![]() 8/10Ībout 30 years ago, I was on vacation in Florida with my family. One that will hopefully find more fans as the years roll by. THE TRAIL OF THE LONESOME PINE 1936 KICK ASS MOVIEThis a fine film that belies its "B" movie roots. While the final shoot out, and the twist in the horse tail, is awash with tension and crowned by a remarkable bit of stunt work. Then there's his framing of the Dennis gang as they come for revenge, it's impossible not to think of them as the four horsemen of the apocalypse. Witness the dusty storm that descends upon Plainview, it coincides with the town residents having a change of attitude. He offers up some nice tonal delights here. Werker was an old pro, a jobber director, and here he was coming to the end of a career that would span 32 years. Homeier was always best when playing a snarly villain and here he delivers just that, a villain hell bent on revenge, an avenging brother whose actions speak louder than words. MacMurray perfectly plays it restrained, thus it is heartfelt and believable. Naturally fearful for his wife and child, he doesn't hide that he himself is no hero, and has no wish to become one. His Jack Wright is an honest man reluctantly put up on a pedestal, thus he quickly becomes a scared man. MacMurray was always hit and miss, particularly in the Western genre, but when he got it right, or perhaps when he had an understanding director? He was real value for money. So many good things to recommend here, it may be a simple fable, but it's lit up by high quality acting and thrives on the moody atmosphere constructed by Werker. Supporting MacMurray and Homeier are Dorothy Malone as Jack's increasingly fretful wife, Walter Brennan as a loyal Doctor friend who likes a tipple, while Whit Bissell is a welcome secondary character addition. It's a Technicolor/CinemaScope production with Ellsworth Fredericks on photography duties, and the wonderfully named Carmen Dragon provides a bracing score. Werker and is written by prolific Western story teller Daniel B. As long as it's told well and not bogged down by poor technical aspects, then that surely is enough for the discerning genre fan? At Gunpoint is directed by Alfred L. But so what? If a story, and the potent universal messages at its core, is worth telling, then tell it. Its central theme one that has been used a number of times in Westerns both prior and post this Allied Artists Pictures release. Yeah yeah yeah, At Gunpoint (AKA:Gunpoint!) is for sure a variation on the High Noon theme, and yes it proudly stands in its pulpit sermonising a moralistic viewpoint. Jack is about to find out just who his friends are in the fickle town of Plainview. But led by a hate filled Bob Dennis (Skip Homeier), the Dennis gang are plotting revenge and have Jack firmly in their sights. Jack, in spite of his protestations, is hailed a hero by all and sundry, even picking up a substantial reward. Further compounding the gang's misery is that Alvin was carrying the money and so the town have managed to reclaim what was briefly taken from them. However, during their escape Alvin Dennis (John Pickard) is shot and killed by a one in a million lucky shot by mild mannered store keeper Jack Wright (Fred MacMurray). The Dennis gang ride into the town of Plainview and set about robbing the bank. ![]()
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