The Gunfighter (1950)

Director:

Henry King

Writers:

William Bowers (story) and
André De Toth (story) ...
(more)

Release Date:

21 August 1950 (Sweden)

Genre:

Western | Drama

Tagline:

RINGO WAS HIS NAME! THE CHALLENGE OF EVERY OUTLAW GUNMAN! THE NOTORIOUS SELF-DEFENSE KILLER! (original print ad - all caps)

Plot:

Notorious gunfighter Jimmy Ringo rides into town to find his true love, who doesn't want to see him. He hasn't come looking for trouble, but trouble finds him around every corner.

Plot Keywords:

Gunfight | 1880s | Absent Father | Ambush | Barbershop

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 1 nomination

Cast

Gregory Peck	...	Jimmy Ringo
Helen Westcott	...	Peggy Walsh
Millard Mitchell	...	Marshal Mark Strett
Jean Parker	...	Molly
Karl Malden	...	Mac
Skip Homeier	...	Hunt Bromley
Anthony Ross	...	Deputy Charlie Norris
Verna Felton	...	Mrs. August Pennyfeather
Ellen Corby	...	Mrs. Devlin
Richard Jaeckel	...	Eddie
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Murray Alper	...	Townsman at funeral (uncredited)
Larry Buchanan	...	Bit Part (uncredited)
Cliff Clark	...	Jerry Marlowe (uncredited)
Angela Clarke	...	Mac's Wife (uncredited)
David Clarke	...	Second Brother (uncredited)
Edmund Cobb	...	Citizen (uncredited)
Dick Curtis	...	Crowd extra (uncredited)
Eddie Ehrhart	...	Archie (uncredited)
Alan Hale Jr.	...	First Brother (uncredited)
Harry Harvey	...	Ike (uncredited)
Jean Inness	...	Alice Marlowe (uncredited)
Mae Marsh	...	Mrs. O'Brien (uncredited)
Harry B. Mendoza	...	Frank Loving (uncredited)
James Millican	...	Pete (uncredited)
Alberto Morin	...	Pablo (uncredited)
Edward Mundy	...	Man on Street (uncredited)
B.G. Norman	...	Jimmie Walsh (uncredited)
Eddie Parks	...	Joe, the Barber (uncredited)
Hank Patterson	...	Jake (uncredited)
John Pickard	...	Third Brother (uncredited)
Harry Shannon	...	Chuck (uncredited)
Kim Spalding	...	Clerk (uncredited)
Houseley Stevenson	...	Mr. Barlow (uncredited)
Ferris Taylor	...	George, the Grocer (uncredited)
Kenneth Tobey	...	Swede (uncredited)
Archie Twitchell	...	Johnny (uncredited)
William Vedder	...	Minister (uncredited)
Dan White	...	Card Player in Barber Shop (uncredited)
Anne Whitfield	...	Carrie Lou (uncredited)
Credda Zajac	...	Mrs. Cooper (uncredited)

Directed by
Henry King

Writing credits
William Bowers		(story) and
André De Toth		(story) (as Andre De Toth)
William Bowers		(screenplay) and
William Sellers		(screenplay)
Nunnally Johnson		uncredited

Produced by
Nunnally Johnson	....	producer

Original Music by
Alfred Newman
Dimitri Tiomkin		(uncredited)

Cinematography by
Arthur C. Miller		(as Arthur Miller)

Film Editing by
Barbara McLean

Art Direction by
Richard Irvine
Lyle R. Wheeler		(as Lyle Wheeler)

Set Decoration by
Thomas Little
Walter M. Scott

Costume Design by
Travilla

Makeup Department
Ben Nye	....	makeup artist
Myrtle Ford	....	hair stylist (uncredited)

Production Management
Joseph C. Behm	....	production manager (uncredited)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
F.E. 'Johnny' Johnston	....	assistant director (uncredited)

Sound Department
Alfred Bruzlin	....	sound
Roger Heman Sr.	....	sound (as Roger Heman)

Special Effects by
Fred Sersen	....	special photographic effects

Stunts
Ted Mapes	....	stunts (uncredited)
Duke York	....	stunts (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Paul Lockwood	....	camera operator (uncredited)
Cliff Maupin	....	still photographer (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Charles Le Maire	....	wardrobe director (as Charles LeMaire)
Sam Benson	....	wardrobe (uncredited)

Music Department
Edward B. Powell	....	orchestrator (as Edward Powell)

Other crew
Teresa Brachetto	....	script supervisor (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation

Distributors

• Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation (1950) (USA) (theatrical)
• Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation (1952) (USA) (theatrical) (re-release)
• Centfox (1953) (West Germany) (theatrical)
• Constantin Film (1965) (West Germany) (theatrical)
• Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment Germany (2007) (Germany) (DVD)

Runtime:

85 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Certification:

Germany:12 | West Germany:12 | Australia:PG | Finland:K-12 | USA:Approved (PCA #14217)

Filming Locations:

Alabama Hills, Lone Pine, California, USA

Company:

Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation

Trivia:

The studio hated Peck's authentic period mustache. In fact, the head of production at Fox, Spyros P. Skouras was out of town when production began. By the time he got back, so much of the film had been shot, it was too late to order Peck to shave it off and re-shoot. After the film did not do well at the box office, Skouras ran into Peck and he reportedly said that "mustache cost us millions".

Quotes:

Jimmy Ringo: Now turn around and head for the door. Keep movin' and don't do anything sudden with your hands.
Hunt Bromley: I'll be seein' ya, Mister Ringo...
Jimmy Ringo: All the way outside, sonny.

Movie Connections:

Featured in 10th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards (2004) (TV)

Soundtrack:

Rock of Ages

A True Classic

This underrated classic deservs to be seen by true fans of westerns - in 1950 when it came out it was one of the first that tried to get it really right - the clothes, the guns, the look, etc. Peck gives a wonderfully angry, sad performance as Ringo an old gunfighter who is dead tired of the "life" and wants to retire. Fascinating characters, great performances, tight, strong script. Seek this one out. Made before High Noon but never gets the attention it deserves.