User reviews

Gun Fury is directed by Raoul Walsh and stars Rock Hudson, Donna Reed, Phillip Carey, Roberta Haynes, Leo Gordon, Lee Marvin & Neville Brand. It's adapted from the novel Ten Against Caesar written by Kathleen B. George & Robert A. Granger. Cinematographer is Lester White, with Sedona, Arizona used for the location work. It is a Technicolor production out of Columbia Pictures.

Plot sees Hudson as Civil War veteran Ben Warren, who after meeting up with Jennifer (Reed), the girl he is soon to marry, catches the stage to Haynesville. But little do they know that two of the passengers (Carey & Gordon) that are travelling with them are outlaws who are after the strongbox on board the coach. Once the hold-up occurs a fight breaks out and during the mêlée Ben is shot and presumed dead . The outlaws flee taking Jennifer with them. But Ben is not dead, and now he's after them. Having recently turned pacifist, just what will he do to get his love back unharmed?.

Originally presented in 3-D on its release, Gun Fury is a brisk Western that unsurprisingly given it's director's keen eye for such things, isn't found wanting for action. However, for depth of story and character studies, it's not one too get excited about. Which is a shame because there's definitely scope within the plot to expand some of the protagonists psychological themes. Still, if one is after a quick fix of Western action staples then this serves its purpose. Gun play, horse pursuits and even fist fights in the water, Walsh delivers pulse raising scenes set in amongst the gorgeous back drops of Sedona. But be warned, the finale is some what tepid and doesn't do justice to what had gone before it.

Cast wise Hudson is solid enough but is blown off the screen by both Carey & Gordon. While Reed is attractive and professional in what is a pretty undemanding role. In the support cast there's the added bonus of having tough guys Marvin & Brand playing villains. The score from uncredited Arthur Morton & Mischa Bakaleinikoff links the narrative well enough, and there's some fun to be had with the 3-D moments as various items are launched at the screen. So a safe time filler for Western fans then, but it could, and should, have been much more. 6/10

Beautiful looking western in dazzling Technicolor is otherwise an ordinary affair but does have Rock Hudson and Donna Reed both on the cusp of bigger things. Donna made From Here to Eternity the same year as this and although it didn't really enhance her movie fortunes it raised her fame level easing her transition to TV fame as the perfect homemaker. Rock would break out of the B's the next year with Magnificent Obsession that turned him into box office gold for years. This film does have a good pace and a hissable villain in Phil Carey plus an early peek at Lee Marvin. For western fans or admirers of the stars this should be an enjoyable view.

"Gun Fury" is a neat, leisurely-paced Columbia Western, originally shot in 3D, directed by Raoul Walsh. I was expecting something exciting or exceptional like "Colorado Territory" or "Pursued". Instead it turns out to be routine, ambling minor Western that just misses mediocrity. Rock Hudson ably plays Ben Warren, a pacifist Civil War veteran whose fiancé (Donna Reed) is kidnapped by an ex-Confederate villain & gang leader Frank Slayton (Phil Carey) after a stagecoach holdup. Aided by one of the gang members (Leo Gordon) and an Indian (Pat Hogan), Warren pursues Slayton and his gang through several confrontations. Lee Marvin intriguingly plays Blinky, the outlaw that later challenges Carey before Warren and his group show up.

Throughout "Gun Fury", Walsh does a nice job of contrasting Hudson's mild, freedom-loving mannerism with Carey's vicious, unalloyed sadism. There are also, as expected from Walsh, some nifty scenes of outdoor scenery in the reddish Arizona desert. Donna Reed and Rock Hudson are great together; Phil Carey does good job playing the villain. Overall, a nice little Western that is worth checking out.

Gun Fury marked the first loan out film that Rock Hudson did after he became a star at Universal. Rock did this one for Columbia just as his star was rising fast with the movie going public.

The film has the look and feel of a Randolph Scott western, it's just the kind of story that Scott was in fact doing at Columbia with Budd Boetticher. I would not be surprised if this wasn't something Scott might have had in mind for himself. Of course there would have been changes made as Scott was a much older man than the youthful Rock Hudson.

Donna Reed is Hudson's fiancé who is on a stagecoach west to meet her man. On the stage also is notorious outlaw Philip Carey traveling incognito because he plans to meet up with his gang and rob the stage later.

Carey is best known as the boss of those exuberant Texas Rangers in Laredo, but here he's a bad man, rotten through and through. He also decided to take Donna Reed as well because he's tired of the woman he has now, Roberta Haynes.

Carey thinks he's killed Hudson, but Hudson's quite alive and on his trail with a former Carey outlaw member Leo Gordon along with him.

Gun Fury shows how much the western grew up in the Fifties. This kind of story involving kidnapping and sexual abuse was definitely not for the Saturday matinée kiddie trade. Though Hudson and Reed are good, it's Philip Carey who really dominates the film.

He's got quite a collection of noted screen bad guys in his crew. Besides Leo Gordon, Neville Brand and Lee Marvin are also around.

Can't tell you how it ends, but Hudson and Gordon pick up an Indian along the way who proves to be of great assistance.

"Gun Fury" is a 1953 Western Starring Rock Hudson and Donna Reed as a couple traveling to California in the Southwest. After their stagecoach is held-up and Ben Warren (Hudson) left for dead, he is eventually able to go after the outlaws who have his fiancé.

Shot mostly outside in the Sedona, Arizona, region, this is a very picturesque Western. While the film begins slow it morphs into a chase movie with loads of Western action. The cast is great with Hudson in his prime and Leo Gordon as the ex-gang member, Jess, whom Ben starts to befriend. But it's Phil Carey who shines as the villainous Frank Slayton, an embittered ex-Confederate Southern "gentleman" who's still at war.

The antagonism between Slayton and Jess is interesting in that Jess feels Slayton goes too far in his outlaw activities and increasingly objects. Although Slayton doesn't put up with it, it's clear that he regards Jess as a partner - a partner he's willing to slay in a heartbeat if necessary.

Carey comes across as a malevolent version of Charlton Heston. His character is interesting: He justifies his crimes on the grounds that he's still at war even if the Civil War ended years ago. He wants Jennifer (Reed) because she's a genuine Southern Belle who reminds him of his former world, a world the war has forever destroyed.

Despite all these good things, there are some glaring script problems. Warren is said to be dead by one of the outlaws after the stagecoach heist, but later gets up and no injury is mentioned the rest of the movie (although he momentarily touches his head when he wakes and looks for blood on his hand, implying that he was perhaps head-grazed by a bullet). The worst plot issue is the problematic swap deal at the end.

If you can overlook such defects, however, "Gun Fury" is a worthwhile 50's Western for the many positive points noted above.

The film is short and sweet at only 83 minutes.

GRADE: B.

Rock Hudson and Donna Reed are a couple finally together after the civil war, travelling on a stagecoach when it's hijacked by Phil Carey's outlaw gang. That's pretty much the story. What ensues is a lot of running around amid some beautiful Arizona desert scenery which is the real star here. Lovely cinematography, but weak script let's this Roaul Walsh western in 3D down. Hudson on the way up to greater things is clearly the main reason for making this but his acting hasn't quite met the standard he later achieves in Giant and he's out acted by Phil Carey who exudes more charisma here. Even Lee Marvin is more interesting in a small role. Neville Brand I thought was wasted and his usual screen villainy given little to do. Quite why Carey shows such an interest in Donna Reed, I simply don't know as they've never met before the stage hijac. She's hardly a femme fatale, just a regular girl unfortunate enough to have been there and this is a weakness in the plot. Had she been a former girlfriend of Carey's who has dumped him would have made more sense but his obsession with keeping her with the gang for no apparent reason is baffling, just a ploy for Hudson to chase after them across the scenery. The film later becomes predictable like a TV western, losing the earlier interest that had kept me watching, especially the performance of the underrated Leo Gordon. Should and could have ended better given the talent here.

With stars like Rock Hudson, Donna Reed and Lee Marvin, a script by Roy Huggins and direction by action film legend, Raoul Walsh, "Gun Fury" seemed like a sure thing. Boy was I disappointed.

The script relied on constant character stupidity to move the story along; Hudson and Reed had no chemistry together and Lee Marvin doesn't have his usual nutjob role to ratchet up the interest.

The scenery was spectacular and the score quite good in places. But this 82 minute film had me looking at my watch before the halfway point.

Rock Hudson was much better in "The Undefeated." If you want a good Donna Reed/Roy Huggins western, try "Hangman's Knot." Raoul Walsh made several better westerns like "Colorado Territory" and "The Tall Men."

A rancher and a reformed outlaw pursue a band of kidnappers through the Arizona desert in a good western that never received its just due. Most of Rock Hudson's early films were westerns and he essays the role of a determined cowboy in fine style as he and Leo Gordon search for an outlaw band for very different reasons. The picture is strictly a pursuit and revenge western with colorful characters and scenery making an ordinary plot tense and exciting. Phil Carey and Donna Reed are major players here but are supported by great character actors such as Lee Marvin and Neville Brand. Carey is at his best as a glib but vain outlaw leader who covets betrothed Donna Reed for himself. Pat Hogan is good in his familiar role as an Indian and Roberta Haynes is tough and fiery as a spurned border mistress.

Gorgeous Sedona, Arizona backdrop for this western film starring Rock Hudson and Donna Reed.

Basic story, Donna Reed plays a southern beauty who is coming in to the west via stagecoach to meet her soon to be husband played by Rock Hudson. The stagecoach is robbed and Donna Reed is kidnapped by Frank Slayton's gang. In the process of the robbery they leave Rock Hudson for dead...only he isn't and he pursues the gang to get his fiancée back.

This is a classic good vs evil Western with not a lot of depth. It's draw was it's new 3-D cinematography, which I think is lost in translation in today's day and age.

Rock Hudson and Donna Reed are gorgeous but there really is not a lot of depth or dialogue...so I can only really recommend this film to the hardcore Western fans.

"I'm sick of violence and force," says Ben Warren, the rich young rancher who is taking his fiancee Jennifer to California for their wedding. Like most Americans of his generation, he served in the Civil War and was disgusted by the slaughter. Now he is devoted to working his big spread and marrying his beautiful girl (played by Donna Reed).

Unfortunately, the barren South West is not remote enough from recent history. Men have crossed the Rockies to escape from the bitterness back East, but they have carried their violence westwards with them.

The film is the story of a stagecoach holdup which turns into an abduction, then a manhunt. Ben Warren (Rock Hudson) sets off after the bad guys who kidnapped his bride-to-be, and pursues them across the Arizona desert.

A standard horse opera, "Gun Fury" contains no more than the average complement of guns and precious little fury. There are absurdities in the storyline, like the holdup with fake cavalry escort, and the ease with which the 'good guys' recover from seemingly mortal harm (Ben is shot dead, apparently, but then gets up and carries on as if nothing happened, and Jess is almost dead from sunstroke but quickly rallies and rides after Slayton). The trade of Jennifer for Jess is silly, not least because Jess would never want to rejoin Slayton's gang.

One directorial quirk exhibited by Raoul Walsh is the way in which any character who throws something (knife, rock, pottery) has a victim's-point-of-view cutaway inserted. The viewer is, for an instant, seemingly the target of the missile. The purpose of this oddity is to exploit the 3-D format in which the film was originally shot.

The only other talking point is the presence of Lee Marvin and Neville Brand as bad guys in Slayton's gang.

Verdict - workmanlike western, but nothing special

Rock Hudson on the trail of Phil Carey and his band of outlaws after they kidnap his wife (Donna Reed) after a stagecoach robbery. A decent cast do what they can under Raoul Walsh's unexpectedly lacklustre direction, with Lee Marvin and Neville Brand providing some colour as Phil Carey's sidekicks. Carey does a good job as a Southern gentleman turned outlaw, as does Leo Gordon as the former partner Carey left for dead. Gordon's character is sorely lacking any kind of back story, though.

Donna Reed was quite fetching but nothing else in this movie worked. Rock Hudson was nuts and the choices he made especially in this era only confirms that fact. This movie just isn't worth your time or effort.

Beautifully filmed , though little known Raoul Walsh film . Set in Arizona, there Frank Slayton's (Phil Carey) gang robs a stagecoach and leave Ben Warren (Rock Hudson) for dead and head off with his girlfriend . After the stagecoach holdup Ben is still alive and prompting Warren to pursue Slayton . As he goes after men who have abducted his fiancée (Donna Reed). None of the townspeople he comes across are prepared to help him ; however, getting support from a good bandit (Leo Gordon) and a renegade Indian . Along the way , Ben enlists two others who have sworn vendetta on the nasty Slayton. A Woman Wronged...A Man to avenge her !...and he rode south to do it!.Her honor cried out for vengeance...and he rode South to get it for her!

This enjoyable film contains noisy action , formidable villainy , go riding , relentless chases , and gorgeous Arizona locations. A paronamic western , being first screened as a 3-D movie ; as the plot is plain and simple, dealing with a Civil War veteran pursuing the bandits who kidnapped his beautiful bride-to-be. This movie has a compelling combination of fine performances , intense drama , crossfire and spectacular outdoors . Director Raoul Walsh aims for psychological realism with a contemporary treatment and about an avenger who becomes leader of a trio of desperadoes . A blending of talent actors with great leading players of whom Phil Carey holds the best character as a cruel villain who'll stop at nothing to get his purports . The hothouse plot drives mercilessly forward with action , shootouts , thrills , attacks and turns . The tale is strong one and the yarn is marvellously located against a background of Arizona mountains . Very good main cast , standing out Phil Carey as a ruthless nasty outlaw , Rock Hudson as the stubborn pursuer and Donna Reed as the lady in distress . Support cast is frankly well , such as : the always great Lee Marvin , Leo Gordon , Neville Brand , Roberta Haynes and uncredited : John Dierkes , Pat Hogan , Mel Welles and Frank Fenton .

The motion picture was competently directed by Raoul Walsh . From his starts in the silent cinema he achieved successful films until the 50s and forward , early 60s , when he was less dominant , but is still stayed lots of lusty adventure , stories of comradeship and friendship , and Raoul Walsh usually makes the most of plentiful action scenes . Walsh was an expert director of all kind genres but with penchant for Western such as ¨Colorado territory¨ , ¨They died with their boots on¨, ¨Along the great divide¨, ¨Saskatchewan¨, ¨King and four queens¨ , ¨A distant trumpet¨ , ¨The Sheriff of Fractured Jaw¨ ; Adventure as ¨Thief of Bagdad¨, ¨Captain Horatio Hornblower¨, ¨World in his hands¨, ¨Blackbeard the pirate¨ , ¨Sea devils¨ ; Warlike as ¨Objetive Burma¨ , ¨Northern pursuit¨, ¨Marines let's go¨ ; and Noir film as ¨White heat¨, ¨High Sierra¨, ¨They drive by night¨, ¨The roaring twenties¨. And this acceptable ¨Gun Fury¨, rating : 6,5/10 ; fairly straightforward movie and passable Western adventure . This decent Western film will appeal to Raoul Walsh enthusiasts.

I'm quite sure that donna reed was the real star power of this film ... phillip carey was always an also ran as usual... and leo gordon never smiled in anything i ever saw him in ... it was very difficult to place rock hudson, whomever that is as the hero figure ... what a flammer ... i'd rather eat glass than say that arizona locales are done to death in oaters ... boot hill

This originally-filmed 3-D pot boiler features a darkly gorgeous Donna Reed partnering an equally handsome Rock Hudson- the latter displaying the macho charisma he hid behind for most of his career. But the thing is, he's good -and so's Donna. They play an engaged couple about to settle in California at the end of the Civil War. Rock has the odd good line 'Bullets are democratic- they don't only kill badmen' -no doubt an orphan from scriptwriter Kathleen George's novel TEN AGAINST CEASAR on which movie was based and a concept which would have found an echo in post-Korean and WWII veteran audiences.

Ex-Confederate Army cronies' embitterment and discontent is the excuse for stagecoach robbery, murder and kidnapping. Ben Warren [Hudson] is left for dead and his fiancé Jennifer Ballard [Reed] snatched under the unlikely pretext that gang leader Frank Slayton [Phil Carey] fancies her. The later elemental suggestion of suppressed carnality is best left as it was -suppressed. Donna Reed, despite torn blouse -is Rock's girl, and she remains so. Doesn't the Phil Carey know how things in Westerns work out? The plot of George's novel, TEN AGAINST CAESAR has been uncomplicated to a degree where an orangutan, given five seconds and a paintbrush, could have written the subsequence and denouement.

But credibility is not what this movie is all about.

It's about how parted Rock and Donna are re-united and triumph over -albeit manufactured -adversity ; it's about searing Arizona desert; the magnificence of 1950 Technicolor Western-making, and perhaps most of all about the making of desolation beautiful. I remember its flat screen release as a kid, was dying to see it but couldn't afford the admission. Had I seen it then I know how I would have reacted - I would have considered it good value and left the cinema, six-gun at the ready, seeking a showdown.

While you don't generally associate Rock Hudson with westerns, earlier in his career he did several...including, amazingly enough, some where he played American Indians! Here in "Gun Fury" he is in a western...and fortunately he does NOT play a native!

When the story begins, Jennifer (Donna Reed) is on her way out west to meet her fiancé, Ben Warren (Hudson). However, a gang leader, Frank Slayton (Philip Carey) has set his eyes on Jennifer...and after robbing the stage and leaving Ben for dead, he absconds with the woman! His gang isn't thrilled with the idea...killing folks and stealing is fine...but why bring along this captive?! When Jess (Leo Gordon) argues with Slayton, his boss beats him senseless and leaves him behind! Soon, Ben and Jess band together to trail the gang, as both men want Slayton!

This is a very good film...with excellent acting, a taut script and enough different about this to make it stand out from the bazillion of other westerns out there. Also, the Sedona, Arizona scenery is amazing...a lovely backdrop to the story.