Johnny Guitar Summary
Director: Nicholas Ray
Genres: Western
Rating:
One of the strangest westerns on record, Johnny Guitar has less in common with Zane_Grey than it does with Sigmund Freud and Krafft-Ebbing. The title character, played by Sterling_Hayden, is a guitar-strumming drifter who was once the lover of Arizona saloon-owner Vienna (Joan_Crawford). Though her establishment doesn't make a dime, Vienna doesn't care because the railroad is going to come in soon, bringing a whole slew of thirsty new customers. This puts her at odds with bulldyke rancher Emma Small (Mercedes McCambridge), who doesn't want any new settlers on her land. Hating Vienna with a purple passion, Emma will do anything to drive her out of the territory...and even worse, Emma's got the law and the other ranchers on her side. Hoping to keep Emma at bay, Vienna hires Johnny Guitar, who unbeknownst to everyone else in town is a notorious gunslinger. But Johnny prefers to bide his time, waiting for Emma to strike before he makes his move. As a result, Vienna endures several life-threatening experiences, culminating with a feverish chase through the Arizona wilds with lynch-happy Emma and her minions in hot pursuit. According to most sources, the animosity between Joan_Crawford and Mercedes McCambridge was quite real, added several extra dimensions to their scenes together. Director Nicholas_Ray and screenwriter Philip_Yordan stuff the film with so much sexual symbolism that one wonders why they left out a train going into a tunnel. Ms._Crawford's vivid red-and-blue wardrobe scheme was later appropriated by Ray for James_Dean in Rebel Without a Cause--with equally stunning results. In addition to the stars, Johnny Guitar is well stocked with reliable supporting players, including Ernest_Borgnine, Ben_Cooper, Royal_Dano (superb as a consumptive, book-reading hired gun) and Paul_Fix. Hal Erickson, Rovi
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