Jim Marchese "The Fastest Gun Alive" is a TCM western released in 1956 about the costs involved in possessing the title, "The Fastest Gun Alive." Glenn Ford plays an excellent role of George Temple, a mild mannered store keeper with a relentless compulsion to be seen and heard. Temple's wife Dora, excellently portrayed by Jeanne Crain, has seen this compulsion before and is worried sick over George.Academy Award winning actor Broderick Crawford plays an outstanding role as Vinnie Harold, the consummate bad guy exuding evil at every turn. Short tempered & mean, audiences will detest him. Yet, he has a soft spot for kids, dogs, and at least some decent human beings.Pulitzer Prize winning playwright Frank Gilroy co-wrote an excellent screenplay based on his story, " The Last Notch." I thoroughly enjoyed the story line for the many lessons taught: 1) No matter how good you are, there's always someone better, 2) Everybody loves a winner, 3) Evil consumes its own players, 4) Town folks must be ready to collectively defend their town against evil, 5) Pride & status should never be shown off at the expense of other's feelings, 6) How assumptions can be extremely misleading, and finally 7) The reality fear factor of a gun fight.Character development is excellent between several towns folk and their reaction to George Temple's misunderstood peculiarities. Almost all like and respect George as a mild mannered store keeper; but none are ready for the real George Temple. In addition, the viewing audience is treated to a sequence from talented acrobatic dancer Russ Tamblyn, who gained considerable note in "Seven Brides For Seven Brothers." The story flows and suspense gradually builds to support the ending sequence.The Fastest Gun Alive received only a 7.1 out of 10 rating which I feel is too low given all of the movie's components, probably because some do not understand the many lessons incorporated into the story. Vinnie Harold's interaction with his own men proves out how evil consumes its own players. The town's reaction to George's actions proves that everybody loves a winner. Their assumptions about him show how wrong they can be.But you cannot deny this B & W western did achieve Turner Classic Movie status.

A_Different_Drummer I love good movies, who doesn't, but I especially love movies that are one-of-a-kind, that break the mold, that don't quite fit the mold, constantly surprise the viewer, and ultimately deliver the goods. One of the most watchable westerns ever. Glen Ford is what could be one of his best roles, subtle, anxious, looking to do the right thing, never pushing. And Jeanne Crain doing what she does best, spurring on her man. (Opps, not trying to be sexist BUT THE ROLE WAS WRITTEN THAT WAY). And -- who knew? -- after literally 100's of Hollywood westerns have passed over the creative bridge, THIS IS THE FIRST TO POINT OUT that being "fast" takes ... Duh .. practice? Superb story -- quiet storekeeper is, in fact, a closet gunslinger who practices each and every day of his life ... as long as he can get away from the little woman, of course. All is fine is until one day the town bully pushes the little guy a bit too far, and he snaps and teaches the bully a lesson. And in the process does a gun trick that only a handful of men alive could do. And a little boy sees this ... and remembers. That's all the spoiler you get, but this one is a keeper.

Spikeopath The Fastest Gun Alive is directed by Russell Rouse and is adapted by Rouse and Frank D. Gilroy from a Gilroy story titled The Last Notch. It stars Glenn Ford, Jeanne Crain, Broderick Crawford, Russ Tamblyn, Allyn Joslyn, Leif Erickson, John Dehner and Noah Beery Junior. A black and white production out of MGM, it's photographed by George J. Folsey and features music by André Previn. The town of Cross Creek is home to a very mild man named George Temple (Ford), there he runs the local store and lives in peaceful harmony with his wife Dora (Crain). Then one day the town hears news of how outlaw Vinnie Harold (Crawford) has gunned down Clint Fallon, the once thought of fastest gunman alive. It's not long before the talk of other fast guns dominates discussion, with George becoming increasingly agitated at how the town people view him as meek and mild. With his pride hurt, George sets about dispelling some myths about fast gunmen and his own current persona. With that comes trouble, big trouble for everyone in Cross Creek when Vinnie Harold rolls into town.By the time of The Fastest Gun Alive's release, the psychological Western was in full flow. Anthony Mann had blazed the trail with his genre defining run of Western's that he made with James Stewart, the last of which would be in 1955 with The Man From Laramie. From there the torch would be picked up with some aplomb by the pairing of Budd Boetticher and Randolph Scott, who began with Seven Men From Now in this same year as The Fastest Gun Alive. Away from those genre legends, many directors were turning their hands to more adult/serious Western's, some successful, some not so and some which have been forgotten, rightly or wrongly, for various reasons, when the subject of psychological Western's arises. Probably on account of it's lower tier director, The Fastest Gun Alive is the latter.The title actually doesn't help the film, it immediately conjures up images of a man creating death with his whippy pistols. Suffice to say it isn't that sort of film, and those that have previously been lured in by the title, have no doubt felt a little short changed. Rouse's movie is more concerned with mood and the psychology of the principal players in Gilroy's story. Both Ford and Crawford's characters are driven by motives, that although different, inevitably means a collision is unavoidable. But the story isn't just about these two men, it takes time to involve loved ones and the people of the town, all are involved and as it turns out, all are key elements as to why the film is a character driven little gem. While what action there is is competently handled by the director, notably the finale that also comes with an unbearable precursor of tension.What problems there are in the picture are thankfully only minor. Crawford is just a touch too much one note, but such is his hulking frame he looks the part of a brutish bully and he gets away with it. Tamblyn is seriously out of place, almost as much as his dance number is! It's skillful and delightful: if only it were in the right movie. For it shifts the tone of the film downwards and you have to wonder who made the ridiculous decision to include it in the film. But away from those issues it's all good. Crain looks stunning and plays emotive worry with ease, while Dehner does a nice line in shifty side-kick. But it's Ford who takes the honours, either playing it as a tortured soul who's emotionally conflicted, or as a man who is genuinely scared, Ford convinces and draws the audience into the unfolding drama.Forget any notion of a stereotype suggested by the film's title and enjoy the atypical way in which the movie deals with its characters. This is a good un, very much so. 8/10

doug-balch This is a mediocre "B" Western that feels like a really long episode of "Gunsmoke". It is not without merit, however.Here's what was good:Glenn Ford puts in a brooding performance has a retired gunfighter who is struggling to adapt to domestic town life.Jeanne Crain looked very attractive as his wife.Solid supporting cast with Broderick Crawford and John Dehner.Clever twist endingHere's what kept it from being better:Felt more like a stage play than a movie.No location shooting. Strictly back lot.