The Quick Gun (1964)

There is something disappointingly formulaic about this vehicle for Audie Murphy and though it's not a terrible film, it's really quite flat. His "Clint" has been away for a few years and as he returns home he gets embroiled in a plan to rob the town's bank. Though he used to be a gunman, he is determined to make a bit of a fresh start so he sneaks off into town to warn the folks of the impending raid. Not only are they sceptical - with good reason, but the town's sheriff "Scotty" (James Best) also puts him under arrest before they build themselves a barricade in the hope that they can thwart "Spangler" (Ted de Corsia) and his gang. Fat chance, as most of the population of the town are aged and couldn't hit a cow on the tit with a tin cup - so what are the lawman's options now? Despite Murphy taking the top billing, the film really belongs to a de Corsia who enters into the spirit of things wth gusto and just an hint of Elam or Brennan as we build to a predictable enough conclusion. There is a little by way of love interest from Merry Anders but she struggles to really impose herself amidst a western film that sees not a great deal happen for extended periods of time. The last quarter of an hour bring it to life a little, but otherwise this hasn't really much to say for itself.