John Gant (Audie Murphy) rides into the town of Lordsburg (though no state is mentioned, it's supposed to be somewhere in the Southwest) and checks himself in to the local hotel. At the very mention of his name, the hotel/barkeeper, along with all the men in the bar, grow quite unsettled, with the barkeeper even hightailing it over to the sheriff's office to announce the news of Gant's presence. Though Gant is not a wanted man, his reputation as a hired gun is known to all. Always, Gant will pick a fight with his target, inciting the man to draw on him, making his death shot considered self-defense, not murder.
All the folks of Lordsburg, fearful they are the intended target, are on edge and want Gant out of town; one lone man, however, the local doctor, Luke Canfield (Charles Drake), is willing to give him a chance at first. Surely, he believes, Gant isn't as bad as his reputation makes him out to be. His soon-to-be father-in-law, however, is one of the men who wonders if he is Gant's targeted victim. Also wondering the same thing are several other men, including Thad, the local banker, and Lou, a cowardly man, who had run off with another man's wife. As Gant calmly and quietly goes about his business, the anxious men grow more unsettled, until finally, a showdown is forced.
This movie was interesting and mildly suspenseful, in that you don't know who the target is. While it isn't a sensational film, I found it very solid and enjoyable. I happen to be one of the persons who really likes Audie Murphy...I think he was a very capable actor...and quite underrated. The more of his films I watch, the more I like him...he is definitely one of the rising stars on my favorite actor list. There's a gentleness to him in most of the movies I've seen; even when he's the heavy (as he is here), he is quiet and well-mannered.
The film is psychological in nature because the quiet deliberateness of the hired gun is all that is necessary to completely unnerve the townsfolk. His very presence incites the men's greatest fears and makes them wonder what past or present action has brought a death sentence to their door. Also, the film gives insight into the minds of men who think they are about to be killed. Does the thought of facing death bring out the best in them? Or the worst?
Available on DVD and through Net Flix instant viewing, No Name on the Bullet ought to be pretty easy to track down. Hope you get a chance to see it.
Happy viewing!!
NOTE: A repeated viewing of this film has seen my appreciation for it growing. Its status has moved from 3-star "like it" to 4-star "really like it."