Oslo Jargo (Bartok Kinski)
*** 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.
dougdoepke
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.
David_Brown
"Last Of The Fast Guns" is an okay Western, not bad, but not worth some of the high grades I see here on IMDb from some of the people (I admit very few) who actually saw it. I just saw it again on Sunday (Encore Westerns), after a number of years, and the flaws I saw back then were even more obvious than before: 1: There is absolutely no chemistry between Brad Ellison (Jock Mahoney) and Maria O'Reilly (Linda Crystal). For the Western fan who knows who Linda Crystal was ("Two Rode Together", "The Fiend That Walked The West", "High Chaparrel" & "The Alamo") you get what I mean , and know Linda possessed incredible beauty and charm. For those who don't, think Salma Hayak and you get the picture. Thus, how could Linda be cast and have no chemistry? I do not get it 2: Having that title and (Spoilers ahead) no major gunfight, with Brad killing bad guy Miles Land (Gilbert Roland) with a lasso. 3: Not enough action. Go see "Son Of A Gunfighter" instead. Same theme (Including hiding out in Mexico from your past (Like Edward Forbes/Padre Jose (Eduard Franz) and others do (And which Brad will do at the end) , but more action (Including gunfights), and better 1,000 times chemistry between the American man and Mexican woman. Basically a fair western. 6/10 stars.
pendoc
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.
AD
