A Gunfight

western, USA, 1971, 89 min.

Režie: Lamont Johnson
Herci: Kirk Douglas, Johnny Cash, Johnny Cash, Jane Alexanderová, Karen Blacková, více...




In Bajo Rio, they pay to see a man kill a bull. Today, they'll pay to see a man kill another man.
After a rattlesnake bites his horse, gunfighter-turned-prospector Abe Cross rides into a small Western town seeking help. The townspeople are immediately curious about the newcomer and when Abe goes to the bank to cash in his prospecting gold, his name quickly circulates. Having overheard that Abe is a well-known former gunfighter, young Bud Tenneray rushes home to tell his parents, Will and Nora, all about the new arrival, unaware that Will was also a gunslinger for many years. Meanwhile, at the general store, deputy marshal Tom Cater questions Abe, but when the marshal mentions Will, Abe assures him he has no interest in breaking the peace. That afternoon, Will walks to work at the Riata Palace Saloon where he is a bouncer, and saloon owner Marv Green tells him of the town's mounting excitement over the inevitable meeting between the gunfighters. Will feigns indifference, but expresses interest in any financial reward if the prospect of the meeting will bring more patrons to the Riata. When Abe arrives at the saloon, he is immediately introduced to Will and as the men shake hands the spectators burst into cheers. Over drinks, Will and Abe grow acquainted, joking that the town's continued speculation about them is so high they should sell tickets for a contest between them. Later, Abe shows interest in Jenny, a young saloon hostess, and the two spend the night together. The next day, Abe finds his horse ailing and shoots it to spare the animal further suffering. Refusing to sell the horse's carcass for meat, Abe instead leases a wagon to transport the body out of town to bury it. Will rides out after Abe and expresses envy at Abe's unfettered lifestyle, but Abe says Will is fortunate to have a family and steady job. After Will disparages his miserly salary at the saloon where he admits he is little more than a sideshow oddity, Abe confesses that before prospecting he spent a period of time doing trick shooting with a wild-west show. Will then excitedly suggests that they act on Abe's earlier jest about selling tickets to watch the two in a gunfight, pointing out that the winner would get all the money as the loser would be dead. Abe is stunned, then angered by Will's brazenness, and returns to town. Unable to afford a new horse with his remaining prospecting money, Abe looks for work around town but the general store owner, Franco Alvarez, tells him that only ranchers are hiring. When Abe admits he knows nothing about ranching, Alvarez advises him to do what he knows. Resigned, Abe spots Will walking down the street and calls out an agreement to a gunfight for money. The pair then make arrangements with Alvarez, who also works as a bullfight promoter, to stage the fight in the town's bullring on the following Sunday. Returning to his hotel room, Abe finds Jenny waiting and asks her about Will's wife, Nora. Jenny reveals that Will and Nora have been reunited for only one year after spending several years separated. Struggling to support Bud on her own, Nora spent three years working for Alvarez, prompting speculation that she had become his mistress. Meanwhile, at the Tennerays', Nora is dismayed to learn from Will of the gunfight and attempts to dissuade him. Will remarks bitterly about Alvarez's apparent enthusiasm for arranging the fight, then reflects that the money will give them the opportunity to purchase a ranch and make a new start. When Nora accuses him of actually craving a return to his gunfighting fame, Will slaps her and departs. The next day, Nora visits Alvarez to express her disappointment at his involvement with the gunfight and declares that she will not return to him in the event of Will's death. Over the next two days, wagers on the gunfight are made all over town and Abe negotiates for a new horse, to be paid off after the contest.
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