Death of a Gunfighter
In the turn-of-the century Texas town of Cottownwood Springs, marshal Frank Patch is an old-style lawman in a town determined to become modern. When he kills drunken Luke Mills in self-defense, the town leaders decide it's time for a change. That ask for Patch's resignation, but he refuses on the basis that the town on hiring him had promised him the job for as long as he wanted it. Afraid for the town's future and even more afraid of the fact that Marshal Patch knows all the town's dark secrets, the city fathers decide that old-style violence is the only way to rid themselves of the unwanted lawman.
Insights
Plot Summary
A U.S. Marshal arrives in a corrupt frontier town to find that the corrupt sheriff has been shot and killed. As the Marshal investigates, he uncovers the town's deep-seated corruption and the circumstances surrounding the sheriff's death. The Marshal must navigate the treacherous political landscape and decide whether to uphold the law or succumb to the town's pervasive rot.
Critical Reception
Death of a Gunfighter is a gritty and atmospheric Western that delves into themes of corruption and justice in the Old West. While it may not be as widely recognized as some of its genre contemporaries, it is often praised for its strong performances and its willingness to explore darker aspects of frontier life. Critics generally appreciated its mature approach to the Western narrative.
What Reviewers Say
- Richard Widmark delivers a compelling performance as the lawman caught in a moral quagmire.
- The film successfully captures the bleak and complex atmosphere of a corrupt frontier town.
- A more thoughtful and character-driven Western than typical for its era.
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Fun Fact
The film was originally shot in 1967 as 'The Lawman' but was significantly re-edited and re-released in 1969 with added scenes and a new title.
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