JohnHowardReid Copyright 1957 by Loew's Inc. A Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer picture. New York opening at the Palace (supporting the usual vaudeville bill): 19 July 1957. U.S. release: August 1957. U.K. release: 15 December 1957. Australian release: 18 July 1957. 7,981 feet. 88 minutes.SYNOPSIS: Well acted and directed, this western deals with a rover (Granger) who returns home to find his son (Rowland, the real-life son of the director) grown up and embittered. Needless to say, thanks to the encroachments of a wicked cattleman against whom our rover eventually proves his mettle, dad eventually wins his son around. There is plenty of riding and shooting and the photography is equally exciting. — Adapted from Picture Show.NOTES: Steve Rowland had a modest career. I was told he debuted in "The Student Prince", but I've not checked this information. Other films I have for him are 'Wild Youth' (1961), 'The Thin Red Line' (1964), "Battle of the Bulge" (1965), his father's 'Gunfighters of Casa Grande" (1965), and "Hallucination Generation" (1966).COMMENT: Some wag of a colorful showman once described DeLuxe as "DeLousy". I wonder what epithet he came up with for "Metrocolor" — Eastman Color processed by M-G-M's laboratory. If "Gun Glory" is a fair sample of the lab's proficiency, you'd imagine the critics having a field day — if most of them weren't half blind. (Did I ever tell you about a certain city's two leading critics, one who couldn't see very clearly any further than three feet — even with her spectacles on — and the other who had to wear dark glasses at film screenings because the light hurt his eyes).Actually, the exteriors come across with a fair degree of impact, but the interiors don't flatter the players, particularly Rhonda Fleming, erstwhile queen of Technicolor, who looks as if she's spent the day bathing her face and fingers in a basin of bleach. (The result of poor color grading by the lab). Her acting is not great shakes either, though Rowland Junior beats her hollow in the Least Convincing Performance department.As for Rowland Senior, his direction is pretty routine, though he does put the action material over effectively enough for fans of the double-bill western. And that's what "Gun Glory" is — a movie designed at best for the top half of a midweek double bill, unpretentious, but moderately entertaining in its own modest way.

Uriah43 After leaving his wife and son to begin a quest for fame and fortune a gunman by the name of "Tom Early" (Stewart Granger) finally returns home to discover that his son no longer respects him and his wife has passed away and been buried. Although he tells his son that he wants to change his ways when he rides into town he has to shoot and kill another man in self-defense which convinces everyone that he is still the same. Additionally, when he hires a pretty, young woman named "Jo" (Rhonda Fleming) to help out at his ranch it creates gossip and even more trouble among the townspeople as well. Now rather than reveal any more of this film and risk spoiling it for those who haven't seen it I will just say that this was a decent western movie by and large. It had a decent cast and both Stewart Granger and Rhonda Fleming performed in their usual professional manner. Likewise, Rhonda Fleming was also quite attractive. Having said that I must admit that the plot was rather predictable and some of the scenes could have used a bit more passion or excitement in some parts. Even so I suppose it was enjoyable enough for the time spent and I rate it as about average.

gordonl56 GUN GLORY – 1957 This one trots out more than a few of the themes used in quite a few western films. The gunfighter wants to give up the life, the gunfighter returns to the family he left years before, the son who hates the man for leaving. Then there are the townsfolk who dislike having a gunfighter around and the woman who falls for the man. Then there is the villain type who forces the gunfighter to strap on the guns again.Having said all that, this is a pretty fair western. Stewart Granger plays the gunfighter, Rhonda Fleming the woman, Steve Rowland the son and James Gregory is the villain. Granger arrives in a small town to rejoin his wife and son after being gone for 10 years. He rides out to their ranch but finds that his wife had died years before. The son, Steve Rowland is not at all happy with Granger's return. But he tries to get along with Granger because he knew that his mother loved Granger deeply.Granger tells Rowland he just wants to settle down and help make the ranch a going concern. The two decide to make the best of the deal. They are soon joined by Rhonda Fleming who is hired to cook and keep house for the two.Jacques Aubuchon, the town general store owner, is not happy about this as he had eyes for Miss Fleming. He of course goes on a campaign to have the townsfolk ask Granger to leave. The town preacher, Chill Wills, is of the live and let live bunch, and hopes Granger will blend into the community.It does not take long and trouble comes a calling to the town. Big time cattle man, James Gregory, intends to run 20,000 cattle through the valley. And needless to say the new town is in the way. Granger happens to be in town picking up supplies and hears Gregory telling everyone to pack up and skedaddle. Granger steps up and suggests Gregory take his herd around the valley.One of Gregory's hands decides that a bit of gun play is needed. A big mistake as the man is dropped by Granger. Gregory and his bunch ride off. We all know this is going to get worse before it gets better. To cut to the quick, Gregory and his bunch bushwhack a group of men from the town, killing several, including the preacher, Wills.Granger feels he must join in and save the town. He uses explosives to close the pass the cattle must use, then duels it out with Gregory and his number one gun, Arch Johnson. Johnson is dispatched with a tad more lead than is good for him.Everyone is happy and Gregory flees off into the sunset.Not the best western I've seen, but by no means, is it a waste of time. Veteran director, Roy Rowland shows his usual steady hand and keeps any of the clichés from overpowering the story. (Steve Rowland is the director's son) Some of Rowland's other films include, SCENE OF THE CRIME, THE OUTRIDERS, BUGLES IN THE AFTERNOON, WITNESS TO MURDER, ROGUE COP and MANY RIVERS TO CROSS.All in all, a decent way to kill an afternoon in front of the television.

denscul I'm a big fan of the old westerns, and do not believe that Hollywood is capable of capturing its old glory. But not even Ronda Fleming and Stewart Granger can help this 1957 movie which carries nearly all the trite characteristics of westerns of the reformed gunfighter turned good guy. fallen but virtuous woman, bigoted townspeople who must turn to gunfighter for salvation, etc. I can't help but notice the last names of the writer and young "actor" who plays Granger's son. Any nepotism there? I've seen better acting in high school plays. Chill Wills plays a cartoon characterization of Chill Wills. Have I reached the 1000 words yet?