The Gun and the Pulpit (1974) (TV)

User Rating:

5.6/10   

Director:

Daniel Petrie

Writers:

Jack Ehrlich (novel)
William Bowers (teleplay)

Release Date:

3 April 1974 (USA)

Genre:

Western

Plot:

In the days of the "Wild West", a gunslinger, with a price on his head, discovers the body of a traveling minister who has been killed in an ambush...

Plot Keywords:

Impersonation | Preacher | Unsold TV Series Pilot | Gunfighter | Corruption

Cast

Marjoe Gortner	...	Ernie Parsons
Slim Pickens	...	Billy One-Eye
David Huddleston	...	Mr. Ross
Geoffrey Lewis	...	Jason McCoy
Estelle Parsons	...	Sadie Underwood
Pamela Sue Martin	...	Sally Underwood
Jeff Corey	...	Head of Posse
Karl Swenson	...	Adams
Jon Lormer	...	Luther
Robert Phillips	...	Tom Underwood
Larry Ward	...	Max
Joan Goodfellow	...	Dixie

Runtime:

USA:74 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

USA:TV-PG

Filming Locations:

Old Tucson - 201 S. Kinney Road, Tucson, Arizona, USA

Company:

Cine Y Television

Quotes:

[first lines]
Head of Posse: Ernie Parsons, having been found guilty by a jury of your peers...
Ernie Parsons: I didn't see any jury.
Head of Posse: Well, they was around. Anyway, what difference does it make. You gunned down Windy Jones and he was one of our most beloved and respected citizens.
Ernie Parsons: I heard he was the town drunk.
Head of Posse: Well, now that he's dead, he's one of our town's most beloved and respected citizens.

Hot for Preacher

In order to elude authorities, western outlaw Marjoe Gortner (as Ernie Parsons) assumes the identity of a traveling preacher. Mr. Gortner takes up residence in parson-needy Castle Walk, Arizona; there, at a funeral, he and sexy teenager Pamela Sue Martin (as Sally Underwood) are mutually attracted. Soon, Gortner's shady past threatens his budding relationship with young Ms. Martin. Sidekick Slim Pickens (as Billy One-Eye) and mother Estelle Parsons (as Sadie Underwood) lend their support.

Even in this slightly above average television production, Gortner has star quality to burn. Taken as a screen test, "The Gun and the Pulpit " miraculously elevates the former evangelist to convincing western hero. Pamela Sue Martin is excellent as Gortner's barely legal leading lady; her glances are more sensual than a strip tease. Director Daniel Petrie handles the assignment admirably. Gortner's star quality was evident since the riveting documentary "Marjoe" (1972), which revealed his evangelical movement to be a money-grubbing scam. In hindsight, it seems Marjoe Gortner was too hot for Hollywood to handle.