There is a romantic touch to this western mainly about ruffians going berserk or killing each in cold blood, but a curious element raises it above any B level and endows it with lasting interest - the fact that the main villain and murderer plays soft music on the piano. When he is interrupted by some dame who happens to overhear his music and draws nearer he is violently upset by the disturbance, which reveals a very sensitive mind. For some reason the pianos in these westerns are always perfectly well tuned, although they stand as lone monuments in a very harsh and desert country, which makes you wonder how they got there at all, but this quiet soft romantic music deserved no less than a well tuned piano - there are two of them here. Joel McCrea is the lead trying to do something about the local villainy in this remote part of a desert country, and he is always reliable, especially in westerns. Mark Stevens as the villain makes a peculiarly tragic character, as all he wanted was to become a pianist while his destiny brought him totally out in the wild, waywardly astray. It's an interesting and enjoyable film and better than most westerns, as it definitely deserves some closer attention.
Review of Gunsight Ridge
