A Gunfight *** (1971, Kirk Douglas, Johnny Cash, Jane Alexander) – Classic Movie Review 8256

Director Lamont Johnson’s oddball and appealing 1971 Western A Gunfight stars Kirk Douglas and Johnny Cash (in his second film acting performance following the 1961 crime drama Five Minutes to Live) as ageing shootists Will Tenneray and Abe Cross, who invite a paying audience to their gunfight in an arena. The proceeds would go to the winner, but then the two gunfighters start to like one another.

Johnny Cash stars in the 1971 Western A Gunfight.

A Gunfight is a rather talky and chilly movie, but involving, charismatic work from the stars (plus Karen Black as a saloon girl called Jenny Simms, Raf Vallone, Jane Alexander, Dana Elcar, Eric Douglas, Paul Lambert and Keith Carradine in his feature film debut), the crisp dialogue in Harold Jack Bloom’s screenplay and Johnson’s adroit, committed direction keep it going. The brisk running time of 89 minutes helps too.

A Gunfight is an interesting cultish item. It was financed by a rich Indian tribe and partly produced by Douglas’s company Bryna.

© Derek Winnert 2019 Classic Movie Review 8256

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