The Gunfighter
A notorious gunfighter seeking one last chance at family life finds his violent legend turning a quiet western town into a countdown to confrontation.
Overview
A reformed gunfighter seeks redemption and a chance to reunite with his family, but his past won't let him go.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- Moderate
- tense
- fatalistic
- melancholic
- classic western night
- focused movie night
What critics said
Critics broadly praised the film as an unusually authentic and psychologically compelling western that places character drama and suspense above conventional melodrama.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Jimmy Ringo's fame draws challengers and turns his attempt at family reunion into a public spectacle.
Ringo rides into town hoping to reconnect with Peggy and meet the son he has never known.
Ringo is restricted to the saloon while the town reacts to his arrival and a private meeting is arranged.
The monochrome photography and restrained dramatic emphasis frame the gunfighter's reputation as bleak social destiny.
Films like The Gunfighter, and why
3:10 to Yuma
morally complex revisionist western centered on a notorious gunfighter seeking escape from violence
The Ox-Bow Incident
psychological western about a legendary violent man confronting the consequences of his reputation
Ride the High Country
tense western drama where an aging gunslinger is trapped by his violent past and an approaching confrontation
Movie Details
- Director
- Henry King
- Release Date
- 1950-05-26
- Runtime
- 85 min
- Rating
- 7.4 / 10 (217)
Cast
- Gregory Peck
- Helen Westcott
- Millard Mitchell
- Jean Parker
- Karl Malden
- Skip Homeier
- Anthony Ross
- Verna Felton
- Ellen Corby
- Richard Jaeckel
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- fuboTV
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is The Gunfighter about?
- A notorious gunfighter seeking one last chance at family life finds his violent legend turning a quiet western town into a countdown to confrontation.
- What is The Gunfighter like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of The Gunfighter as brisk, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is The Gunfighter violent?
- Somewhat. Ember rates the violence in The Gunfighter as moderate.
- What did critics think of The Gunfighter?
- Critics broadly praised the film as an unusually authentic and psychologically compelling western that places character drama and suspense above conventional melodrama.
- Which films are like The Gunfighter?
- Films with a similar feel include 3:10 to Yuma, The Ox-Bow Incident, and Ride the High Country.
- How long is The Gunfighter?
- The Gunfighter runs 85 minutes.
- Where can I watch The Gunfighter?
- In United States, The Gunfighter streams on fuboTV.
