MovieChat Forums > The Fastest Gun Alive (1956) Discussion > You end up HATING the townspeople (SPOIL...

You end up HATING the townspeople (SPOILERS!)

posted 15 years ago by filmklassik
3 replies | jump to latest

You end up hating them for how quickly they are willing to sell out Glenn Ford to prevent the town from being burned.

They go from solemnly vowing to protect Glenn Ford and keep his gunslinging prowess a secret...to saying, basically, "If you don't go out there and fight Broderick Crawford, then by God we will PUSH you out!" in three shakes of a lamb's tail!

Unbelievable. I still can't believe how, at the end of the movie, Ford and his wife would decide to stick around.

[–] shicorro 15 years ago

I'm afraid you're wrong here. The ultimatum of the town being burned down is plenty reason to break a swear. Still they did not, a few wanted to, and a few pleaded with George to go out and fight but they didn't force him too, especially after George's story. The Saloon owner didn't give George's name and he and his son were basicly at gun point.

If anything you begin to hate George for acting so cowardly before revealing his fear and father story. As soon as the the town was threatend to be burned down George should of grabbed his gun and gone out without a second thought. He only loses his cowardess once his unqualified friend decides he'll go out and die to save the town since George won't even try.

They stick around because the town likes them and they like the town. They've proven to back eachother by faking George's death and keeping his life and gun hand a secret. Plus George and wife have a nice leaving in Cross Creek so there's no reason for them to leave.

[–] joeparkson 14 years ago

Let's not forget that George puts on a sharpshooting show for the town in order to be admired for something he's not.

Kind of like a politician who pretends to have a Vietnam veteran service record.

Absurdity: A Statement or belief inconsistent with my opinion.

[–] Temac 8 years ago

That was the whole message of the film. Promises are often boken. Ford broke his promise to his wife to give up his gun, and the townsfolk broke their oath to Ford.