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    Johnny Guitar

    Reviewed by
    pietroantoni@

    The great Nicholas Ray directed this now CULT film from REPUBLIC PICTURES that no one wanted to make in 1953/4. Joan Crawford said she wouldn't do it because there was nothing in her role worthy of any woman's talents. Then she came up with an idea that started to generate some interest. Her role and that of leading man Sterling Hayden, Johnny Guitar, would be switched so to speak. Thus Joan becomes a tough frontier woman running a saloon while Johnny Guitar who arrives at the establishment seems like a pacifist, the very opposite of a standard western film.

    J. G. is a story of revenge and Crawford, the film's heroine is hell bent on struggling to maintain her place and reputation in this tough community, against frightening odds. In this WESTERN it is not the men but the two female leads who have a field day with their incredibly juicy roles. Of course there are brawls and gun fights that involve all the characters, but this gripping film/western is mainly a story of two women. The cast is remarkable, simply remarkable from Joan to Sterling Hayden in his prime to Mercedes McCambridge (a recent Oscar Winner) to Ward Bond, a nasty Ernest Borgnine, Scott Brady, John Carradine and more. It's amazing to see these great luminaries of the past in one incredible film that you'll want to see more than once. I guarantee it!

    Once the tolerance line has been crossed for good, this film shifts into high gear without letting up a single moment. Johnny Guitar becomes a magnificent thriller with a finale between two women that will knock your socks off. The suspense never lets up for a moment. It's unfortunate the cinéma going public of the 50's could not see the greatness of this film. It didn't do too well at the box office because of the very nature of the story, diametrically opposite to what a western should be. Sixty years later we have recognized that this is one magnificent film. Director Nicholas Ray, who also directed Rebel Without A Cause, is a pure cinematic genius revered in most of Europe. This is perhaps one of Joan Crawford's best leads though so few know about Johnny Guitar. The rest of the cast, especially Mercedes McCambridge, is just as ELECTRIC! I'm thrilled this film has found CULT status which it so deserves. I do hope some will read this review to discover an epic western classic of very high note.

    10
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    pietroantoni@  11.3.2015 age: 36-49 14,540 reviews

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