JOHNNY GUITAR (Theatrical Release USA 1954)

 Ben Meyers’ rating: 3.7|5.0 Starsììì

Johnny Guitar has all the bells and whistles for a good western movie but misses key ingredients that make a film work. Good entertainment needs heart, allows real connection to the characters, and seems meaningful. Besides those three ingredients, there is a fourth ingredient: a film should be manufactured so that it can be re-watched through the years and provide that same punch of enjoyment as the first time one watched it. The alternative is that it’s worth its single watch and one leaves feeling like Wow! I got that. This movie lacks that spark of magic that makes good entertainment. The strongest actor/actress in the film is Joan Crawford.

Film Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia 

Storyline

 A female saloon keeper and a drifter become involved in accusations of stagecoach robbery.

Additional Thanks

Thank you to Director Nicholas Ray for directing effort. Thank you to Producer Herbert Yates for making the film possible. Additional characters/cast include: Vienna (Joan Crawford), Johnny Guitar (Sterling Hayden), Emma Small (Mercedes Cambridge), The Dancin’ Kid (Scott Brady), John McIvers (Ward Bond), Turkey Ralston (Ben Cooper), Bart Lonergan (Ernest Borgnine), Old Tom (John Carradine), Corey (Royal Dano), Marshal Williams (Frank Ferguson), Eddie (Paul Fix), Mr. Andrews (Rhys Williams), Pete (Ian MacDonald), and Sam (Robert Osterich).

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?

Maybe. The movie can be shelved unless one is doing academic research for westerns and/or stars who appear in this film. Better westerns for entertainment are: The Missing or The Way West or Rio Grande.

 Video Critique Available Here:

Ben Meyers