Movie spotlight
On the outskirts of town, the hard-nosed Vienna owns a saloon frequented by the undesirables of the region, including Dancin' Kid and his gang. Another patron of Vienna's establishment is Johnny Guitar, a former gunslinger and her lover. When a heist is pulled in town that results in a man's death, Emma Small, Vienna's rival, rallies the townsfolk to take revenge on Vienna's saloon – even without proof of her wrongdoing.
Vienna, a strong-willed saloon owner in a booming Arizona town, clashes with the local cattlemen's association and the possessive Emma Small. Vienna dreams of building a railroad through the territory, which puts her at odds with the established powers. Her loyalties are tested when her former lover, Johnny Guitar, arrives, and a dangerous feud escalates into violence and tragedy.
Initially met with mixed reviews and commercial disappointment, 'Johnny Guitar' has since been re-evaluated as a highly original and complex Western, praised for its Freudian undertones, operatic style, and subversion of genre conventions. It is now considered a cult classic and a significant work by director Nicholas Ray.
Praised for its visually striking, operatic style and unconventional narrative.
Noted for its intense psychological drama and subversion of traditional Western tropes.
Often cited for the powerful performances of Joan Crawford and Mercedes McCambridge.
Google audience: Audiences appreciate the film's unique, stylized approach to the Western genre and the compelling, dramatic performances. Many find it a thought-provoking and visually distinctive cinematic experience.
None notable, though it has gained significant critical reappraisal and cult status over time.
The intense rivalry between stars Joan Crawford and Mercedes McCambridge was so palpable that it reportedly continued off-screen, with McCambridge even resorting to drinking raw eggs before their confrontations to enhance her performance.
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“Vienna” (Joan Crawford) runs her bar on the outskirts of town earning the disdain of just about everyone else. When the stagecoach is robbed, a baying mob turn up accusing her of involvement. They haven’t a shred of evidence, but egged on ...
_**A cult 50’s Western that’s colorful, melodramatic, surreal and mesmerizing**_ The railroad is coming soon to a town in northern Arizona where a tough saloon owner (Joan Crawford) faces off with a power-mad cattle baron (Mercedes McCam...
You're nothing but a railroad tramp who's not fit to live amongst decent people. Johnny Guitar is out of Republic Pictures and is directed by Nicholas Ray. It's written by Phillip Yordan, who adapts from a novel written by Roy Chanslor, ...
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