A weathered gunslinger arrives in a Southwestern town (played by Glenn Ford) where he finds himself assisting sheep herders against powerful cattle ranchers (John Anderson, David Carradine, Noah Beery Jr., among others). His stated goal, however, is to establish a church. Carolyn Jones appears as the owner of a local saloon. "Heaven with a Gun” (1969) was initially planned in the mid-1950s starring Gregory Peck. More than ten years later it was filmed with Ford in the lead role and incorporated some contemporary elements from the late 1960s, such as Barbara Hershey portraying a free-spirited mixed-race woman, including a scene where she is unclothed outdoors, captivated by the starry sky. Comparisons to “Pale Rider” (1985) are inevitable, but Ford’s pastor feels ordinary compared to Eastwood's 'preacher,' lacking that later film's ambiguous supernatural aspects. The screenplay deserves credit for portraying a realistic depiction of the West and developing the cattlemen with respect in the latter portion. However, sympathetic remarks about the rancher’s son (Carradine) from his father (Anderson) and an authority figure (Beery Jr.) fall flat because it had already been established that Coke is thoroughly unpleasant. Nevertheless, what befalls him feels appropriate. Angelique Pettyjohn stands out among the female performers as Emily, a prostitute; she was 25 during filming and appears to be at her best. Viewers may recognize her from her well-known part as Shahna in the Star Trek episode "The Gamesters of Triskelion," where she wore a futuristic tinfoil bikini. Here, she has an unexpected nude scene that is more artistic than shocking (though viewers sensitive to nudity should be aware). The film’s primary flaw lies in its superficial nod to pacifism disguised as biblical teaching, which ultimately feels hypocritical. The protagonist relinquishes his firearms at the conclusion to face a situation without violence, but another character resolves the issue using a gun. It could perhaps be defended by suggesting that a sensible balance between complete non-violence and impulsive aggression is preferable—speak softly and pursue peace, but keep a weapon ready for when it’s needed. The idea of absolute pacifism as biblical is inaccurate; limited pacifism is what scripture supports. While the Lord instructed Peter in Gethsemane “Those who live by the sword will perish by the sword,” his initial direction was to “put the sword back in its place," not discard it (Matthew 26:52). There's a distinction between living by the sword and employing it when necessary, which is why some of the disciples carried swords while traveling for their ministry (something Christ knew). A good illustration of limited pacifism can be seen when the returning Hebrews rebuilt Jerusalem’s walls; they posted armed guards to protect themselves from dangerous enemies (Nehemiah 4:7-9). Simply put, in a corrupt world, weapons are occasionally essential, particularly in situations that could threaten life. "Heaven with a Gun” has enough merit to warrant watching, though the narrative can be somewhat slow despite some engaging moments. It would have benefited from a revised script to fully realize its potential. The film’s running time is 1 hour and 41 minutes, and it was primarily filmed in Arizona, including Old Tucson. GRADE: B-/C+

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