Gunfighters | |
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Theatrical release poster
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Directed by | George Waggner |
Produced by | Harry Joe Brown |
Screenplay by | Alan Le May |
Based on |
Twin Sombreros 1941 novel by Zane Grey |
Starring | |
Music by |
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Cinematography | Fred Jackman Jr. |
Edited by | Harvey Manger |
Production
company |
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Distributed by | Columbia Pictures |
Release date
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Running time
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87 minutes |
Country | United States |
Language | English |
Gunfighters is a 1947 American Western Cinecolor film directed by George Waggner and starring Randolph Scott, Barbara Britton, and Bruce Cabot. Based on the novel Twin Sombreros by Zane Grey (the sequel of Knights of the Range) and with a screenplay by The Searchers author Alan Le May, the film is about a gunfighter who lays down his guns after being forced to shoot his best friend, and decides to become a cowhand on a ranch. The film was released in the United Kingdom as The Assassin.
Trying to put his life as a gunfighter behind him, Brazos Kane (Randolph Scott) goes off to join old pal Bob Tyrell at the Inskip ranch, only to see him gunned down by an unseen shooter.
Brazos takes the body to the Banner ranch, but the ruthless Banner (Griff Barnett) has him arrested for the murder by Yount (Grant Withers), a corrupt deputy. Brazos has the bullet that killed his friend and slips it to Jane Banner (Dorothy Hart), the rancher's daughter.
Inskip (Charley Grapewin) frees him before Brazos can be unjustly tried and hanged. Brazos makes the mistake of trusting Bess (Barbara Britton), sister of Jane, but she is in love with ranch foreman Bard Macky (Bruce Cabot), the man who killed Tyrell.
Brazos refuses to strap on his guns, but Yount (Grant Withers) and hired gun Orcutt (Forrest Tucker) try to ambush him or run him off. Inskip is murdered in cold blood and so is young cowhand Johnny O'Neil (John Miles), the last straw. Brazos arms himself and goes after the bad guys, wounding Yount several times to make him talk, then calling out Orcutt and Bard for a final showdown, with Jane's help.