The Man with the Gun (1955)

Robert Mitchum portrays an Exterminator--in the American West. He will for a price eliminate any outlaws annoying the peace of any Western town. When his wife (Jan Sterling) in disgust leaves him he pursues her only to encounter his greatest gunfighting challenge. Format: DVD MOVIE Genre: WESTERN/CLASSICS Rating: NR UPC: 883904107224 Manufacturer No: M110722 Product Description

Beware of ramped up reviews

I enjoy westerns, Mitchum is one of my favorite underrated actors and, when it comes to movies I don't recall seeing OR hearing about, I am usually skeptical of strong reviews without the confirmation of well known amazon reviewers. This movie has a 'Top 500' reviewer and that sold me for an inexpensive bet. DON'T BITE!!You have to REALLY like Mitchum to justify this clunker. Maybe the issuers are building big reviewers just to take advantage of this kind of browsing. June 23, 2008

Mitchum can't save tedious, cliched B western

Slow, cliche ridden, poorly paced excuse for a B-Western can't be saved even by Mitchum's strong presence. Overblown musical score, undeveloped secondary characters, uninspired photography. There have been many great movies made with the theme of a town tamer brought in to clean up a tough town, only to be despised for doing his job -- amongst the legion of great films along these lines I'd recommend "Warlock", with Henry Fonda, Richard Widmark and Anthony Quinn. This movie is not in that class. Definitely avoid it unless you are in need of a Robert Mitchum fix. June 1, 2008

Big Bad Bob Mitchum ...again!

Bob Mitchum swaggers through another movie with his usual effortless authenticity that "method" actors could aspire to but never attain. I can't say enough about this mans ease in front of a camera and ability to sell me ANY part he ever played....and this is no exception. It IS an exceptionally well made (camera work by Lee Garmes and Score by Alex North)50s western and very enjoyable. Angie Dickenson's small roll as a saloon girl will be seen by sharp eyes and speaking of sharp...Karen Sharpe is quite beautiful in an early roll...while Claude Akins was already working on his "second Thug from the left"in this one. Beautiful black and white film...
enjoy! May 31, 2008

Mitchum's Best Western

Robert Mitchum was definitely in his element making Westerns, and this is his best work in this genre. In Man With The Gun, he plays Clint Tollinger, a town tamer (a gunfighter who is hired by townspeople to drive out, or in most cases, kill off the bad element to clean up the town) who happens into a town desperately in need of his services. He's there to see his ex-wife, trying to find out how their little girl is doing. He's hired by the town to clean up, but his relationship with his wife complicates his job, and revelations impair his judgment. Mitchum is outstanding, with great support from the likes of Jan Sterling, Ted de Corsia, Leo Gordon, and Claude Akins. If you're a fan of westerns and/or Robert Mitchum, this film is a must-see. March 12, 2008

TOWN TAMER'S LAST TOWN TO TAME

Watched this older western on Encore Western Channel recently having never heard of the film before, and can positively state, as a fan of both book and movie westerns, that this is a very enjoyable movie. A hallmark of this film is the performance of Jan Sterling, a very under recognized actress, while many other recognizable actors show up in this oat-burner, too. Just love these classic old black and white westerns with their simplistic 'black and white', good versus evil plots.

Most movies in which Bob Mitchum appeared are always watchable, and he seemed as someone you could have had known personally. He also seemed so relaxed making these movies yet I've read he was a true professional always ready to face the camera. And as this movie shows, he has come a long way from those heavy roles in the 1940's Hopalong Cassidy movies. Especially as the heroic lawman trying simultaneously to save a town from itself and a grasping villian. As imagined, he is a man working alone, with few friends to watch his back.

If you enjoy westerns this is certainly a film you will want to view. I now have it on tape and can watch it whenever moved to do so. Don't miss this one pardner, you just might regret it.

Addendum April,2008: Recently learned this movie will be released on DVD early summer, July/August, 2008. Much better than a VHS tape from Encore Westerns, already have mine on order!

Semper Fi. November 19, 2007

More reviews at Amazon.com ...