Johnny Guitar
| Johnny Guitar | |
|---|---|
Original theatrical poster
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| Directed by | Nicholas Ray |
| Produced by | Herbert J. Yates |
| Written by | Ben Maddow, credited to Philip Yordan |
| Based on |
Johnny Guitar 1953 novel by Roy Chanslor |
| Starring |
Joan Crawford Sterling Hayden Mercedes McCambridge Scott Brady |
| Music by |
Peggy Lee Victor Young |
| Cinematography | Harry Stradling Sr. |
| Edited by | Richard L. Van Enger |
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Production
company |
Republic Pictures
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| Distributed by | Republic Pictures |
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Release date
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Running time
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110 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Box office | $2.5 million (US) |
Johnny Guitar is a 1954 American Trucolor western drama film directed by Nicholas Ray starring Joan Crawford, Sterling Hayden, Mercedes McCambridge, and Scott Brady.
The screenplay was based upon a novel by Roy Chanslor. Though credited to Philip Yordan, he was merely a front for the actual screenwriter, blacklistee Ben Maddow. Filmed in Republic's Trucolor process, the film was directed by Nicholas Ray and produced by Herbert J. Yates.
In 2008, Johnny Guitar was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant".
On the outskirts of a wind-swept Arizona cattle town, an aggressive and strong-willed saloonkeeper named Vienna maintains a volatile relationship with the local cattlemen and townsfolk. Not only does she support the railroad being laid nearby (the cattlemen oppose it), but she permits "The Dancin' Kid" (her former amour) and his confederates to frequent her saloon. The locals, led by McIvers but egged on by Emma Small, a onetime rival of Vienna, are determined to force Vienna out of town, and the hold-up of the stage (they suspect, erroneously, by "The Dancin' Kid") offers a perfect pretext. Vienna faces them down, helped by the mysterious and just arrived Johnny Guitar. McIvers gives Vienna, Johnny Guitar and "The Dancin Kid" and his sidekicks 24 hours to leave. Johnny turns out to be Vienna's ex-lover and a reformed gunslinger whose real name is Johnny Logan. A smouldering love/hate relationship develops.
The Dancin' Kid and his gang rob the town bank to fund their escape to California, but the pass is blocked by a railroad crew dynamiting a way in, and they flee back to their secret hideout behind a waterfall. Emma Small convinces the townsfolk that Vienna is as guilty as the rest and the posse ride to her saloon. Vienna appears to be getting the best of another verbal confrontation when one of the wounded bank robbers, Turkey, is discovered under a table. Emma persuades the men to hang Vienna and Turkey, and burns the saloon down. At the last second Vienna is saved by Johnny Guitar.
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Wikipedia