Gun Glory (1957)

A gunfighter defends his town when cattlemen threaten to destroy it by stampeding cattle through the farmlands.

Director:

Roy Rowland

Writers:

William Ludwig (screenplay), Philip Yordan (based on novel: "Man of the West"),

Stars:

Stewart Granger, Rhonda Fleming, Chill Wills

Cast

Credited cast:
Stewart Granger	...	Tom Early
Rhonda Fleming	...	Jo
Chill Wills	...	Preacher
Steve Rowland	...	Tom Early, Jr.
James Gregory	...	Grimsell
Jacques Aubuchon	...	Sam Winscott
Arch Johnson	...	Gunn
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Kelo Henderson

Storyline

In 1886, the gunman and gambler Tom Early returns to his homeland to settle down, but he is rejected by his community. He rides to his farm, where he finds that his wife Alice has recently died and his son Tom Early Jr., who disagrees with taking up arms, is working alone. The next morning, Tom rides into the town to buy supplies and sees Sam, the grocer, humiliating his employee Jo. At the same time the cattle lord Grimsell arrives in town with two gunfighters, Gunn and Blondie, and tells the Preacher that he will be crossing 20,000 head of cattle through their lands and their town. Although the preacher tries to explain that the people own the land, Grimsell is not interested in their rights. When Blondie sees Tom Early, he draws his gun but is shot by Tom, in self defense, and kills the gunman. He then invites Jo to work on the farm. While the Preacher wants to send an emissary to Laramie to bring the law to his town, Grimsell summons more than thirty gunfighters to work for him. ...

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Plot Keywords:

preacher | gunfighter | stampede | posse | rancher | 

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Taglines:

He gave her a home when the town kicked her out! (original poster)

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Genres:

Western

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

5 August 1957 (Sweden)

Also Known As:

A Arma Dum Bravo

Company Credits

Production Co:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

89 min

Sound Mix:

4-Track Stereo (Westrex Recording System)

Color:

Color (Metrocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Soundtracks

"The Ninety and Nine"
Music by Jeff Alexander
Sung by Burl Ives

User Reviews

Underrated Western

In 1886, the gunman and gambler Tom Early (Stewart Granger) returns to his homeland to settle down but he is rejected by the crippled grocer Sam Winscott (Jacques Aubuchon) and also by his community. He rides to his farm, where he finds that his wife Alice has recently died and his resented son Tom Early Jr. (Steve Rowland), who does not accept the use of guns, is working alone. On the next morning, Tom rides to the town to buy supplies and sees Sam humiliating his employee Jo (Rhonda Fleming). Further, the cattle lord Grimsell (James Gregory) arrives in town with two gunfighters, Gunn (Arch Johnson) and Blondie, and tells to the Preacher (Chill Wills) that he will cross 20,000 head of cattle through their lands and their town. The Preacher tells that the lands belong to the locals but Grimsell is not interested in their rights. When Blondie sees Tom Early, he draws his gun trying to kill Tom, but he shoots first in self-defense and kills the gunman. Further, he invites Jo to work in his farm for his son and him. While the Preach wants to send an emissary to Laramie to bring documents and the law to his town, Grimsell summons more than thirty gunfighters to work for him. When the emissary is murdered by Gunn, the naive Preacher organizes a posse to unsuccessfully fight against Grimsell. The farmers are ambushed and attacked and the survivors return to the town. But Tom Early decides to provoke an stampeding and fight against Grimsell.

"Gun Glory" is an underrated western visibly inspired in the masterpiece "Shane" of four years before. I do not agree with most of the unfair IMDb reviews and I really liked this film. Stewart Granger is perfect in the role of a dangerous man that decides to settle down and is rejected most of the population including his estranged son. I am a big fan of the sweet and lovely red-haired actress Rhonda Fleming and once again she has a great performance. The twenty-five year old Steve Rowland is miscast in the role of Tom Early Jr. that is supposed to be younger. My vote is seven.

Title (Brazil):"Arma de um Bravo" ("Weapon of a Brave")