The Last of the Fast Guns (1958)

Photographed entirely in Mexico in CinemaScope and Eastman Color by Pathé. Producer: Howard Christie. A Universal-International Picture. Copyright 1958 by Universal-International. No New York opening. U.S. release: 27 July 1958. U.K. release: 29 June 1958. Australian release: 2 May 1958. 7,370 feet. 82 minutes. Cut by Universal in Australia to 69 minutes so that the film would slot easily into the lower half of double bills.SYNOPSIS: Gunfighter Brad Ellison (Jock Mahoney) accepts an offer from wealthy John Forbes (Carl Benton Reid) to locate his brother who disappeared in Mexico thirty years ago. At Sam Grypton's (Edward Platt) hide-out for gunfighters he gets no clues. After a brush with bandits, Brad meets rancher O'Reilly (Lorne Greene), his daughter, Maria (Linda Cristal) and his foreman, Miles (Gilbert Roland) who are convinced Forbes died ten years ago, but Miles offers to help Brad's search.COMMENT: A lively, fast-moving western in which director George Sherman not only puts his action across with punch, but with style, making full use of his CinemaScope cameras to capture some impressively rugged terrain of Mexico's mountain wilderness. A tight, taut story, soundly acted. In fact, one of our favorite actors, Gilbert Roland, is back in the saddle with "Last of the Fast Guns". This silly title disguises a fascinating Mexican western. Not only lots of broodingly atmospheric scenery, but some rather interesting Mexican actors as well, including Eduardo Noriega who made such an impression in the Mario Lanza "Serenade"; George Trevino, well known to "I Love Lucy" fans as Desi's Cuban uncle; Francisco Reguiera, a film veteran of Mack Sennett comedies; and young Gilda Fontana, a former Hollywood starlet who switched to Mexico.

*** This review may contain spoilers ***The Last of the Fast Guns (1958) isn't a bad Western and the location is gorgeous, I think that's what pulls it through. At the start, two gunfighters shoot it out in town and the winner is invited to speak with an old man. He offers the winning gunfighter a job, to go look for his lost brother, who disappeared in Mexico. Jock Mahoney plays the gunfighter, he isn't very magnetic or interesting, but nonetheless he possesses the gunfighter creed.Mexican actor Gilbert Roland is here as well, the same as usual, being suave and smoking a lot. He works for Lorne Greene, who is gone for most of the picture. the gunfighter looks for the supposed-dead brother and finds a bit of a mystery. The ending was rather contrived, but it isn't a horrible picture.

Gunfighter Miles is hired to go south of the border to find a dying man's missing brother. However, things are more complicated than they seem.Generally underrated western, with good scenic Mexican locations, a non-clichéd plot, along with a few good twists and a colorful cast. Getting Roland, Greene and Franz was a real coup since each is a very distinctive presence. Mahoney certainly looks the part of a western hero, but is a rather bland actor, not to the extent of being a problem, however. Director Sherman makes creative and compelling use of the locations and I especially like the shack set against the cliff; it's like nothing else I've seen. Unlike many oaters set in Mexico, this one comes across as genuinely persuasive. Cristal's role (Maria), surprise, surprise, is little more than eye candy, but I don't blame Ellison (Mahoney) at fade-out. Anyway, don't let the first tame 20-minutes or so fool you, the twists and action pick up considerably.

Classic, archetypal hero. Plot twist at the end, which some anticipate and some don't. One of the fastest draws shown in any film. Ending a bit disappointing, as final confrontation is short and not settled with firearms. For fans of the genre, a must-see.