When Jimmy Ringo pops into a saloon for a quiet drink every punk wanting to make a name for himself has to try it on; Ringo might not look mean but his reputation as the fastest gun in the west proceeds him and somebody always thinks they could be faster and even though he just wants a quiet life each confrontation just increases his reputation. After one such incident he leaves town followed by the now dead punk's three brothers... he disarms them and tells them to head back to the town. He rides on to the town of Cayenne and they follow on foot. It looks as if things will repeat themselves when he is recognised here too. The marshal tells him to leave town but he refuses to go until he has seen his wife and child who he hasn't seen for eight years. It turns out that Jimmy and the Marshal are old friends so he agrees to tell her Jimmy wants to talk; however she doesn't want to talk to him. Jimmy agrees to go by sunset; hoping she might change her mind. While he waits the news of his presence spreads; all the young boys skip school to see the famous gunslinger and yet another punk decides to face him down; this one gets to live however as he backs off when Jimmy suggests he already has his gun pointed at him under the table. As evening approaches the vengeful brothers reach town and it looks as though it will them or him... except in this film we don't get the cliché of the showdown, instead we get an act of cowardice followed by a fine little speech from a dying man.
I hadn't heard of this film till I was lent a boxed set of Gregory Peck films; now that I've seen it I'm surprised it isn't better known. Perhaps people think it doesn't have enough gunfights or the climax isn't the heroic showdown between a hero and a villain; either way it is a shame as it is a fine film. Gregory Peck does a great job as the taciturn Jimmy Ringo; a man who has clearly done bad things in the past but just wants to go straight and lead a quiet life with his wife and child. He is ably supported by Millard Mitchell who gives a fine performance the Marshal and Skip Homeier who is suitable unpleasant as the young gun hoping to take Ringo's crown. While there might not be much action between the initial shooting and the final confrontation there is plenty of tension and the waiting lets us get to know and care about the characters. If you like westerns I'd certainly recommend this; Peck might not have John Wayne's swagger but he does bring a quiet intensity to his role.
I hadn't heard of this film till I was lent a boxed set of Gregory Peck films; now that I've seen it I'm surprised it isn't better known. Perhaps people think it doesn't have enough gunfights or the climax isn't the heroic showdown between a hero and a villain; either way it is a shame as it is a fine film. Gregory Peck does a great job as the taciturn Jimmy Ringo; a man who has clearly done bad things in the past but just wants to go straight and lead a quiet life with his wife and child. He is ably supported by Millard Mitchell who gives a fine performance the Marshal and Skip Homeier who is suitable unpleasant as the young gun hoping to take Ringo's crown. While there might not be much action between the initial shooting and the final confrontation there is plenty of tension and the waiting lets us get to know and care about the characters. If you like westerns I'd certainly recommend this; Peck might not have John Wayne's swagger but he does bring a quiet intensity to his role.