Calibre 44

I just saw this on cable, and knowing nothing about it before hand, I found myself slowly drawn into the story. I wanted to know what would happen to these characters, and what was really motivating them. I ended up really enjoying it.

All the leads play characters who are intense, and are flawed in various ways. Also, we never get a whole lot of background on the characters, just enough to intrigue me and keep me watching.

At times, I found myself comparing the directorial and writing style to some of the early Dragnet TV episodes from the 1950's. Being black and white, the lighting is subdued, almost flat. The shootings are quick and intense and almost matter of fact.

In conclusion, I really enjoyed it but suspect it is not for everyone.

Probably one of the most original ideas for a b-western I have ever come across. Despite having all the other trappings of a b-movie, (the female saloon keeper romantic lead, the bad rich guy and his gang, the philosophical drifter etc) the basic idea, the focus on the gun of a famous (now deceased) killer and whether or not it gives its owner supernatural speed on the draw makes for an unexpected psychological thriller.

Don't misunderstand me, this is not a great movie, its nowhere near as well realised as it should be and a terrific idea is poorly served. Still, if ever a movie deserved to be revisited, this is it. Here's hoping Tarantino or someone comes across it one of these days.

Seems like it should've been made in the late '60s, early '70s. In another country. The laughable dialog, we don't care. How so many people throw their lives away without hesitation, I'm sure it's happened.

Despite my love for Westerns, this one was tough to enjoy. The pacing is extremely slow, the characters are not well crafted, and the dialogue is frequently ridiculous. Example: the rich old rancher who rules the town mutters `profound' dialog to himself such as, `All I know is . . . when your dead, your dead for a looooong time'.

Most of the music is produced by a sleepy harmonica, a mournful violin, and a tinkling harp -- except for the title theme, which is a plodding song with dreadful lyrics and no discernible melody, performed by an untalented baritone.

McDonald Carey does a competent acting job amidst some serious scenery chewing. Even Warren Stevens (Doc from `Forbidden Planet') is swimming upstream in this one. His dialogue is dreadfully melodramatic, and his fight scene with Carey is badly staged, clumsily edited, and unintentionally funny.

The most implausible part of the story is the characters' belief that Carey's gun is `magic'. The bad guy (Stevens) is obsessed with getting it because he thinks it'll make him a perfect shot. This misplaced supernatural element, plus the somber mood of the film, the black & white photography, and the strange, almost ghostly music during the climactic gunfight makes the film play like a `Twilight Zone' episode.

I did not find this western that strange, I prefered TERROR IN A TEXAS TOWN, for instance, also a weird western with a very unusual and surprising ending too. But yes, this western is above average compared to many other ones speaking of similar plot. Thanks probably to the directing, camera work, atmosphere. Madonald Carey is as bland as ever but good enough to keep your attention till the end. Concerning Audrey Totter, she doesn't seem to be that concerned in her role. To briefly summarize, this western is worth watching in the grade B category, because it has the quality of a good really B movie. I would not be surprised that this plot had inspired the late nineties series THE GUN, about a gun seeked by many people.