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It's not great by any means, but it's a pretty good movie that didn't leave me filled with regret for investing time in it.

Each character in this movie — down to the smallest one — is an individual rather than a type, prone to spontaneous changes of mood and sometimes amusing outbursts of pettiness or ill humor.

One of the most extraordinary films you will see this year. Take that as you want.

One of the film's great tricks is that, for a time, you think it will go down a rabbit hole of unrealistic glorification.

The Lone Gun is directed by Ray Nazarro and written by Don Martin, Richard Schayer and L. L. Freeman. It stars George Montgomery, Dorothy Malone, Neville Brand, Frank Faylen, Skip Homeier, Robert Wilke, Douglas Kennedy and Fay Roope. Music is by Irving Getz and cinematography by Lester White (color by Color Corporation of America)."The history of any frontier region . . . such as the great expanses of the new State of Texas . . . offered many examples of the strange way in which a few men of great evil could dominate whole communities of well meaning, but passive citizens......And examples, too, of men who rode out alone for law and order, with badges on their vests and handcuffs in their pockets . . . playing a lone gun against great odds"It is pretty much as one would expect for a 50s "B" Western, there's nothing remotely new here, it's a good old honest Oater where a good man takes up a law badge in a town that doesn't deserve him, he takes on the bad guys and there's a pretty lady on his mind. Cue fisticuffs and shootings (including a particularly cold blooded murder), some nifty ambush sequences, a tension packed poker game and some neat dialogue - "one yell and you'll be waking up in a devil's cookhouse". Cast are fine, with Montgomery doing his usual reliable and likable guy act, Brand doing another in his line of scumbags - backed by Kennedy and Wilke, and even though she's saddled with the token lady role that's sparsely written, Malone leaves a nice impression regardless. Bonus is Faylen, who as card conman Fairweather, shines in a cheeky chappie role, with quips and a glint in his eye even when he's in danger, Faylen enjoys himself in creating this fun character. Some good stunt work rounds it out as a safe and enjoyable Oater for fans of such. 6.5/10Tidbib: Bizarrely the end credits have Wilke and Kennedy listed as playing each others roles?!

Cruze--George Montgomery Moran brothers Dorothy Malone--Charlotte"The Lone Gun" has many familiar story elements. If you've seen a bunch of westerns, you've pretty much seen what will happen here. However, although the film has a lot of familiar film clichés, it is very well done, simple and enjoyable.George Montgomery plays Cruze--a newcomer in town. Soon after his arrival, he has a run-in with some real creeps--the three Moran brothers. After beating the snot out of all three, the Mayor is so impressed that he offers Cruze the badge. Cruze is hesitant--he's done sheriff work before and was sick of the lack of support from the 'good citizens'.Cruze's first business if dealing with his friend, the gambler, Fairweather (Frank Faylen). It seems that Fairweather's luck is too good and he's created a lot of enemies. But the Sheriff doesn't arrest him, as they are friends of sorts. His next order of business is looking into reports of cattle rustling. Not surprisingly, the Morans are implicated. However, after the Morans try to kill the Sheriff, break jail and commit some murders, the folks in town are quick to believe the scum-bag bartender (who is in league with the Morans) and refuse to join in on a posse. So, it's up to Cruze to take on all three--and hopefully rescue their prisoner, Fairweather.A group of bad brothers harassing a town is familiar as is a town of cowards. But Marshall is so good in the lead and the meanest Moran (Neville Brand) is excellent as well that I was able to look past the familiarity of the film.

One of the other reviews here summed this up very well: "routine but entertaining B-western with few surprises". It's not going to linger in the mind very long after it's over, but it's pleasant enough to watch while it lasts. It's got a clearly delineated hero and villain and entertaining supporting characters, with the expected brawls and gunfire and impressive rural scenery to take in.The very stolid George Montgomery plays Cruze, our good guy, who makes the acquaintance of outgoing gambler Fairweather (Frank Faylen, who delivers a nuanced performance, easily the movies' best) while travelling. They arrive in the small town of Marlpine where the mayor (Fay Roope) makes note of Cruzes' fighting abilities and hires Cruze as the towns' marshal. Cruze soon has his hands full dealing with the thuggish Moran gang, a bunch of cattle rustlers led by beefy Tray Moran (Neville Brand, a good antagonist). Cruze falls for local cattle rancher Charlotte Downing (pretty Dorothy Malone) while the amiable Fairweather ends up accused of murder.As directed by Ray Nazarro, a Western veteran whose career dated back to the silent era, "The Lone Gun" is really no great shakes but its story is easy enough to follow and reasonably enjoyable. Watching some of the actors at work is really the main attraction; also appearing are Skip Homeier as Cass, Charlottes' morally compromised but not really bad brother, Douglas Kennedy and Robert J. Wilke as members of the Moran gang, and Douglas Fowley as the sleazy bartender.One good thing about these older movies is their often brief running times; for example, this only runs 75 minutes. They very much get to the point and don't waste time. The wrap up is quick and satisfying.Overall, a fine diversion.Six out of 10.

As a writer, I love studying the challenge offered by any "B" adventure. Lack of money to stage huge events usually in such a case of mounting a feature film production forces the producer to rely on dialogue, characters, actors and a choice of a subject that is less pretentious, more about relationship. Frequently, such a choice turns out to be more interesting than epic-sized doings, purposes and cardboard-character melodramatics. This is the case, I claim, with the low-budget adventure "The Lone Gun".This is a powerful storyline with an attractive cast well-directed by westerns' veteran Ray Nazarro. The plot line involves a drifter in the affairs of a small town. A proud young man, Skip Homeier, and his sister played by Dorothy Malone, have had their ranch taken over by a gang of outlaws led by Neville Brand, comprising Robert J., Wilkie, Douglas Kennedy and more. On his way into town the drifter, George Montgomery, meets a gambler well-played by Frank Faylen; later he teams up with a dangerous character played by James Griffith, manages to survive several attacks, solves the mystery and gets Malone back her ranch. By this time, Griffth has fallen in love with her too; but he decides not to press the point and a happy resolution is enjoyed by almost all. The accent in this unpretentious plot is on character; and the screenplay develops several very much more than is usual in an adventure script without sacrificing any of its admirable pace. Art Director Frank Sylos did a very fine job, and everything else works quite professionally. The film has an outdoor feel and the actors do nicely, particularly the loquacious Faylen and the outlaws. This is a good Montgomery vehicle, the sort of picture they do not make any more, one about people of clear purpose, implacable opponents of tyranny over them in its every form; here's one that got made and I suggest made quite winningly indeed.