Deprived of guns by well-meaning adults, fifteen-year-old Rusty Tamblyn (as Barton Tare) tries to steal one from a hardware store. Young Tamblyn explains, "Shooting's what I'm good at. It's what I want to do when I grow up," and explains his love for guns, "I feel good when I'm shooting them. I feel awful good, like I'm somebody." Charged with "Grand Larceny" and sent to reform school, the lad later emerges from the army as John Dall.
Still gunning for fun, Mr. Dall partners up with shapely carnival attraction Peggy Cummins (as Annie Laurie Starr), after besting her in a shooting contest. Obviously, the two are "Gun Crazy" soul-mates. Although Dall is basically a good man who suffers remorse from his only "kill" (a baby chicken), Ms. Cummins has already murdered a man. Wickedly evil, Cummins has no aversion to killing bystanders as the dynamic duo become notorious bank robbers.
Loosely based on the "Bonnie and Clyde" story, this makes Dall the protagonist hero and places the blame on his feminine companion. It's rooted in the biblical "Adam and evil" plot. But, while Cummins is given the short end of the original sin stick, she is marvelous in the role - just watch her eat a hamburger. Dall's characterization is also intoxicating. Under Joseph H. Lewis' superb direction, they form an essential link in the chain of crime duo films.
********* Gun Crazy (1/20/50) Joseph H. Lewis ~ John Dall, Peggy Cummins, Berry Kroeger, Russ Tamblyn
