Johnny Guitar (1954)

1 November 2019

"Melodramatic" is the word I'd use to describe Johnny Guitar (1954), starring Joan Crawford and with Sterling Hayden (possibly best known for his role in Dr. Strangelove as Brig. Gen. Jack D. Ripper). Crawford plays a saloon owner that gets hounded to get out of town by the local residents - including a woman [with very annoying bloodlust] played by Mercedes McCambridge.

The acting drama is pretty exhaustive, and it takes a kinda interesting western/drama and overdoes it with the exaggeration. With other earlier color ("Trucolor") films and MGM productions of that era, I've come to expect some of that, but 1h50m of it can be a little much. Interesting minor actors that would be familiar included Ernest Borgnine, John Carradine, and Ward Bond. 6/10, but if they ever did a remake the story may age better... 6/10