MartinHafer Cruze--George Montgomery Moran brothers Dorothy Malone--Charlotte"The Lone Gun" has many familiar story elements. If you've seen a bunch of westerns, you've pretty much seen what will happen here. However, although the film has a lot of familiar film clichés, it is very well done, simple and enjoyable.George Montgomery plays Cruze--a newcomer in town. Soon after his arrival, he has a run-in with some real creeps--the three Moran brothers. After beating the snot out of all three, the Mayor is so impressed that he offers Cruze the badge. Cruze is hesitant--he's done sheriff work before and was sick of the lack of support from the 'good citizens'.Cruze's first business if dealing with his friend, the gambler, Fairweather (Frank Faylen). It seems that Fairweather's luck is too good and he's created a lot of enemies. But the Sheriff doesn't arrest him, as they are friends of sorts. His next order of business is looking into reports of cattle rustling. Not surprisingly, the Morans are implicated. However, after the Morans try to kill the Sheriff, break jail and commit some murders, the folks in town are quick to believe the scum-bag bartender (who is in league with the Morans) and refuse to join in on a posse. So, it's up to Cruze to take on all three--and hopefully rescue their prisoner, Fairweather.A group of bad brothers harassing a town is familiar as is a town of cowards. But Marshall is so good in the lead and the meanest Moran (Neville Brand) is excellent as well that I was able to look past the familiarity of the film.

bkoganbing In The Lone Gun, George Montgomery rides into town and immediately inherits the job as marshal after he handles the Moran brothers, the local toughs who are into a lot of the crime in the area. The Morans are played by tough guy actors Robert J. Wilke, Douglas Kennedy, and Neville Brand.Among their criminal enterprises is cattle rustling and they've got a perfect hideout on the spread of brother and sister Dorothy Malone and Skip Homeier. Homeier is into the Morans on some gambling debts and they're holding that over his head.The other main character in this western is tinhorn gambler Frank Faylen who has a ready wit and a fast shuffle for all occasions. He and Montgomery form a Wyatt Earp/Doc Holiday like partnership. Faylen also took the Morans for plenty so they have it in for him as well.The Lone Gun is an entertaining western in which all the players acquit themselves well in their performances. The story moves well and the direction is taut. A good one for B western fans.

Scott LeBrun One of the other reviews here summed this up very well: "routine but entertaining B-western with few surprises". It's not going to linger in the mind very long after it's over, but it's pleasant enough to watch while it lasts. It's got a clearly delineated hero and villain and entertaining supporting characters, with the expected brawls and gunfire and impressive rural scenery to take in.The very stolid George Montgomery plays Cruze, our good guy, who makes the acquaintance of outgoing gambler Fairweather (Frank Faylen, who delivers a nuanced performance, easily the movies' best) while travelling. They arrive in the small town of Marlpine where the mayor (Fay Roope) makes note of Cruzes' fighting abilities and hires Cruze as the towns' marshal. Cruze soon has his hands full dealing with the thuggish Moran gang, a bunch of cattle rustlers led by beefy Tray Moran (Neville Brand, a good antagonist). Cruze falls for local cattle rancher Charlotte Downing (pretty Dorothy Malone) while the amiable Fairweather ends up accused of murder.As directed by Ray Nazarro, a Western veteran whose career dated back to the silent era, "The Lone Gun" is really no great shakes but its story is easy enough to follow and reasonably enjoyable. Watching some of the actors at work is really the main attraction; also appearing are Skip Homeier as Cass, Charlottes' morally compromised but not really bad brother, Douglas Kennedy and Robert J. Wilke as members of the Moran gang, and Douglas Fowley as the sleazy bartender.One good thing about these older movies is their often brief running times; for example, this only runs 75 minutes. They very much get to the point and don't waste time. The wrap up is quick and satisfying.Overall, a fine diversion.Six out of 10.

zardoz-13 Riding alone across the wide open spaces of Texas, an unshaven stranger, Cruze (George Montgomery of "Last of the Bad Men"), pauses at the camp of a loquacious gambler, Fairweather (Frank Faylan of "Gunfight at the O.K. Corral"), to guzzle a cup of coffee. Fairweather reveals that he has been schuffling cards since he learned to play rummy at age six. The cardsharp wants company to make the miles pass quickly. Cruze accommodates Fairweather, but he refuses to play cards. Suddenly, Fairweather whips out his derringer and fires at Cruze. A brief struggle ensues before Cruze realizes that Fairweather shot a snake. Cruze recognizes the snake as a harmless black snake but admits it could have been a sidewinder. When they pull into the town of Marlpine, Cruze promises to buy Fairweather a drink. Before our heroes arrive in town, the notorious Moran brothers, Tray (Neville Brand of "D.O.A"), Hort (Douglas Kennedy of "'), and Gad (Robert J. Wilke of "The Magnificent Seven") storm into the bar. While Charlie the bartender (Douglas Fowley) is serving drinks to them, he tells them about a hundred head of choice, unbranded calves just across the county line. Tray leaves the saloon and confronts. He claims Fairweather dealt from a marked deck in El Paso and cheated him out of $500. Tray threatens to confiscate Fairweather's buckskin and saddle. Cruze intervenes, and Tray knocks him sprawling. Hort comes out in time to witness the fight. Fairweather warns Cruze about Hort, and Cruze blasts the gun out of Hort's fist. Cruze knocks Tray down as Gad wades in swinging. Cruze punches Hort and disarms him. Hort tries to seize his six-gun, but Fairweather thwarts him.Marlpine Mayor Armand Booth (Fay Roope) offers Cruze a $100 a month to serve as town marshal. Cruze explains that the last time he wore a badge, the townspeople refused to back him up. Nevertheless, Cruze accepts Booth's proposition because he feels guilty about bolting from the last town. Ten days later, Marshal Cruze assures Fairweather that he will lock him up if he receives any more complaints about Fairweather. While Cruze is warning Fairweather about dealing off the bottom of the deck, the Morans are rustling cattle. "This cattle rustling is out of hand," a rancher named Williams complains to Cruze. During his investigation of the Downing ranch, Cruze is taken by surprise when Charlotte Downing blows his hat off. Cruzes see more cattle than Cass Downing is supposed to own and demands to inspect them. Cass challenges Cruze to obtain a warrant. Cruze knows Cass as something to hide and tells him. After Cruze rides off, Cass tells Charlotte he has been helping the Morans rustle cattle. Specifically, he is letting them hide their rustled beef among his stock. He allows them because Tray loaned him $3-thousand three thousand after they defaulted on their payments on the ranch."Six Gun Law" director Ray Nazarro and "Arrow in the Dust" scenarist Don Martin, along with Richard Schayer, who wrote the story for "The Mummy," establish all the basics in the first 20 minutes in this 75 minute oater. Cruze emerges as the hero, while the treacherous Morans are the villains. Caught between the heroic Cruze and the evil Morans are Fairweather and the Downings. Charlotte warns Cruze that the Morans will kill him since he poses a threat to their plans. Moreover, she reveals that she and her brother are pawns of the Morans. Gad and his brothers Luke (Chuck Robertson) and Rhett try to dry gulch Cruze as he rides out of town, but they botch the bushwhacking. Cruze guns down Luke and Rhett. Later, Fairweather finds himself accused of a crime that he didn't commit because he helps out Cass. The Morans frame Fairweather for Cass' murder, while Charlotte struggles to maintain the ranch after the death of her brother. Ultimately, Cruze finds himself back in the same predicament that he faces in the previous town. The citizens of Marlpine believe Fairweather killed Cass because he breaks out of jail and kills a Cruze's harmless deputy Tuttle. Of course, we know better because we saw the Morans break Fairweather out and murder Tuttle. Bartender Charlie aggravates the predicament with his constant verbal assault on Cruze and Cruze's allegiance to Fairweather. Eventually, Cruze tracks down the Morans and finds Fairweather by following Charlie the barkeeper. Cruze infiltrates the Moran's camp by masquerading as Charlie. Fairweather comes between the Morans and the lawman. The Morans face off against Cruze with Fairweather as their hostage. Fairweather gets free and grabs a gun. "The Lone Gun" qualifies as a routine but entertaining B-western with few surprises. The performance are solid. Some of the dialogue is really good. Everything about the sets is ordinary enough, except for the funeral parlor that has a coffin displayed on the facade of the building. The valiant lawman finds himself pitted against overwhelming odds. Nevertheless, he doesn't cut and run like he did before he came to Marlpine. Montgomery makes a virile champion of justice, while Neville Brand, Douglas Kennedy, and Robert J. Wilke are low down and greedy. Nazarro keeps things going but the formulaic quality of this western doesn't help matters. Predictably, Cruze clears Fairweather and winds up marrying Charlotte.