead in a score of pictures over 3 decades. In this excellent western he gets to play the lead, and his performance is one of the greatest of his long career. He displays a completely believable fatherly range of emotion and makes the audience identify with his 'how the west was won' mentality. Phil Karlson's deft direction keeps the pacing of this picture very crisp and poignant. The settings and western scenes are also quite excellent. All of this has been said without mentioning Tab Hunter's taught performance, which is really the defining touch that makes this movie great. Surprisingly, Hunter was a teen idol especially developed by the movie studio to be just another screen image. He defied the studios by delivering this amazing performance as a wild and reckless young man growing up in the shadow of his father's hard nosed old western legacy, determined to leave his own stamp on the developing times in the west. Gunman's Walk may be the most underrated western in screen history. It almost feels like a real metaphor for the western motif, and the changing civilization that beckons just over the horizon.