Death of a Gunfighter
Seen it?1969 | 94 min | Western
Sunday Safe Betearly ratingWhy it’s a Sunday Safe Bet
It earned strong reviews (83% on Rotten Tomatoes), though it had a box office flop and almost no lasting buzz. A safe bet when you want something reliable.
Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.Is it for you?
- Who'll love it
- Made for most people.
- The mood
- Easygoing.
- The pace
- Moves along nicely, at 1 hr 34 min.
- What might put you off
- Rated PG. Worth a look first if you have very young kids.
- Made in 1969: an older pace and style.
In the turn-of-the century Texas town of Cottonwood Springs, marshal Frank Patch is an old-style lawman in a town determined to become modern. When he kills drunken Luke Mills in self-defense, the town leaders decide it's time for a change. That ask for Patch's resignation, but he refuses on the basis that the town, on hiring him, had promised him the job for as long as he wanted it. Afraid for the town's future and even more afraid of the fact that Marshal Patch knows all the town's dark secrets, the city fathers decide that old-style violence is the only way to rid themselves of the unwanted lawman.
How it earned its rating
- CriticsStrong
83% on Rotten Tomatoes, 69 on Metacritic
- AudiencesNot counted
Not measured yet: not enough ratings
- AwardsNot counted
No major awards or nominations
- Reach & staying powerWeak
Streaming release that reached a small audience so far
- Buzz & cultural impactWeak
Not enough engagement data yet
Trailer
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Cast & crew
Directed by Robert Totten, Alan Smithee, Don Siegel
- Richard WidmarkMarshal Frank Patch
- Lena HorneClaire Quintana
- Carroll O'ConnorLester Locke
- David OpatoshuEdward Rosenbloom
- Kent SmithAndrew Oxley
- Jacqueline ScottLaurie Mills
- Morgan WoodwardIvan Stanek
- Larry GatesMayor Chester Sayre
- Dub TaylorDoc Adams
- John SaxonLou Trinidad