Silver Screen Influences: The Fastest Gun Alive

Another lesser-known film that hugely influenced my first novel TEMPERANCE, was The Fastest Gun Alive. From its slow-building tension to its clever reveals, Fastest Gun served as my template for creating a character whose main adversary is his own reluctant self control.

The amazing Glenn Ford truly steals the show as George Temple, a simple shopkeep who obviously has more to him than his humble station in life would allow. If the proverbial devil on Ford's shoulder is his own past, his wife, played by the lovely Jeanne Crain, is his angel. She stands alone as his strong voice of reason without being a whining nag like so many movies of that era would have her be. Broderick Crawford's Vinnie Harold isn't the most multi-layered Western bad guy but he's gruff and narrow minded enough to serve his purpose.

The Fastest Gun Alive may not be a perfect movie—the first act's silly but brief dance number is the type of cringe-worthy kitsch that only the '50s could offer—but it still stands as a great character piece driven by Glenn Ford's engaging performance. Fastest Gun is quick, fun and if it were a frilly drink with a tiny umbrella, it would be hard to put down.

The Fastest Gun Alive (1956)

Director: Russell Rouse

Writers: Frank D. Gilroy, Russell Rouse

Stars: Glenn Ford, Jeanne Crain, Broderick Crawford

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