La signora dalle due pistole

Ok it's not JOHNNY GUITAR (1954), but so what? I like it, anyway.

An Annie Oakley-type trick-shot artist named Kate Masters (Peggy Castle) comes into town to put on a show at the local saloon. She also let's a couple of fresh rednecks know that she's not about to be pushed around by pulling a gun on them. A local drifter Dan Corbin (William Tallman) isn't too impressed with what's happening and he shoots up a poster of Master's show.

But no matter. The real reason Master's is in town is she's looking for the ones who killed her father and burned down their farm when she was a little girl. She knows who did it and she reluctantly enlists the help of Corbin, who it turns out is a federal marshal who's been after the same people Masters been after, for a long time now. It's a local family, the Ivers, who aren't too friendly with their neighbors and have been suspected of cattle rustling.

The ending quick-draw in the saloon between Ben Ivers (Earle Lyon) and Master's is a real hoot! She's pretty quick, although not quick enough not to get wounded in the draw. Ben in turn gets it with a rifle from his kid sister Jenny Ivers (Barbara Turner) who was angry at him for abusing her and shooting her lamb. Good thing she did him in, too. He was a real scumbag.

Also notable for having my favorite 50s B movie scream queen Marie Windsor as the local saloon gal who has a big mouth and gets punished (permanently) for it. Her part in this film raises it up a couple of notches for me. I always enjoy seeing her up there on the silver screen, no matter how lousy the film is.

Even though this was made by a little B movie outfit AFRC, it has no more of a cheap look than many of those oaters Republic, PRC or even bigger studios like RKO & Columbia put out in the late 40s, early 50s.

6 out of 10 for keeping me enthused.

Even calling this a B movie is stretching it some. Typical dusty western about a young woman(Peggie Castle)who happens to be a very good shot with both pistol and rifle putting on shooting demonstrations while she hunts down her parents murderer. Has all the appearances of being a low budget "quickie". One character(Marie Windsor) accidentally walks into a scene she wasn't suppose to. She leaves as quick as she enters. The same character later awkwardly tries to wrestle a pistol from a bad man. Also in the cast are:William Talman and Robert Lowery.

Long before NIKITA and today's - 2020's - fashion action movies involving female fighters, shooters, rough characters, you could find from time to time some gems, such as this one and also DALTON GIRLS, GIRLS ON THE LOOSE and many more films. Especially in the sixties, with exloitation B pictures involving bikers, more or less nude action films, in any topic proposing couter culture, revolt against the system, where women were too often in the kitchen. I agree that Calamity Jane and Belle Starr characters were used by the industry, but they were historical characters, and it was impossible to avoid those topics. Such actresses like Barbara Stanwyck, Joan Crawford or Marlene Dietrich also served this kind of schemes, strong women. But they were exceptions. This very film from Richard Bartlett - an interesting and offbeat director - is not his best however; I highly prefer MONEY, WOMEN AND GUNS. This topic remains too predictable, despite the two gun lady. DALTON GIRLS from director Reg Le Borg was more exciting. And what a surprise to have Bill Talman in a role where he is not the bad guy. Very rare. The showdown scene in the bar, in the end, is terrific for such a B western.

Amazing what will make it into release sometimes. This one ranks with anything that Ed Wood ever put together. Marie Windsor walked into a shot that she was not in and scurried off. It's in the finished film. Even the usually reliable B stalwart Robert Lowery comes off like an amateur. Fun to see in a theater full of college students.

Lack of production values in this rather grim B western prevent me from giving it a higher rating, but this film might very well have been the inspiration for the Sharon Stone classic, The Quick And The Dead. A whole lot of B character players got into this film that lacks star power to say the least.

Peggie Castle plays the Sharon Stone part. As a child she saw her parents killed by the nasty father and son team of Francis McDonald and Earle Lyon. They run the valley and also abuse the daughter they have played by Barbara Turner.

The two also have fast draw contests held at Robert Lowery's saloon where Marie Windsor reigns supreme among the dance hall girls. That's where Castle comes in, she's trained for years as a fast draw artist giving exhibitions like Annie Oakley. All in the hope of facing and getting rid of McDonald and Lyon.

William Talman has the Russell Crowe part, he's another itinerant fast draw artist who comes to town. He's got his own agenda as far as Lyon and McDonald are concerned.

Joe Besser best known for a short stay with the Three Stooges plays a dramatic part here as Castle's manager. He's an alcoholic and Castle is concerned he spill the beans on the real purpose of her arrival in that town. It's a real revelation for those who only think of Joe Besser as a burlesque comedian.

Two Gun Lady is one misnomer since no one packs two sidearms in this film. Still it's an interesting western that will pique the interest if seen.