Le justicier de l'Ouest

The Gun Hawk is directed by Edward Ludwig and collectively written by Jo Heims, Richard Bernstein and Max Steeber. It stars Rory Calhoun, Rod Cameron, Ruta Lee, Rod Lauren, Morgan Woodward and Robert J. Wilke. Music is by Jimmy Haskell and cinematography by Paul Vogel.

Gunslinger Blaine Madden (Calhoun) is pursued by the law after a shoot out he was forced into results in him killing two men. With young protégée Reb Roan (Lauren) in tow, Madden makes his way to the town of Sanctuary, a place that ultimately holds the fate cards of the man known as El gavilán.

Still trying to reform the world Ben?

It's pretty stock formula on a thematic front, and for sure there's some creakiness in the script and from some of the actors around Calhoun, but there's a big pay off here. It's something of a rare little Western this one, out of Allied Artists it proves to be one of the better B Westerns from the company. The main interest value comes with the burgeoning relationship between the aged gunslinger and his hot headed punk companion. It's through this relationship that the finale gets its emotional wallop, something which lifts the picture out of the ordinary.

Sanctuary. If you kill there you have no place else to go.

On the outskirts of the relationship between Blaine and Reb there is the lawmen in pursuit, one is wise and has a soft spot for Madden, the other is angry and only sees death for Madden as a positive result. Into the mix comes Ruta Lee (ravishing in looks, staid in acting) as the love interest, though it's nice to report that this strand of the story never cloys and in fact enhances the Madden character arc. Robert J. Wilke and Lane Bradford file in for villain duties, with the former energetic and doing a nice line in brash outlaw who is destined for a fall.

Back off. BACK OFF!

In spite of being able to spot the obvious cheap aspects of the production, the tech credits are rather decent. There's some nice outdoor photography from the Bronson Canyon locale, set design is colourful and costuming is very pleasing. On the flip-side, though, Haskell's music becomes repetitious and therefore irritating, while the make-up department go over board for the key scene at the end. But with Calhoun turning in a very effective ghoulish performance and that finale of some great reward, The Gun Hawk is worthy of being better known and supported. 7/10

A heavy, self important western (i.e. Trying too hard to "say something" significant about the human yadda yadda). Most of the oppressiveness comes from Jo Heims' too talky, too expositional and definitely too philosophical screenplay but Jimmie Haskell's score is not far behind and director Edward Ludwig, in his last film, is only too happy to attach himself to Heims/Haskell. As is Rory Calhoun, a poor man's Robert Taylor, Ruta Lee, a poor woman's Stella Stevens, and Rod Laurin, a very poor boy's James Dean. About the only person who manages to rise above the dreck is Rod Cameron, doing a more than passable aging lawman. Not Joel McRae in "Ride The High Country", which this film wishes it was, but close. Give it a C.

Reb Roan is released by Sheriff Ben Corey after a night in the drunk tank. Corey would like to reform him, but he's not willing. Gunslinger Blaine Madden (Rory Calhoun) returns to town after three years. The Sully brothers grab his drunken father and force him into an unfair gunfight. The brothers kill his father and he's looking for revenge. Ben insists that he should move on. Sanctuary is a hideaway settlement where all gunmen are honor-bound to not kill each other.

This starts with an interesting premise. In modern terms, this is Hotel Artemis. The movie seems to set up for some great action, but the story goes a different way. It wants to do something philosophical and the movie stalls out in the middle. I do appreciate where it goes. It's just not what I wanted.

A gunslinger, chased by lawmen for a killing, makes his way to an outlaw hideout called Sanctuary. Along the way he teams up with a young punk who has a yearning for "a good fight and a bad woman". The law tries to take the gunman out of the compound but things took another turn. Average western.

Gunslinger Blaine Madden (Rory Calhoun) dispenses his own brand of justice when he attempts to defend his drunk father against two villains. Later on, Madden is seriously injured by the tough sheriff Ben Corey (Rod Cameron), but he gets away to an outlaw haven and he prepares what can be his last stand along with his pupil ( Rod Lauren). He was as feared as Jack Slade and Wyatt Earp !

An uneven but agreeable enough Western with noisy action, go riding, shootouts and human drama. Stars Rory Calhoun as a wounded bandit who escapes and seeks shelter at a peculiar village where he's loved. Rory Calhoun, not the sort one usually associates with nice performance, but here he gives a fine acting of almost Brando-like as the outlaw. While Ruta Lee is her distressed girl in love, Rod Lauren is the young man whom he is determined to steer clear of the outlaw trail. The veteran and Western expert Rod Cameron is an elderly sheriff who really doesn't want to confront Calhoun, but due to his justice badge has to do it. Other secondaries worthwhile to mention are the following: Robert J Wilke, John Litel, Rodolfo Hoyos, Gregg Barton and Morgan Woodward. The highlight of the movie is its final in which the dialogue and tense situation rises to greatness by Western standards in the closing stages.

The motion picture was professionally though unevenly directed by Edward Ludwig in his final movie. The film is acceptable and passable, and even at times quite splendid. Rusian-born Edward Ludwig came to the USA as a child and was educated in Canada and entered the film business as an actor in silent movies , then became a scenarist and screenwriter and in the early 1930s turned to directing. Although most films were routine second features, he showed a flair for adventure and action pictures , a good example of which is a John Wayne war epic he made for Republic Production, "The Fighting seabees" (1944), one of Wayne' s better and most successful films he made for Republic. Filmmaker Ludwig had a long career about 50 years and spanned over 100 shorts, TV episodes from notorious series as "Bonanza", "The restless gun", "Cheyenne" and directing John Wayne in various movies as "Fighting Seabees", "Wake the Red Witch" and " Big Jim McLain". "Gun Hawk" rating: 6/10 . Better than average Western.