Spikeopath Gunfighters (AKA: The Assassin) is directed by George Waggner and adapted to screenplay by Alan Le May from the novel "Twin Sombreros" written by Zane Grey. It stars Randolph Scott, Barbara Britton, Bruce Cabot, Dorothy Hart, Griff Barnett and Forest Tucker. Music is by Rudy Schrager and Gerard Carbonara and cinematography by Fred Jackman Jr.A gunman who has laid down his guns finds that circumstances test him to the limit...It's a familiar formula that any Western film fan can acknowledge as being over used, that's not to say that the right production isn't worth visiting as such, but expectation of something fresh can often lead to disappointment.Built on solid foundations due to scorching location photography and Randolph Scott prepping himself for greater things in the next decade (see also The Walking Hills 1949), it's a pleasurable piece. It also - via the narrative - isn't afraid to be bold as regards the ultimate decisions made by Scott's Brazos character, giving the pic a darker edge and being all the better for it. Elsewhere, the villains are standard stuff but entertaining regardless, the twin beauties of Britton and Hart have interesting parts to play, and the action scenes are well put together - with the pursuit sequences exciting. Filmed in Cinecolor, it's nice to report this is one of the better photographed Westerns in that format, which is just as well because the Sedona locations are to die for.Not what you would term a keeper, but for Western fans of the era and Scott fans in general, it's worth its salt. 6.5/10

dougdoepke Good Scott oater. Looks like Columbia popped for an A-budget (for them), what with Technicolor, Sedona locations, and a large, accomplished cast. Seems Brazos (Scott) realizes the tragedy of being the fastest gun around, so he ditches the belt and heads for an old friend's place and what he hopes is a new peaceful life. Of course things don't turn out that way, otherwise we wouldn't have a real western.The plot's pretty complex, but the many characters are mainly well etched, especially Grapewin's feisty old rancher Inskip. But what really had me going are the, not one, but two leading ladies (Britton & Hart). It's not that they're just attractive, which is expected, it's that they look exactly alike. The only way I could distinguish them was the hairdo's, but those kept changing, so I kept struggling. They're more like identical twins than just movie sisters. Okay, no big deal, but I've never seen such a resemblance in decades of viewing.Anyway, Scott's near his physical peak and as convincing as ever. While Harry Joe Brown, who would later produce the legendary Ranown western series with Scott, produced this early scenic effort. In fact, some of those red rock spires soaring into the clouds are real visual grabbers. I guess my only reservations are with Cabot's baddie Bard who's too understated to compete effectively with Scott's Brazos, and a rather flat showdown. Nonetheless, it's post-war Columbia Pictures and the great Scott getting off to a fast Western start.

vitaleralphlouis Look down the list of Scott's westerns on this site and the two you most likely haven't seen are this one and RKO's "Trail Street." Long hard-to-get you can find both occasionally on eBay, but not at Netflix.Gunfighters (1947) is a first rate Scott western, from the era when his best westerns were made. Columbia made this one in Coinecolor and the picture quality and color far exceed the usual Cinecolor quality (normally not too good.) Scott takes his many problems in stride, such as attempting to put aside his gun and live down his fast-draw reputation. Too bad his old friend gets murdered by a bunch of bad guys and he's got to deal with two pretty women (sisters) and I'll take the young one, thanks! Look for it. After all, 2010's Hollywood could never make a western this good; actually they can't make any kind of picture that would be sought-after in 60 years (or 60 days).

nunes12345 I thought that this movie will well done. A solid performance by Randolph Scott with help from Barbara Britton and Dorothy Hart helped this picture along. The film was attractively photographed in Cinecolor. You will have to see this film for itself. This film of an old gunslinger trying to hang up his gun belt starts when someone shouts out "Brazoz! Brazoz" before Brazoz (Randolph Scott) beats him in a gunfight at the beginning of this picture. George Waggner did a good job directing this film. As someone else has noted, Barbara Britton and Dorothy Hart looked like twins in this one. I remember more than twenty year ago, I videotaped this movie when it aired on the late show over some Portland, Oregon television station. The movie, which was shot in color, was shown in black and white. Imagine my surprise when I recently saw this movie in its original Cinecolor format. As mentioned earlier, this movie was well done, and I would consider it underrated. Thanks for reading.