Forty Guns (1957)

100% of critics liked it
(10 reviews)
66% of users liked it
(1,329 ratings)

Cult hero Samuel Fuller wrote and directed this visually inventive western, which didn't fare well with American audiences but earned a potent reputation with European cineastes. Jessica Drummond (Barbara Stanwyck) is a despotic landowner who, with a posse of hired guns, has made herself the law of… More Cult hero Samuel Fuller wrote and directed this visually inventive western, which didn't fare well with American audiences but earned a potent reputation with European cineastes. Jessica Drummond (Barbara Stanwyck) is a despotic landowner who, with a posse of hired guns, has made herself the law of Cochise County, Arizona, with the weak-willed sheriff Ned Logan (Dean Jagger) knuckling under to her demands. One day, Griff Bonnell (Barry Sullivan), a one-time gunfighter turned United States Marshall, arrives with his brothers Wes (Gene Barry) and Chico (Robert Dix) to restore democratic law and order to Cochise County. Griff soon tangles with Drummond's brother Brockie (John Ericson), though Jessica is attracted to the new lawman, and Griff finds love with female gunsmith Louvenia Spangler (Eve Brent). Griff and Louvenia marry, but on their wedding day, Brockie murders Wes, and Griff, who takes pride in the fact that he has never fired his gun since becoming a marshal, must now break his vow of non-violence. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 1 hr. 20 min.
Directed By: Samuel Fuller
Genres: Western, Classics

In Theaters: Dec 31, 1957 Wide
On DVD: May 24, 2005

Critic Reviews

Brian Holcomb, Kinetofilm
Fuller's comic book world is a complete artistic creation, a place where men were MEN and women could take a bullet now and then.
Andrew L. Urban, Urban Cinefile
Here is Sam Fuller in top gear, as writer, director and producer, with a Western that is solidly crafted and brilliantly cast. Barbara Stanwyck is at her peak, although her peak lasted decades
Sean Axmaker, St@tic Multimedia
... sexual energy and psychotic violence that explodes onscreen in staccato editing, darting camerawork, and the maddest expressions of love this side of Duel in the Sun.
Dan Callahan, Slant Magazine
A shoddy presentation of a great film.
Dan Callahan, Slant Magazine
Stanwyck, by turns imperious and sly, dominates the movie.
Jeffrey M. Anderson, Combustible Celluloid
Stanwyck is as stunning and fiery as she was all the way back in Baby Face (1933), and she helps make this one of the best Westerns of its day.
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
Quintessential American action cinema.
Leo Goldsmith, Not Coming to a Theater Near You
As brash, unsubtle, and pointed as Fuller's best work.

Read all 8 critic reviews

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Featured Audience Ratings

Bob S

One wacky-doodlely Freudian Western. "She's a high ridin' woman with a whip . . . But if someone could break her and take her whip away, Someone big, someone strong, someone tall, You may find that the woman with a whip ...is only a woman after all."… More
One wacky-doodlely Freudian Western. "She's a high ridin' woman with a whip . . . But if someone could break her and take her whip away, Someone big, someone strong, someone tall, You may find that the woman with a whip ...is only a woman after all." "Get a doctor. She'll live."
Ken S

Great western with some really nice unexpected twists. Love that gun barrel shot. Looks like Sam Fuller beat James Bond to the punch.
Saskia D

Although the story didn't really appeal to me, I liked how it was filmed. The shots were diverse and creative, it reminded me a little of Hitchcock's way of filming sometimes. I wish Barbara had a bigger part in it, I can't get enough of this woman. She has a very… More
Although the story didn't really appeal to me, I liked how it was filmed. The shots were diverse and creative, it reminded me a little of Hitchcock's way of filming sometimes. I wish Barbara had a bigger part in it, I can't get enough of this woman. She has a very powerful appearance, that never fails to captivate me. <div style="width:400px;"><a href="http://www.flixster.com/photos/barbara-stanwyck-forty-guns-forty-guns-13627297"><img src="http://content7.flixster.com/photo/13/62/72/13627297_gal.jpg" border="0"/></a><div style="text-align:center;font-size:10px;"><a href="http://www.flixster.com">
William S

"She's a high-riding woman with a whip" The idea of Barbara Stanwyck galloping around the prairie in a stetson, cracking a whip, is disappointingly underplayed in Forty Guns. Also the potential Freudian and feminist elements are never explored past the surface (though… More
"She's a high-riding woman with a whip" The idea of Barbara Stanwyck galloping around the prairie in a stetson, cracking a whip, is disappointingly underplayed in Forty Guns. Also the potential Freudian and feminist elements are never explored past the surface (though the two female stars are as spunky as the men are handsome, Jessica Drummond is only waiting for a man to take charge!) - see the superbly over the top 'Johnny Guitar' if you really want any kind of subtext or depth. It's still entertaining and campy enough though to make the already short running time whiz by quick enough. Stanwyck is always never less than watchable and Barry Sullivan's rugged presence does the job it's intended. The dialogue is sparky if a little ropey "I've never kissed a gunsmith before" "I need a strong man to carry out my orders... And a weak one to take them". And the visual effects are a bit of a treat - a big close-up of Sullivan's eyes, during a shoot-out, only serves to diminish the expected dramatic affect as it causes us to titter. As does the scene when the burgeoning lovers spy each other lovingly through the barrel of a gun! But the absolute highlight here is the two songs - both of which are unexpectedly and quite spectacularly sung IN character! The Woman With a Whip number is especially ripe as it's sung by one of the male leads as his mates watch on, smiling nonchalantly, as they soap themselves in their bath-tubs!? The other song, sung as a funeral rite, initially startled and surprised me in it's bravado of having a man sing a love song where the object of desire is another man! Until you realise the 'he' he is singing about is God... Damn! Still, the queer seeds are there for us to pick up on! All this (vaguely homoerotic) campery had me thinking... Forty Guns is maybe only two songs shy of an all-out musical! Now THAT would have been a lot more intriguing. <div style="width:300px;"><a href="http://www.flixster.com/movie/forty-guns/photos?p=11407116"><img src="http://content6.flixster.com/photo/11/40/71/11407116_ori.jpg" border="0"/></a><div style="text-align:center;font-size:10px;"><a href="http://www.flixster.com"
Stella D

this was fun. barbara stanwyck plays the cattle queen of cochise county, with her own army of 40 gunmen. of course she's just waiting for the man who can tame her *eyeroll* and when a stranger comes to town in the form of a u.s. marshall, look out. a little melodramatic, as… More
this was fun. barbara stanwyck plays the cattle queen of cochise county, with her own army of 40 gunmen. of course she's just waiting for the man who can tame her *eyeroll* and when a stranger comes to town in the form of a u.s. marshall, look out. a little melodramatic, as fuller tends to be for me but worth a watch. the song 'high ridin' woman' is hilarious :P
Walter M

[font=Century Gothic]"Forty Guns" takes place in 1881 when Griff(Barry Sullivan), Wes(Gene Barry) and Chico(Robert Dix) Bonnell are federal marshals who are on their way to Arizona to arrest Swain, for the robbery of the mail. He is also one of the hired guns working for… More
[font=Century Gothic]"Forty Guns" takes place in 1881 when Griff(Barry Sullivan), Wes(Gene Barry) and Chico(Robert Dix) Bonnell are federal marshals who are on their way to Arizona to arrest Swain, for the robbery of the mail. He is also one of the hired guns working for Jessica Drummond(Barbara Stanwyck), the most powerful person in the county. She also has a brother who is out of control. Events are complicated by a fight the Bonnell's have with some of Drummond's men.[/font] [font=Century Gothic][/font] [font=Century Gothic]"Forty Guns" is a very good example of lean, economical filmmaking. Samuel Fuller pulls out all the stops in directing the film. The movie is about the end of the frontier and civilization replacing disorder. For example at this point in time, sherriffs are replacing hired guns in enforcing the law.[/font]