A lawman pursuing a killer across the Arizona landscape—that’s the basic setup for “Shotgun” (1955), an unusual and worthwhile Western from the 1950s that I approached with modest hopes. The film quickly distinguishes itself, as it isn't centered around a typical frontier town; instead, much of the action unfolds in the striking desert scenery of Arizona. Sterling Hayden portrays the Deputy Marshal as quiet but resolute, while Yvonne De Carlo brings energy and beauty to her role; Zachary Scott embodies sophistication, and Guy Prescott conveys an air of suspicion. What I found most appealing was the way the film delves into the characters’ inner lives. While the antagonist is completely without morals, the rest of the cast exists in a more ambiguous space, creating compelling interactions between them. The portrayal of the Apache people felt authentic, with many actors being of Native American descent. The final confrontation also stands out for its creativity and execution. The movie has a running time of 1 hour, 20 minutes. Filming took place at Vasquez Rocks near Los Angeles to start, then primarily in the Sedona region of Arizona—locations like Red Rock Crossing and Oil Creek—with the town scenes shot on Universal City backlot. GRADE: B

Source on TMDB