Rancher Lee Hackett wants his two sons to follow in his footsteps as a tough gunslinger. This plan goes wrong when his oldest son, Ed, commits murder. Gunman’s Walk sounds like your typical B Western on paper, and the idea of parental influence isn't exactly original. However, Phil Karlson’s film, based on Ric Hardman's story, has a lot going for it that prevents it from being ordinary or just filling time. It brings together several issues—parenting, prejudice, and ignorance—during a period of change in the Old West. The central character, Lee Hackett (Van Heflin), serves as a connection between those old ways and what’s coming next. He's spent most of his life shooting and killing Indians, something he isn’t entirely ready to let go of. Now, this respected and feared member of the community is faced with his two sons choosing different paths. Ed (Tab Hunter) embodies the old West with a lot of anger and gun-slinging bravado. Davy (James Darren), on the other hand, doesn't need a weapon to feel like a man; his feelings for Clee Chouard, who is half Indian (played by Kathryn Grant), clearly represents a new direction. It presents two sides, with Lee Hackett stuck in between—and Van Heflin delivers an emotionally powerful performance. I wouldn’t say Gunman's Walk is unappreciated, although its director certainly could be recognized more. Perhaps it has simply been labeled as a "B Western," which some people unfortunately use to put down films. The supporting actors aren't particularly strong (Hunter & Darren are fairly unremarkable). However, even with average performances around him, Gunman’s Walk remains an intelligent and impactful film within its genre. It’s worth seeing at least for Van Heflin’s performance and the memorable song "I'm A Runaway." If you watch it closely, you’ll likely discover that it is quite good and thoughtful. 7/10

Source on TMDB