Gunman's Walk


Gunman's Walk is a 1958 American CinemaScope Western film directed by Phil Karlson and starring Van Heflin and Tab Hunter.

Plot

Davy Hackett and his hot-tempered, arrogant older brother Ed are about to assist their rancher father Lee on a horse roundup. The brothers meet Cecily "Clee" Chouard, a beautiful half-French, half-Sioux woman; when Ed makes unwanted advances toward her, Davy, himself genuinely interested in her, apologizes for his brother's behavior.
Clee's brother Paul and two other Indians are invited to join the roundup. Ed particularly resents the hard-working, talented Paul. Ed is obsessed with capturing an elusive white mare, ostensibly for Davy, and cannot bear the fact that Paul decides to compete for the animal. During a wild chase after the horse, Ed rides the other man to his death off a cliff. This is witnessed by the two Indians and Ed is arrested. When the case comes to court, Ed is released when a man named Sieverts lies that he saw what happened: the cliff gave way and the death was an accident. Lee learns that Davy is in love with Clee and disowns him.
Sieverts claims he has lost a group of wild horses he had gathered; Lee allows him ten of his as a gesture of gratitude for his saving his son. When Sieverts selects the white mare Lee realizes that Sieverts is dishonest, but says nothing. Ed sees Sievert riding through town with the horses. When the man will not release the mare Ed shoots him. Jailed once again, he shoots a deputy and escapes. He is tracked down by Lee and their confrontation escalates to the point where Ed issues a challenge and prepares to draw on his father. Lee shoots and kills his son. Lee returns to town with the body and, having reflected on his own life, asks Davy and Clee to join him in taking Ed's body back to the ranch.

Cast

Ric Hardman wrote the original script and it was adapted by Frank S. Nugent. Van Heflin signed to star in August 1957. Rudolph Mate was originally meant to be the director but he dropped out. Tab Hunter was borrowed from Warner Bros.
Columbia contractee James Darren was assigned to a support role. Filming started in November 1957.
Director Phil Karlson says the film reduced Columbia studio head Harry Cohn to tears. "He had two sons and this was a story about a father and two sons. He identified completely."

Reception

The Los Angeles Times said it was "moviemaking at its best".

Legacy

later said the film was an inspiration for Tanner, the fictitious movie starring Rick Dalton in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood.