Spikeopath The Lone Gun is directed by Ray Nazarro and written by Don Martin, Richard Schayer and L. L. Freeman. It stars George Montgomery, Dorothy Malone, Neville Brand, Frank Faylen, Skip Homeier, Robert Wilke, Douglas Kennedy and Fay Roope. Music is by Irving Getz and cinematography by Lester White (color by Color Corporation of America)."The history of any frontier region . . . such as the great expanses of the new State of Texas . . . offered many examples of the strange way in which a few men of great evil could dominate whole communities of well meaning, but passive citizens......And examples, too, of men who rode out alone for law and order, with badges on their vests and handcuffs in their pockets . . . playing a lone gun against great odds"It is pretty much as one would expect for a 50s "B" Western, there's nothing remotely new here, it's a good old honest Oater where a good man takes up a law badge in a town that doesn't deserve him, he takes on the bad guys and there's a pretty lady on his mind. Cue fisticuffs and shootings (including a particularly cold blooded murder), some nifty ambush sequences, a tension packed poker game and some neat dialogue - "one yell and you'll be waking up in a devil's cookhouse". Cast are fine, with Montgomery doing his usual reliable and likable guy act, Brand doing another in his line of scumbags - backed by Kennedy and Wilke, and even though she's saddled with the token lady role that's sparsely written, Malone leaves a nice impression regardless. Bonus is Faylen, who as card conman Fairweather, shines in a cheeky chappie role, with quips and a glint in his eye even when he's in danger, Faylen enjoys himself in creating this fun character. Some good stunt work rounds it out as a safe and enjoyable Oater for fans of such. 6.5/10Tidbib: Bizarrely the end credits have Wilke and Kennedy listed as playing each others roles?!

MartinHafer Cruze--George Montgomery Moran brothers Dorothy Malone--Charlotte"The Lone Gun" has many familiar story elements. If you've seen a bunch of westerns, you've pretty much seen what will happen here. However, although the film has a lot of familiar film clichés, it is very well done, simple and enjoyable.George Montgomery plays Cruze--a newcomer in town. Soon after his arrival, he has a run-in with some real creeps--the three Moran brothers. After beating the snot out of all three, the Mayor is so impressed that he offers Cruze the badge. Cruze is hesitant--he's done sheriff work before and was sick of the lack of support from the 'good citizens'.Cruze's first business if dealing with his friend, the gambler, Fairweather (Frank Faylen). It seems that Fairweather's luck is too good and he's created a lot of enemies. But the Sheriff doesn't arrest him, as they are friends of sorts. His next order of business is looking into reports of cattle rustling. Not surprisingly, the Morans are implicated. However, after the Morans try to kill the Sheriff, break jail and commit some murders, the folks in town are quick to believe the scum-bag bartender (who is in league with the Morans) and refuse to join in on a posse. So, it's up to Cruze to take on all three--and hopefully rescue their prisoner, Fairweather.A group of bad brothers harassing a town is familiar as is a town of cowards. But Marshall is so good in the lead and the meanest Moran (Neville Brand) is excellent as well that I was able to look past the familiarity of the film.

Scott LeBrun One of the other reviews here summed this up very well: "routine but entertaining B-western with few surprises". It's not going to linger in the mind very long after it's over, but it's pleasant enough to watch while it lasts. It's got a clearly delineated hero and villain and entertaining supporting characters, with the expected brawls and gunfire and impressive rural scenery to take in.The very stolid George Montgomery plays Cruze, our good guy, who makes the acquaintance of outgoing gambler Fairweather (Frank Faylen, who delivers a nuanced performance, easily the movies' best) while travelling. They arrive in the small town of Marlpine where the mayor (Fay Roope) makes note of Cruzes' fighting abilities and hires Cruze as the towns' marshal. Cruze soon has his hands full dealing with the thuggish Moran gang, a bunch of cattle rustlers led by beefy Tray Moran (Neville Brand, a good antagonist). Cruze falls for local cattle rancher Charlotte Downing (pretty Dorothy Malone) while the amiable Fairweather ends up accused of murder.As directed by Ray Nazarro, a Western veteran whose career dated back to the silent era, "The Lone Gun" is really no great shakes but its story is easy enough to follow and reasonably enjoyable. Watching some of the actors at work is really the main attraction; also appearing are Skip Homeier as Cass, Charlottes' morally compromised but not really bad brother, Douglas Kennedy and Robert J. Wilke as members of the Moran gang, and Douglas Fowley as the sleazy bartender.One good thing about these older movies is their often brief running times; for example, this only runs 75 minutes. They very much get to the point and don't waste time. The wrap up is quick and satisfying.Overall, a fine diversion.Six out of 10.

alexandre michel liberman (tmwest) The series of westerns George Montgomery made in the fifties had as a basic model the C westerns made by Monogram and Republic, but with the difference they had a bigger budget and a higher quality. They withstood the test of time quite impressively and when you see one today you realize that with all technical progress you cold not make them better or more actual fifty years later. In 'The Lone Gun' Montgomery gets friendly with a card player named Fairweather and when both arrive to a town Montgomery becomes the Marshal after fighting with some bullies. He suspects that stolen cattle is driven to a farm that belongs to a young brunette Dorothy Malone, and her brother Skip Homeier. Skip looks like a young James Coburn or Lee Marvin. Because of his friendship with Fairweather the town people begin to think Montgomery is an outlaw, and he will have to prove his honesty, also to win the heart of Malone. Good entertainment from beginning to end.