THE GUNFIGHTER (1950) B/W 84m dir: Henry King

w/Gregory Peck, Helen Westcott, Millard Mitchell, Jean Parker, Karl Malden, Skip Homeier, Richard Jaeckel

One of Peck's best performances as the would-be-retired gunslinger Johnny Ringo. Homeier, determined to grab the "fastest gun" title for himself, forces Ringo into one more shootout. Very off-beat western for its time.

From Variety 's review of the film: "The Gunfighter is a sock melodrama of the old west. There's never a sag or off moment in the footage as it goes about depicting a lightning draw artist, the fastest man with a gun in the old west, and what his special ability has done to his life.

"Gregory Peck perfectly portrays the title role, a man doomed to live out his span killing to keep from being killed. He gives it great sympathy and a type of rugged individualism that makes it real. Peck is a man saddened by his talent, forced to stay on the run by all the young gunners seeking to make a reputation by shooting down the great man.

"Despite all the tight melodrama, the picture [from a story by William Bowers and Andre de Toth, with screenplay by Bowers and William Sellers] finds time for some leavening laughter."

Oscar nomination for Best Motion Picture Story.