Confession d'un tueur

This western with a message starts out fast with an early gunfight, but then slows down considerably & takes things at a leisurely pace for most of the remainder of the movie. Character development, especially of Bronson & his girlfriend, is very good, & meaningful issues are explored (e.g., "Is he a bad guy if he's a model citizen in his town, has helped his neighbors in important ways, but just happens to have killed three people elsewhere?"). The plight of short people is also explored to some extent. Overall, a solid story with some action. I rate it 8/10.

This was an entertaining film...mainly for the dialog, which at times was hilarious. For example: Saloon scene: When her client passes out, Jill (saloon owner) tells her: "Don't worry..you'll still get your percentage..but girl complains bitterly: "He wasn't even a gentleman..didn't take his hat off! to which Jill replied: "The ones that bother me are the one who don't take their boots off!" When in a western have you ever heard anything close to that in its implications? Bronson is as my mom would say "so homely, he is good looking." Good thing he kept that mop of hair his whole life. John Carradine was super fun to watch...his every word..his facial machinations..his "I've seen it all" attitude. It was very well cast and at times, almost had a "comic book" feel to it. By that I mean, the people were more like caricatures than real people. Yes, if it comes your way and you like 50s westerns, see it!

Sometimes people forget how great an actor Charles Bronson really was. He delivers a terrific performance in "Showdown at Boot Hill". The rest of the cast is very good as well. This is also a great looking movie. "Showdown at Gun Hill" is a fast moving, often tense, western. It is also a surprisingly thoughtful movie. I'll be watching it again pretty soon.

In the late 1950s and early sixties, Charles Bronson played character roles in big films, particularly westerns, both good (The Magnificent Seven) and not so good (Four For Texas). On occasion, he also picked up a leading role in some offbeat little movie. And while Showdown at Boot Hill is often listed as his 'debut' as a lead (in fact, it isn't), the minor western entry does rate among his earliest. It's one more of the low-key, adult westerns, with a psychologically troubled anti-hero, that were churned out after the success of first The Gunfighter (1950) and then on an even bigger scale High Noon (1952). In truth, the formula was wearing a bit thin by this time, which partly explains why Magnificent Seven hit as big as it did the following year - a new kind of western for a new decade. Meanwhile, though, Bronson comports himself very well as he rides into a small town, shoots it out with a criminal there, and then plans to head back to headquarters for his bounty money. There's only one problem: As the townsfolk all liked the outlaw, they refuse to sign affidavits attesting to Bronson's having killed the guy. Maybe they can't bring him back, but they can prevent Bronson from cashing in on what he did. This would have played far better if Bronson had been identified only as a bounty hunter, i.e. gun for hire. But the writers made the mistake of having him also be a federal marshal, and take it from me, no one would have messed with anyone who carried a U.S. government badge, no matter how they felt about him. One very intriguing element is that, in the western realm of tall men, Bronson is cast as an extremely short guy who is sensitive about his diminutive height. The female lead is played by the little known Carole Matthews, who is good but nothing more. Far better is John Carradine as one of his lanky old loner types. Not necessarily worth going out of your way to see, but if this rides by your trail, take a look, partner.

In his first starring role, Charles Bronson is a US Deputy Marshal who comes into a small western town, hunting Thomas Browne Henry. There's a bounty on him for killing three men, and when he draws on Bronson, Bronson shoots him down. The town doesn't like it. Henry was a popular figure, ready to sell a string of cattle below price, and wait for his money, so long as you didn't ask where he got them. No one will name him, and so Bronson waits around for a positive identification, so he can collect his bounty money. While he waits, he falls in love with Fintan Mayler, the shy daughter of the town's local bad woman, Carole Matthews. While he waits, there's lots of philosophizing from John Carradine, the town's barber, doctor, and fellow who reads over graves.

Gene Fowler Jr's movie makes its points about violence and loneliness, but does so in too obvious a manner, afraid to let the audience draw its own conclusion. There are plenty of swooping crane shots by cinematographer John M. Nickolaus Jr., straight out of HIGH NOON to make sure we realize this is an important psychological movie.

The performances are good, but everyone tries too hard to make this a superior movie.