Gun the Man Down
Cast & Crew
Andrew V. Mclaglen
James Arness
Angie Dickinson
Robert Wilke
Emile Meyer
Don Megowan
Film Details
Technical Specs
Synopsis
In 1880, after being badly wounded in a holdup, bank robber Rem Anderson is left to die by his accomplices, Matt Rankin and Ralph Farley, who force Anderson's girl friend, Janice, to come with them. A posse soon finds Anderson in the gang's abandoned cabin, after which he is arrested and serves a year in prison. Upon his release, Anderson begins to search for Rankin and Farley, as well as Janice, whom Anderson thinks willingly participated in his betrayal. Anderson tracks the trio down to an Arizona Territory town along the Mexican border, where Rankin runs a saloon, aided by Farley and Janice, who has reluctantly become Rankin's lover. When Anderson encounters Farley, he bests him in a fight, then is warned by Sheriff Morton that he will not tolerate lawlessness in his town. Now fearful of Anderson's vengeance, Rankin offers gunfighter Billy Deal $5,000 to gun down Anderson. When Janice learns of this and goes to warn Anderson, he rebuffs her, but later, when Deal draws a gun on him, Anderson, having been forewarned, kills the hired gun. Because Anderson killed Deal in self-defense, Morton does not arrest him. One night, Rankin, Farley and Janice flee town and ride toward the hills. When Anderson tracks them down, Rankin panics and wildly shoots at Anderson, but kills Farley and Janice instead. Now realizing that Janice had not betrayed him, Anderson pursues Rankin until Rankin is trapped in a box canyon. Instead of killing Rankin, Anderson thrashes him, then takes him back to Sheriff Morton, who assures him that Rankin will hang for killing Janice and Farley. With his vengeance complete, Anderson leaves town to begin a new life.
Director
Andrew V. Mclaglen
Cast
James Arness
Angie Dickinson
Robert Wilke
Emile Meyer
Don Megowan
Michael Emmet
Harry Carey Jr.
Frank Fenton
Crew
Film Details
Technical Specs
Quotes
Trivia
Notes
According to a news items in Hollywood Reporter, portions of the film were shot on location at the Jack Ingram Ranch in Woodland Hills, CA. Although the Variety review listed the soundman as Earl N. Crain, Sr., Hollywood Reporter production charts list Earl Crain, Jr. James Arness' success in the popular, long-running television series Gunsmoke was noted prominently in ads for the film contained in copyright records. Gun the Man Down was the first film directed by Andrew McLaglen, son of actor Victor McLaglen and a long-time assistant director. Modern sources list John Wayne as the producer; although Batjac Productions, Inc. was Wayne's production company, he was not personally listed as the producer in any contemporary sources. Modern sources also credit Neva Rames and Patrick W. Cummings as costumers and Paul S. Feiner as an additional assistant director.
