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:

Romance | Western

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Did You Know?

Trivia

Condemned in the US because of its brutal handling of the narrative, but praised in Europe for its stylistic vigor.

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Goofs

During the opening gunfight the telegraph office windows are shot out, yet just a little while later they're all unbroken.

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Quotes

Griff Bonnell: [on being offered her foreman's job] Why me?
Jessica Drummond: I need a strong man to carry out my orders.
Griff Bonnell: And a weak man to take them.

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Connections

Featured in Barbara Stanwyck: Fire and Desire (1991)

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Soundtracks

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

User Reviews

A Decent And Odd Western

If you've never seen this film, I think you'll find it a bit different from most classic westerns. It's really more of a film noir, I thought, and I liked that angle. I say "film noir" because of feel. This western had stark black-and-white photography with tons of shadows and it had a dramatic scene near the end that was very noir-ish. I was very impressed with the ending, and that's all I will say as to not spoil it for others.

The DVD has the option of fullscreen or widescreen. Please consider the latter, because that is how it was presented: in "cinemascope," and you'll want to see photographer Joseph Birac's work in all its glory.

For Barbara Stanwyck fans, this might be a little disappointing because Barry Sullivan is the star of the film, not her, despite the billing. Sullivan plays "Griff Bonnell" and he is the principal figure in the movie, although Stanwyck's presence and character in the story are very strong as "Jessica Drummond." "Griff," along with his brothers, played by Gene Barry and Robert Dix, have more lines than Stanwyck, who doesn't even come on screen until 20 of the 80 minutes have elapsed.

All the characters are pretty interesting, however, no matter what their screen time. Those include some strange supporting roles, particularly two lawmen who don't sound and act like lawmen: Hank Worden's marshal role in the beginning and Dean Jagger's stint as the sheriff who has designs on Stanwyck.

To repeat, this is an odd story. I mean, how often does one see a tornado in the middle of a western movie? Some of the lines in here were quite profound, too, and some were uttered really stupidly. It's a curiosity piece, that's for sure.....but definitely worth watching if good photography and odd characters interest you.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

September 1957 (USA)

Also Known As:

Woman with a Whip

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