Forty Guns (1957)

Showdown in Arizona between the Bonnell brothers, U.S.Marshals, and Jessica Drummond, the iron-fist rancher who controls the territory.

Director:

Samuel Fuller

Writer:

Samuel Fuller

Stars:

Barbara Stanwyck, Barry Sullivan, Dean Jagger

1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Barbara Stanwyck	...	Jessica Drummond
Barry Sullivan	...	Griff Bonell
Dean Jagger	...	Sheriff Ned Logan
John Ericson	...	Brockie Drummond
Gene Barry	...	Wes Bonell
Robert Dix	...	Chico Bonell
Jidge Carroll	...	Barney Cashman
Paul Dubov	...	Judge Macy
Gerald Milton	...	Shotgun Spanger
Ziva Rodann	...	Rio
Hank Worden	...	Marshal John Chisum
Neyle Morrow	...	Wiley
Chuck Roberson	...	Howard Swain
Chuck Hayward	...	Charlie Savage
Sandy Wirth	...	Chico's Girlfriend (as Sandra Wirth)

Storyline

An authoritarian rancher, Barbara Stanwyck, who rules an Arizona county with her private posse of hired guns. When a new marshall arrives to set things straight, the cattle queen finds herself falling, brutally for the avowedly non-violent lawman. Both have itchy-fingered brothers, a female gunmaker enters the picture, and things go desperately wrong.

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Plot Keywords:

tombstone arizona | arizona territory | u.s. marshal | human shield | arrest warrant | 

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Taglines:

The Taming of the Arizona Territory !

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Genres:

Drama | Romance | Western

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Did You Know?

Trivia

This film is part of the Criterion Collection, spine #954.

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Goofs

When the gunsmith is fitting Wes for a new rifle, she had him holding the stock from a model 1898 Mauser which would not have been invented for another 20 years. Then Wes also picks up a Winchester barreled action and looks through it to see the lady gunsmith, which is not possible due to there being no straight line of sight through the action.

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Quotes

Griff Bonnell: Last time I killed a man was 10 years ago, a boy. He was no good like your brother but he was still a boy and I killed him. I could have made a crippling shot but I didn't. Did you ever see a dead boy's eyes in the sky? Threw his gun in the west. You know why I hate to get into fights? I can't miss. Am I talking too much? In my heart I've always asked forgiveness before I kill just like an Indian asking for forgiveness from an animal before the slaughter. You can't ask after you kill, it's too ...

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Connections

Referenced in Ebert Presents: At the Movies: Classics from the Vault: Changing Sex Roles (2011)

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Soundtracks

High Ridin' Woman
by Harold Adamson and Harry Sukman
Sung by Jidge Carroll

User Reviews

It 's a must see for Western fans and cult movies lovers

Jessicca Drummond ( Barbara Stanwick ) is an untameable owner who rules over a small city in Arizona county . The cattle queen is supported by a little army formed by forty gunfighters . Her power will be modified in arriving the Bonnell brothers ( Barry Sullivan, Gene Evans and Dix ). One of them ( Sullivan ) is proclaimed sheriff and his vision from law and justice differs quite of Jessica Drummond and her brother ( John Erikson ), a young gunman eager to take up a life of crime .

This is a magnificent Western plenty of violence , hatred ,gun-play, an impossible love story...in a word : emotion , besides it contains effective action sequences as the raid on the small town . Of course , there are ritual shootouts among gunslingers confronting each other in some quick-draw duels in the accepted Western movie fashion , but this time with no observing the honorable ¨ Code of the west ¨ . The showdown isn't the usual because of it is developed of strangest manner and no habitual rules , just like is seen at the initial and final feud . The film has exciting and captivating images as when Barbara Stanwick appears riding in her white stallion with his forty henchmen worn in black and in column( just like Alibaba and the forty thieves from ¨Thousand and one nights¨ book ) and strange images of a dead man on the showcase with the caption : murdered by Bonell brothers and shot in back . Furthermore , it packs a sensational black and white cinematography by Joseph Biroc . The film gets excellent edition by Gene Fowler , he is a famous editor and occasionally director of Western and Sci-Fi ( I married a monster from outer space , I was a teenage wolf ). Samuel Fuller direction is inspired , he directed other three especial Western ( Run of the arrow , Baron the Arizona , I shot Jesse James ). But ¨ Forty guns ¨ is the best , he realized a thrilling and fascinating story , nowadays converted in an essential and indispensable cult movie. Rating : Better than average. Wholesome watching .

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

September 1957 (USA)

Also Known As:

Forty Guns

Filming Locations:

Arizona, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$300,000 (estimated)

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$6,344

Company Credits

Production Co:

Twentieth Century Fox, Globe Enterprises

Technical Specs

Runtime:

80 min

Sound Mix:

4-Track Stereo (RCA Sound Recording)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1