Shoot Out (1971)

Just Shoot Her

This is by far Gregory Peck's worst movie. Casting Jodie Foster would have been better as the little girl. Instead the role went to the most annoying child non-actor of all time Dawn Lyn. How on earth could that man listen to that little rugrat whine through the entire film without pulling his gun on her. May 1, 2008

Worth Watching Just for Susan Tyrrell's Performance

I saw Shoot Out when it was first released and just watched it again a few days ago. Although the negative comments that have been posted are generally accurate, the film has several elements that make it worth watching. Imagine combining 'To Kill a Mockingbird' with 'One-Eyed Jacks' and you will have a pretty good idea of what this story is all about. Unfortunately Gregory Peck did not put Aticus Finch energy into the Clay Lomax character, and even though Dawn Lyn (Dodie from 'My Three Sons') is fine as the little girl-the idea just doesn't work. There is at least one story too many in this movie and it would take a great script to pull it together. But as someone has already mentioned this is not a great script and there are 1970's dialogue issues that periodically jar the viewer back to reality, making it impossible for this thing to ever really get going.

On the plus side Robert Lyons gives a nice 'really out there' performance as the wacko bad guy. Lyons was that era's Gary Oldham. Also the production designer did a good job on the overall feel of the film, there several absolutely great visuals (check out the shot of Dawn Lyn standing on the train station platform), and there is a very original non-formula climax. The production has excellent overall unity and someone really paid attention to continuity issues (watch how the progress of the water dripping on the cabin table is matched to the time sequence of the scene).

What stayed with me through the years and motivated me to watch this again was the first film performance of Susan Tyrrell, as the dumb but plucky saloon girl. She actually deserved a supporting actress nomination. Then she played dumb and plucky again in 'Fat City' and actually received a Supporting Actress Nomination. At the time I was convinced that she would be the next big female star. There was a young actress talent vacuum in the 1969-78 period and hack blondes like Candice Bergen and Cybill Sheppard got a lot of work-with very painful to watch results. That many of their parts did not go to Tyrrell and to Elizabeth Hartman is an example of the Hollywood anti-meritocracy. So check out her performances and curse Hollywood for not recognizing her potential and giving her a lot more work.

Then again, what do I know? I'm only a child. May 1, 2005

"I'm so dumb. I shoulda knowed, a man's just gonna do what a

So incredibly bad, this flick could reach cult status one day if the general public ever discovers it, but that explains why I never heard of this pig before. I can't believe Henry Hathaway and Hal Wallis put their stamp of approval on this thing.

Great story becomes a victim of the creeping sensitivity of the 60's/70's in the silly tradition of geriatric sentimentality found in The Shootist, Rooster Cogburn, and that fingernails on the blackboard Raindrops scene in Butch Cassidy, but without a script. I defy anyone to name a movie with more ill conceived, outright moronic but hysterically funny dialogue and you'll be rolling on the floor as Gregory Peck, one of Hollywood's most revered actors introduces the word "punk" into the genre....4 TIMES! Dawn Lyn warms up for her role in Walking Tall, and brings the musical score from this turkey with her. And this is the first time I can ever remember seeing that sideways gansta' pistol pointing and prophetically the token Chicano outlaw "Pepe" gets taken out by this new and unexplainable technique. Hilarious!

If you don't like westerns you will probably love this thing; and if you are a fan of westerns you will laugh your majookas off. Would really make a good Mystery Science project-unintentionally very funny. And amazingly, the quality of the DVD transfer is very very good. Colors, texture, detail all there. Far beyond what you would expect from those mooks as Goodtimes because most of their work sucks. The audio is OK but you wont care because you'll be too busy bouncing off furniture and holding your sides as 3 of the stupidest outlaws of all time go on a menacing rampage with Peck as their intended target.

Laugh factor is strong, quality rating is low. A recommended rental with a 6 pack. 2 teacups February 23, 2005

Same Old Hathaway Recipe

Henry Hathaway found a recipe for making western movies and did not alter one lousy bit. True Grit, Five Card Stud, Shootout - the bad guys from each film in order - Dennis Hopper, Roddy McDowall, and Robert Lyons - they all wear the same outfit. What did they do - pass them down from one film to the other? Also, it appears that True Grit and Shootout have some of the same location scenes shot from the same angle. One more thing - take a close look at the scene at the train depot and see if you cannot find a jet stream. I recommend Gregory Peck's, The Stalking Moon, over Shootout. Stalking Moon has a little more bite and grit and makes no reference to "punks". December 31, 2002

some of the best western acting and good story line

a very good western with a good cast and and story line. Peck does a fine job as always as a man on a vengence crusade that is interupted when a little girl is placed in his care. As the story progresses he starts to love this little girl and realize what life is really about and that he has all the treasure that he'll ever want and someone is trying to take it all away. January 20, 1999

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