I've read several other reviews and I must ask if those who call this a cheapie have ever watched a 'western' where 90% of the film takes place in a town or in a confined location where they talk each other to death. I love for it's drama and characters, the original '3:10 to Yuma'. But every time I watch it, despite it's brevity, there's quite a bit of talking, taunting, hotel door-knocking and window- watching...it takes a while to get the hell out of that hotel room. Unlike even the most highly regarded westerns, this one had a welcomed lack of comic relief, banter and annoying romantic interludes. It was actionful and I can't believe someone actually mentioned it was tired and boring. Aside from it's climactic shootout, 'The Gunfight at the OK Corral' is a town-bound drama with Rhonda Fleming boring us to death. The on-location photography and camera-work in '40 Guns...' was pretty impressive; not filmed as a quickie would be 2 miles from LA or on a backlot. Many of the action scenes I consider very well done. Someone mentioned that a punch during a fight completely misses but the man goes reeling. Ever look closely at the saloon brawl in 'Shane'? Kenneth Tobey proved his worth as a bitter, treacherous villain spewing dark-humored barbed remarks. And whoever counted the modern 50 stars on the flag, should also have noticed that we were spared the hero and the girl in an embrace as the sun set. And as for the plot being well- worn and tired, how many films can they make where the guy's girl and best buddy fall in love? How many sports films can they make where a losing team gets a down- and-out coach who needs to redeem himself? How many action films can they make where the thief, spy, driver, detective, hit man 'comes out of retirement'......??? How many crime films have the hero driving cross-town in traffic to save a potential murder victim, but doesn't call 911? Talk about well-worn formulas.
Review of 40 Guns to Apache Pass
