The Quiet Gun

`The Quiet Gun' is a rare sleeper in the Western genre. Though certainly not a great film, it is good enough to warrant a look. It is difficult to believe Forrest Tucker didn't have a bigger career than he did, since he shows us some pretty good work here. At the beginning he even delivers a memorable one-liner to the nonsensically aggressive Lee Van Cleef (bullying Hank Worden – named Sampson here, but playing Mose nonetheless) when Lee tells him to mind his own business. Casually revealing his badge, Tucker retorts `It is my business.' And so sets the tone for the remainder of the film.

Tucker, as Sheriff Carl Brandon, is being pressured by the local powers-that-be to `do something' about a rancher (Jim Davis as Ralph Carpenter) allegedly living with an Indian woman (Mara Corday as Irene). Personally dead set against any notion of taking any action, and advising others to mind their own business as well, Brandon must strike his own way as the story progresses. His biggest foes, it turns out, are the officials of the town – one has criminal intentions, the others invoke hatred and the public will as mandates to fan the flames of what might have been a non-event otherwise.

Director William F. Claxton certainly made his mark in subsequent years on the small screen. Most notably he directed many episodes of `Bonanza' but also had a hand in `The Rifleman', `Yancy Derringer', `Gunsmoke' and `High Chaparral'. His diversity is illustrated by having made one `Route 66' and four `Twilight Zone' episodes as well. But most definitely his horror opus `The Night of the Lepus' lives on in memory, now having not terrorized three generations of unsuspecting viewers. A nice one line review is attributed to Shane Burridge on Rotten Tomatoes (`A failure on every level').

There is an underlying grim note to the proceedings in `The Quiet Gun'. Tucker hardly ever smiles, Lee Van Cleef smiles but no one feels comforted for it and the outcomes of several situations are unpredictably harsh. But there are enough plot developments of humorless persuasion, including a courtroom scene near the end, to cast the story in somber tones. But no preaching is ever heard; Claxton prefers to tell the tale and let you make your own conclusions, which is high art in Westerns of the Fifties.

Rating: 3 Stars.

Twentieth Century Fox created a subsidiary in the mid 1950s to release films it deemed not good to enough to release under its banner. Regal Pictures, like Fox, released most of its films in wide screen, using "Regalscope," which appears technically indistinguishable from Cinemascope. Ironically, most of Regal's output was as good or better than the B movies from Fox. "The Quiet Gun" is no exception, with fine performances from Forrest Tucker and Jim Davis and some surprising plot twists which lift this movie from the humdrum. Tucker plays a sheriff who must reluctantly pursue his friend (Davis), after Davis kills a busybody "district attorney" in self defense. Mara Corday and Kathleen Crowley provide the eye candy and Hand Worden plays the comic relief in a role similar to that of Walter Brennan in "Rio Bravo".

ENCORE's WESTERN CHANNEL shows the movie in full screen, which is a shame. Several effective scenes are undercut by the aspect ratio conversion. Still, "The Quiet Gun" is worth watching, if only to see Lee Van Cleef with a full set of hair. I rate it a "6".

"The Quiet Gun" is surprisingly harsh in its depiction of the average folk of an average western town. Average -- in this case -- translates to racist, violent and none-to-bright. Sheriff Carl Brandon has to stand up to assorted black hats (including the ubiquitous Lee Van Cleef) as well as the dunder-headed locals. Forrest Tucker is good as Brandon and Hank Worden adds his usual stumbling, bumbling hijinks as Samson, the town moron with a heart of gold. A lot of westerns would have let the townsfolk redeem themselves heroically at the end, but this movie sticks to its guns. In the final scene Brandon stands alone to face the villains. "The Quiet Gun" is a nasty little tale with the courage of its convictions.

Sheriff Carl Brandon must uphold the law and prevent a lynching when his best friend is accused of murder and immorality by the townsfolk.

It's amazing how the western ingredients featuring a stalwart sheriff, the corrupt clique in the town, the alternative good citizens, gunfights, posses, vigilantes, a lynching can be framed efficiently into an75 minutes film. In addition to this, there is a strong undertone of racism. It's a thoughtful western with strong themes and great acting -Forrest Tucker takes lead with his calm, nonplussed tough style. Jim Davis plays a rancher and Tucker's friend and is dependable as ever. Lee Van Cleef, none surprisingly plays a villain and a fierce one at that, and Hank Worden, always fun to watch, lightens the edgy and serious tone as the deputy of the sheriff. Mara Corday and Kathleen Crowley don't have much screen time but they are just fine. An above average western.

Far from simple minded, this film raises some moral questions in an intelligent way. Actually, fairly relevant for today. Oh, and there's a bit of unobtrusive humor, as well. The plot makes sense. The film moves along at a good pace and is neither too long or too short.

Nicely acted in an understated way - particularly Forrest Tucker (far removed from his later "F-Troop" days). Old stand-by Hank Worden plays his usual eccentric character. The ominous Lee Van Cleef is also present. Definitely worth 80 minutes of your time.