Sterling Hayden seems unenthusiastic in this fairly motionless western story. He portrays "Marshal Hardin," who is set on getting revenge for his boss’s death, which was caused by the "Thompson" gang. While tracking down their leader, he encounters a bounty hunter and his female companion, and the trio joins forces to hunt them down. Predictably, he develops feelings for the woman (Yvonne de Carlo), creating some ten…

I love noir films, but Westerns are what I turn to for relaxation. Shotgun felt like a quick bite to eat – not particularly thrilling. Hadyen embodies the cowboy persona effortlessly, as he consistently does. DeCarlo’s appearance wasn’t handled well; she's dressed in an odd combination of a billowy pirate-style shirt and mom jeans throughout the movie. Her hairstyle is reminiscent of 1950s television homemakers. I wi…

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 resol…