Gunfighters | |
---|---|
Directed by | George Waggner |
Screenplay by | Alan Le May |
Based on | Twin Sombreros 1941 novel by Zane Grey |
Produced by | Harry Joe Brown |
Starring |
Randolph Scott Barbara Britton Dorothy Hart |
Cinematography | Fred Jackman Jr. |
Edited by | Harvey Manger |
Music by | Rudy Schrager |
Color process | Cinecolor |
Production company | Producers-Actors Corporation |
Distributed by | Columbia Pictures |
Release date |
|
Running time | 88 minutes |
Country | United States |
Language | English |
Gunfighters is a 1947 American Western film directed by George Waggner and starring Randolph Scott and Barbara Britton. [1] Based on the novel Twin Sombreros by Zane Grey (the sequel of Knights of the Range) and with a screenplay by The Searchers author Alan Le May, the film is about a gunfighter who lays down his guns after being forced to shoot his best friend, and decides to become a cowhand on a ranch. The film was released in the United Kingdom as The Assassin.
Trying to put his life as a gunfighter behind him, Brazos Kane goes off to join old pal Bob Tyrell at the Inskip ranch. As Brazos approaches the spread, he hears a gunshot and sees two people riding off. He finds his friend shot dead.
Brazos takes the body to the Banner ranch, but the ruthless Banner has him arrested for the murder by Yount, a corrupt deputy. Brazos has the bullet that killed his friend and slips it to Jane Banner, the rancher's daughter.
Inskip frees him before Brazos can be summarily hanged. Brazos makes the mistake of trusting Bess, Jane's sister, but she is in love with ranch foreman Bard Macky, the man who killed Tyrell.
Brazos refuses to strap on his guns, but Yount and hired gun Orcutt try to ambush him or run him off. Inskip is murdered in cold blood and so is young cowhand Johnny O'Neil, which is the last straw for Brazos. He arms himself and goes after the bad guys, wounding Yount several times to make him talk, then calling out Orcutt and Bard for a final showdown, with Jane's help.
Gunfighters was filmed on location at Andy Jauregui Ranch and Monogram Ranch in Newhall, California, Vasquez Rocks Natural Area Park in Agua Dulce, California, and Sedona, Arizona. [2]