Gunfire at Indian Gap

It could have been worse, I mean, as a Republic western, it could have taken place in a music hall, cabaret atmosphere, with some unlikely showdown in the end, in the JUBILEE TRAIL mode. Here, it remains a true western, with the likes of John Doucette and George McReady as the villains. For the latest, it is an interesting villain, better than the characters McReady showed for Columbia Pictures. Vera Ralston is Ok for me, not better nor worst than usual. The lead good character, I dont know him. If they needed a young actor, why not? But if not, I guess the producers would have hired Forrest Tucker or Rod Cameron, the Republic Pictures "home" actors.

I think the creators of Gunfire At Indian Gap tried to make a sincere message western about judging people out of prejudice. But due to time and budgetary constraints and Republic Pictures in its last days muddled the message. Herbert J. Yates at Republic was going down with all flags flying again putting out his wife Vera Hruba Ralston in an effort to make her a star.

Vera's not performing with John Wayne, Fred MacMurray, or Wild Bill Elliott any more, she's got young Anthony George as a leading man with an atrocious Mexican accent. George gets himself in a nice jackpot when he's accused of being part of a gang who held up a stagecoach where a guard is wounded and one of the outlaws is killed.

Sheriff Barry Kelley without a shred of evidence other than the fact he does not like Mexicans holds George in a locked room at the stagecoach station. But George even if he's in trouble is one fast worker. Ralston falls big time for him and helps him escape. And George MacReady who was a passenger on the stagecoach, but in actuality the outlaw leader gives him the money he filched while at the station and tells him to meet up with the rest of the gang.

All I can say is after that it's every man and woman for himself and Ralston's got an additional problem with John Doucette one MacReady's henchmen who's got designs on her.

George who later got some better roles on television is a pretty lame cowboy hero. Ralston gives her usual lack of conviction. And MacReady who was a classic villain in several Randolph Scott westerns just looks downright embarrassed to be in this film.

In fact Gunfire At Indian Gap is pretty lame all around.

After a stagecoach is held up, the sheriff "Harris" (Barry Kelley) manages to make it to the nearby relay station with his wounded colleague only to be introduced to the travelling "Juan" (Anthony George) whom he suspects might be involved in the robbery. Meantime, "Jefferson" (George Macready) has a go at removing the bullet from the injured "Ed" (Steve Warren) whilst "Juan" takes a bit of a shine to the local help "Cheel" (Vera Ralston). That proves quite handy because the sheriff still believes he has his man and so arrests "Juan" and locks him up. Afraid that he will be strung up should "Ed" perish, she helps him escape; we all find out just who is behind the robbery and poor old "Juan, who is most definitely not having one of his better days, finds himself embroiled with the thieves and their leader. Now he has to prove his innocence, get the gal and stay alive! This is one of those films where just by reading the cast list you can tell who is who and that's really all the jeopardy there is in this join-the-dots feature, but at least Ralston doesn't quite fit the usual simpering character we see so often, and there's a tiny bit of grumpiness from Chubby Johnson to chivvy things along too. It's low-budget stuff, but it's a busy production that passes an hour fine.

Maybe it's only a 5/10, but the reviewers that give it a 3/10 don't know what a bad movie is. George Macready's performance is excellent. John Doucette is an absolutely disgusting creep! The rest of the cast is serviceable.

Macready is given (or made up) some interesting dialogue for a low budget feature. His line "what makes a man the way his is" is pretty powerful - he really delivers it. Look, this is a low B western...it could be a lot worse! If you're a fan of of 50s westerns - it is certainly worth your time.

The plot fairly typical, but there are some twists can keep it interesting. Give it a try.....