Gunslinger

Oh my god, I think I love this movie. Corman's liberalism shines and creates a really interesting, forward thinking perspective on the role of women and violence in the West. It takes liberally from Johnny Guitar, and while it doesn't have Ray's poetry, it makes up for it with its own ugly, angry intelligence. John Ireland is perfectly cast as the man you can't trust, but want to.

Why is all his stuff in the hallway?

This movie reminded me of Johnny Guitar, but better. In this the main character is a woman who takes over as marshal of the town and the woman saloon owner wants her dead, so she hires a hit-man. The hit-man loves the marshal, but is supposed to kill her! I enjoyed this movie, but I see on here that most other people didn't like it. Well, at least give it a chance.

36.

An incredible bootstrap effort, with plenty of guns and gals, a forward-thinking tale of dueling women, and John Ireland paying an admirable amount of dues to get his drink on. But the result is a whole lot of effort, and nothing much else.

Gunslinger is very forward thinking for a film made in 1956. Women taking the lead role as both the villain and hero in a western. That alone makes this film worth seeing.

Roger Corman #2

So cheap-looking and dull as dishwater. And I normally love dishwater!

Good performances by the three leads, with Garland especially attractive and winsome (and cool). John Ireland btw looks like Yul Brynner and sounds like Henry Fonda.

Mst3k score: 7/10

Relentlessly blah