Gunpoint (1966) Reviews

• Last, but not LEAST ........

  revdrcac2006-05-25

  Audie Murphy's western films of the 1950's were entertaining, action-filled and capitalized on his likable, resolute personality. The budgets for those '50's films were higher than his subsequent films in the 1960's. This average film has that weakness, but is still entertaining when viewed in that context. This film's mediocre budget and production values disappoint, while still showcasing those aspects of Audie Murphy's talent that always appealed to his many fans. I especially liked the casting in this one, with western favorites Royal Dano and the crusty old Edgar Buchanan. For fans of Murphy, this one is a must see...... for others, watch it in context and you will be surprised. Worth a closer look .........

• What A Posse Audie Murphy Had

  bkoganbing2007-03-10

  There's a murderous outlaw named Drago played by Morgan Woodward who keeps committing all kinds of crime in the state of Colorado and then running back to the New Mexico territory where the local sheriffs can't catch him. That's not going to stop Audie Murphy, sheriff of Lodgepole, Colorado. Woodward's robbed a train that was carrying funds for the bank and because he's got the town nest egg, a lot of businesses will fold. Murphy puts together a posse to go after Woodward and it's some posse, with just about everybody in it working off their own agenda. There is no way Murphy should have accomplished his mission in this film. Which is of course why Gunpoint, though entertaining, is highly unrealistic. Still a nice cast of western veterans give Murphy some good support. Particular to note are Warren Stevens as the saloon owner and Edgar Buchanan as a leader of a family of equally bad rawhiders whose camp the posse stumbles across. Gunpoint has a lot of action and a great cast that make up for a highly unrealistic story.

• Decent Audie Murphy western

  Tweekums2012-06-25

  The film opens with a series of shots of a group out outlaws attacking trains and towns while a voice-over informs us that they are the Drago Gang; scourge of Colorado. They strike without warning before retreating into New Mexico Territory outside the jurisdiction of Colorado lawmen. Chad Lucas, Sheriff of the border town of Lodgepole, believes they will be the next victims as a train is due to deliver money for the bank. He and Cap, his deputy, ride out to prevent a robbery but the gang are there first preparing to stop the train. He tells Cap to return to town while he rides ahead to warn the train. He catches up with it and makes his way along the roof towards the engine… not knowing that Cap has followed him! The man he trusted shoots him in the back of the head and leaves him for dead. Once the robbery is over Cap returns to town; claiming to have searched for Chad. Just as he is about to be made the new sheriff Chad staggers in; he is keen to head south into New Mexico but is told they will signal for a US Marshall. Somebody stops the signal being sent so he is given permission to lead a posse south. His first stop is the casino run by Nate Harlan. Drago is there but flees grabbing singer Uvalde as a hostage. They give pursuit along with Harlan; following Drago through Apache territory and over mountains until they finally confront him in is hideout. His task isn't made easier by the fact that he doesn't know of Cap's treachery or the enmity he holds towards him and even when it looks like Chad's worries are over he finds himself in a fight over Uvalde… or Bonnie as he knew her from many years before. One always knows what you are getting with an Audie Murphy western; plenty of action from start to finish and a good solid hero. The action here includes the attack on the train, a fight against angry Apaches, climbing over a mountain, stampeding horses and a good final shootout. As with many westerns there is a love triangle; it is a little cliché but still adds some interest to the story and provides an excuse to have a beautiful woman, in this case Joan Staley, riding with the posse once they've rescued her. The scenery is pretty impressive; it was tiring just watching them trying to take their horses over the mountain. I found the film to be almost indistinguishable in style from similar films made ten to fifteen years before but that didn't spoil it; if you have a formula that works why fiddle with it?!

• Better Than Average Murphy Oater!

  bsmith55522018-05-23

  "Gunpoint" is a grim but entertaining Audie Murphy Universal western. A competent supporting cast makes this one even better. It is a violent tale with a high body count to boot. Drago Leon (Morgan Woodward) leads a gang of outlaws spreading terror throughout Colorado. They return to New Mexico where they are free from Colorado law. A train carrying a large sum of money is on it's way to town. Sheriff Chad Lucas (Murphy) and his deputy Cap (Denver Pyle) ride to warn the train of Drago's planned robbery. Cap jealous over Chad's appointment as sheriff has warned the gang and attempts to kill Chad. Chad returns to town unaware of Cap's treachery. When newspaper editor Tom Emerson (Ford Rainey) is murdered, Chad decides to take the law into his own hands and crosses the state line where Drago and his men are celebrating at gambler Nate Harlan's (Warren Stevens) saloon. His fiancée Uvaldo (Joan Staley is performing as Chad enters. Drago grabs Uvaldi and flees with her in tow. Chad forms a posse of townsfolk and pursues the gang. Harlan rides ahead and precipitates an Indian attack where several posse members are either killed or wounded. Most of the posse members return to town leaving only five to continue the pursuit. They are Chad, Harlan, young Mark Emerson (David Macklin), Cap and Chad's friend Nicos (Nick Dennis). Along the way, Cap tries to kill Chad but kills Nicos instead. Chad is now suspicious of his deputy. As they close in on the gang, Drago stampedes a herd of wild horses towards them. At that moment Cap gets the drop on Chad but is trampled by the stampede. The others stumble upon an apparent abandoned camp. However mustangers Bull (Edgar Buchanan) and his two sons Ode (Royal Dano) and Ab (Kelly Thorson) arrive. They accuse Chad and the others of stampeding their horses and plan to kill them. Harlan intervenes and offers the old man a cut of the stolen loot in return for their lives. Later Drago and his gang attack the camp and.................................................................................... The mystery of Uvalde's kidnapping is never explained. Since we later find out that her brother (Robert Pine) is a member of the gang, was she really kidnapped? And where did she get the perfectly fitting outfit that she is wearing when she is fleeing Indians later on? Murphy's fight with the much larger Thorson is a little hard to believe given their size differences. Murphy gives one of his better performances as the determined Chad. Stevens as always, provides great support. Staley is too beautiful to be taken seriously as a trail hardened female lead. Woodward as Drago doesn't get enough screen time. Denver Pyle is also good as the snake in the grass Deputy. John Hoyt as the Mayor, Mike Ragan as Zack, a gang member and veteran bad guy Roy Barcroft as Dr. Beardsley also appear. Is it just me or doesn't David Macklin look like a young Martin Landau?

• Goof

  bornagain710-331-2126352019-05-19

  You don't pound nails into a horse's shoe with a loaded gun!