The Gunfighter (1950)

 Henry King's "The Gunfighter"

Originally intended to be a John Wayne vehicle, "The Gunfighter" tells the story of an aging gunman trying to reconcile with the loved ones he's left behind. Wayne turned down the role due to his dislike of Columbia president Harry Cohn. After a deal could not get done, Columbia sold the rights of the film to 20th Century Fox. The lead role eventually went to Gregory Peck, with Henry King at the director's helm. 

Gregory Peck plays Jimmie Ringo, known by everyone in every town he visits as 'the fastest gun in the West.' It is apparent this becomes tiresome for Ringo, as he is constantly getting bombarded with agitation from young punks looking to make a name for themselves. It seems there is nowhere for Ringo to go without a target being on his back. He is eventually run out of town by three brothers who are out for revenge for the death of their brother, despite their brother being the instigator in the shootout. Ringo finds himself in Cayenne, where an old friend of his is the Marshal. Ringo wants the Marshal to reach out to Peggy, offering reconciliation. While the Marshal is out, everyone in town is drawn to the saloon where Ringo is staying. Many men are looking to take their shot at the notorious gunfighter. Ringo eventually meets up with Peggy, who says that they cannot go and settle down on a farm somewhere like Ringo is asking because he is too famous. He has too much of a target on his back and eventually, federal agents would even come looking for him. However, she gives him hope by telling him to come back in a year. As Ringo is riding off, a young punk shoots him in the back. Ringo, upon his death, tells the young punk that everyone everywhere is going to want a chance to take out the man who killed Jimmie Ringo. Forevermore, this young punk will have a target on his back, making it impossible to have any sort of real life where he can settle down and be happy. 

It seems the thematic ideas of the film can be easily understood by anyone. However, with this viewer, it was understood even more through my interest and knowledge of Bob Dylan. Scenes from his film are referenced in a notorious Bob Dylan song called "Brownsville Girl," from his 1986 album "Knocked Out Loaded." It seems a bit of a head-scratcher to try and configure what characterizations from the film that Dylan references has to do with the rest of his ramblings in the song. However, it seems apparent as to why Dylan was drawn to this film, as a Dylan fan myself. In 1966, Bob Dylan was involved in a motorcycle accident that took him out of the media spotlight. Out of the spotlight is where Dylan remained, with his wife Sara and their children. Dylan spent the next eight years as a family man, still making music, but out of the spotlight and at home with his family. During this time, he made several acclaimed works, like "John Wesley Harding," "Nashville Skyline," and the soundtrack for "Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid." It was apparent that, during this time, he was drawing inspiration from country and western music. (Perhaps he even watched "The Gunfighter" during this period). In 1974, Bob's marriage began to break apart, causing him to separate from Sara. Heartbroken, Dylan would go to on to create some of the greatest music of his entire career, with "Blood on the Tracks" and "Desire." Dylan's regret over his dissolved marriage was palpable in all his work. It was clear that Dylan's fame and the constant harassments by the media and fans was too much for Sara, who wanted a simple life. This is where the thematic elements of "The Gunfighter" come into play and Dylan's apparent interest in the film. Like Dylan, Gregory Peck's character just wants his family back. He is tired of being in the spotlight and tired of everyone in every town he goes to bothering him. His life has become too big and overwhelming to ever truly settle down and be happy. In going back to Cayenne, Ringo admits to being tired and callous at the age of 35, regretting the decisions he's made in life. Bob Dylan, at the age of 35, recorded and released "Desire," which features the incredibly personal track "Sara," where he confesses his love for his ex-wife and the regrets he has over their separation from one another. He goes on to feature scenes and musing on "The Gunfighter" 10 years later, but one can't help to see in the parallels between Dylan's personal regrets and desires and the regrets and desires of our titular gunfighter. 

Despite the shoutout by Dylan, "The Gunfighter" was not at all a successful film. In fact, the head of production at Fox, Spyros P. Skouras hated Gregory Peck's mustache and blamed the failure of the box office on it alone. Despite the lack of audiences, critics adored the film. Many noted how different it was to a traditional Western. "The Gunfighter" seems to play more like a stage play, all taking place in one town, and mainly one room. This allows for character and themes to reveal themselves in more complex ways, through conversation. When watching the film, you almost feel as though the characters and backstory are already known to you. On top of this, you watch the film knowing Jimmie Ringo is doomed. Whether it is the three brothers riding into town, the young punk who wants to make a name for himself, or the man across the street who has confused Ringo with someone that killed his son, there is too much danger in this world for Ringo. This makes his pleading for a simpler life that much more tragic. Ringo can never again have a simple life. He can never again have any peace. Decisions he's made years ago now hang over his head, affecting him forevermore. He can never go back. He can't change things. This adds so much more tragedy to the picture, making it something far more complex than the typical 'gunshooting' Western film.