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| gross = 554,911 admissions (France)<ref>[http://translate.googleusercontent.com/translate_c?depth=1&hl=en&prev=search&rurl=translate.google.com.au&sl=fr&u=http://www.boxofficestory.com/box-office-roger-corman-c25219334&usg=ALkJrhhPRR4k6t8SO7XOpFPK6Cs9OEHuHQ Box office information for Roger Corman films in France] at Box Office Story</ref>
| gross = 554,911 admissions (France)<ref>[http://translate.googleusercontent.com/translate_c?depth=1&hl=en&prev=search&rurl=translate.google.com.au&sl=fr&u=http://www.boxofficestory.com/box-office-roger-corman-c25219334&usg=ALkJrhhPRR4k6t8SO7XOpFPK6Cs9OEHuHQ Box office information for Roger Corman films in France] at Box Office Story</ref>
}}
}}
'''''Five Guns West''''' is a 1955 [[Western (genre)|Western]] film set during the [[American Civil War]] directed by [[Roger Corman]]. It was Corman's first film as director although he had already made three as producer. It was the second of two films he made for the American Releasing Company, which later became [[American International Pictures]].<ref>SIRK WILL DIRECT UNIVERSAL MOVIE: Lot Again Signs Jane Wyman and Rock Hudson to Co-Star in 'All That Heaven Allows'
'''''Five Guns West''''' is a 1955 [[Western (genre)|Western]] film set during the [[American Civil War]] directed by [[Roger Corman]]. It was Corman's first film as director although he had already made two as producer. It was the second film released by the American Releasing Company, which later became [[American International Pictures]].<ref name="sirk">SIRK WILL DIRECT UNIVERSAL MOVIE: Lot Again Signs Jane Wyman and Rock Hudson to Co-Star in 'All That Heaven Allows' By THOMAS M. PRYOR Special to The New York Times.28 Oct 1954: 47.</ref>
By THOMAS M. PRYOR Special to The New York Times.28 Oct 1954: 47.</ref>


The film stars [[Dorothy Malone]], [[John Lund (actor)|John Lund]] and [[Mike Connors]]. The cast also includes [[R. Wright Campbell]], who wrote the screenplay. He is billed as "Bob Campbell" in the credits as an actor but as "R. Wright Campbell" as screenwriter.<ref>FIVE GUNS WEST Monthly Film Bulletin; London Vol. 22, Iss. 252, (Jan 1, 1955): 152.</ref>
The film stars [[Dorothy Malone]], [[John Lund (actor)|John Lund]] and [[Mike Connors]]. The cast also includes [[R. Wright Campbell]], who wrote the screenplay. He is billed as "Bob Campbell" in the credits as an actor but as "R. Wright Campbell" as screenwriter.<ref>FIVE GUNS WEST Monthly Film Bulletin; London Vol. 22, Iss. 252, (Jan 1, 1955): 152.</ref>
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==Production==
==Production==
===Development===
The film was the third movie producer by [[Roger Corman]] but the first one he directed. The second film he produced, ''The Fast and the Furious'' and been bought for distribution by a newly formed company, [[American Releasing Corporation]] (ARC), headed by Sam Arkoff and James H. Nicholson. Corman had offers from other companies but said he chose ARC because the company were willing to forward him money in advance, which he could use to finance other films.<ref name="Corman p. 25">Corman and Jerome 1990, p. 25.</ref> In October 1954 ARC announced that they would make three more films with Corman's company, Palo Alto, over the next twelve months, starting with ''Five Guns West'' in November.<ref>SIRK WILL DIRECT UNIVERSAL MOVIE New York Times 28 Oct 1954: 47. </ref> ARC later became the famous [[American International Pictures]].<ref name="AIP" />{{rp|21}}
The film was the third movie producer by [[Roger Corman]] but the first one he directed, and his first movie in color. The second film he produced, ''The Fast and the Furious'' and been bought for distribution by a newly formed company, [[American Releasing Corporation]] (ARC), headed by Sam Arkoff and James H. Nicholson. Corman had offers from other companies but said he chose ARC because the company were willing to forward him money in advance, which he could use to finance other films.<ref name="Corman p. 25">Corman and Jerome 1990, p. 25.</ref> In October 1954 ARC announced that they would make three more films with Corman's company, Palo Alto, over the next twelve months, starting with ''Five Guns West'' in November.<ref name="sirk"/> ARC later became the famous [[American International Pictures]].<ref name="AIP" />{{rp|21}}


Corman had directed second unit on ''Fast and the Furious'' and decided to direct ''Five Guns West'' himself. This was announced in November 1954.<ref>Seven Theaters Offer 'Sabrina'
Corman had directed second unit on ''Fast and the Furious'' and decided to direct ''Five Guns West'' himself. This was announced in November 1954.<ref>Seven Theaters Offer 'Sabrina'
Los Angeles Times 24 Nov 1954: 14</ref> Corman later said "the work by the directors on the two films I had produced was acceptable. But I thought, I can do better, more efficient work; I can make better films."<ref>Corman p 28</ref>
Los Angeles Times 24 Nov 1954: 14</ref> Corman later said "the work by the directors on the two films I had produced was acceptable. But I thought, I can do better, more efficient work; I can make better films."<ref>Corman p 28</ref>


Female lead Dorothy Malone had been in ''Fast and the Furious''. This was her first film following the death of her younger brother.<ref>Whole Town's Talking About F.S. The Washington Post and Times Herald 15 Nov 1954: 22.</ref> Corman said he paid her and John Lund "as much as I could afford". He also gave "Touch" Connors one of his first roles.<ref>Corman p 17</ref>
Female lead Dorothy Malone had been in ''Fast and the Furious''. This was her first film following the death of her younger brother. Malone had ''Battle Cry'' and ''Young at Heart'' awaiting release when she made the film.<ref>Whole Town's Talking About F.S. The Washington Post and Times Herald 15 Nov 1954: 22.</ref> Corman said he paid her and John Lund "as much as I could afford".<ref>Corman p 17</ref> Touch Connors was cast shortly after Malone.<ref>Work in Filmland! Director Keeps Five Writers Busy!
Hopper, Hedda. Chicago Daily Tribune 17 Nov 1954: b4</ref>


Corman said the story idea was his but the structure and script was the work of [[R. Wright Campbell]], an actor he had met through [[Jonathan Haze]]. Campbell was paid $200 to write the script - it was his first screenplay - and was cast in a key role.<ref name="AIP">Mark McGee, ''Faster and Furiouser: The Revised and Fattened Fable of American International Pictures'', McFarland, 1996</ref>{{rp|22}}
Corman said the story idea was his but the structure and script was the work of [[R. Wright Campbell]], an actor he had met through [[Jonathan Haze]]. Campbell was paid $200 to write the script - it was his first screenplay - and was cast in a key role.<ref name="AIP">Mark McGee, ''Faster and Furiouser: The Revised and Fattened Fable of American International Pictures'', McFarland, 1996</ref>{{rp|22}}
Line 51: Line 52:


Prior to filming, Corman's directing experience was limited to doing second unit on ''Fast and the Furious'' and observing film sets on the lot at 20th Century Fox. In order to get some practice before staring ''Five Guns West'', he shot an 8-minute short film on 16 mm over one day with some actor friends. Corman says he never bothered having this film processed and edited. He later wrote in his memoirs "if a young man came to me today with similar credentials there's no way I'd hire him. I'd tell him to go out and get more training."<ref>Corman p 27</ref>
Prior to filming, Corman's directing experience was limited to doing second unit on ''Fast and the Furious'' and observing film sets on the lot at 20th Century Fox. In order to get some practice before staring ''Five Guns West'', he shot an 8-minute short film on 16 mm over one day with some actor friends. Corman says he never bothered having this film processed and edited. He later wrote in his memoirs "if a young man came to me today with similar credentials there's no way I'd hire him. I'd tell him to go out and get more training."<ref>Corman p 27</ref>
===Filming===

The film was shot over nine days at Iverson's ranch in the San Fernando Valley.<ref>Roger Corman & Jim Jerome, ''How I Made a Hundred Movies in Hollywood and Never lost a Dime'', Muller, 1990 p 27</ref> Corman bought stock footage of Indians to use in the film. He says he prepared thoroughly for the shoot with the assistance of Floyd Crosby and art director Ben Hayne. Corman says Hayne was particularly helpful being a western buff and would assist Corman in doing sketches for each shot. The director says he was comfortable working with the camera but less so with actors.<ref>Corman p 28</ref>
The film was shot over nine days at Iverson's ranch in the San Fernando Valley.<ref>Roger Corman & Jim Jerome, ''How I Made a Hundred Movies in Hollywood and Never lost a Dime'', Muller, 1990 p 27</ref> Corman bought stock footage of Indians to use in the film. He says he prepared thoroughly for the shoot with the assistance of Floyd Crosby and art director Ben Hayne. Corman says Hayne was particularly helpful being a western buff and would assist Corman in doing sketches for each shot. The director says he was comfortable working with the camera but less so with actors.<ref>Corman p 28</ref>


Line 59: Line 60:
==Reception==
==Reception==
Before the film had even been released, ARC assigned Corman to another Westenr, ''Apache Woman''. According to Corman both films made a profit.<ref>Corman p 30</ref>
Before the film had even been released, ARC assigned Corman to another Westenr, ''Apache Woman''. According to Corman both films made a profit.<ref>Corman p 30</ref>

Corman said the fact the film was in color helped put it in the top half of double bills through most of the US, although in some major cities in was a second feature.<ref>{{cite book|title=Roger Corman Interviews|page=73 of 228|edition=Kindle}}</ref>
===Critical===
===Critical===
''Picture Show'' called it "ably acted and directed".<ref>FIVE GUNS WEST (Anglo. Amal.)
Picture Show; London Vol. 65, Iss. 1704, (Nov 26, 1955): 10. </ref>

DVD Savant found "The movie is less interesting for its quality than its place in the development of independent production. "<ref name="dvdtalk.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.dvdtalk.com/dvdsavant/s823five.html|title=DVD Savant Review: Five Guns West|website=www.dvdtalk.com}}</ref> [[TV Guide]] gave the movie 2 out of 5 stars, finding it similar to other westerns of the time.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tvguide.com/movies/five-guns-west/review/114828/|title=Five Guns West - TV Guide|website=TVGuide.com}}</ref> Variety found the movie acceptable for smaller venues,but found it to have too much talking and not enough action
DVD Savant found "The movie is less interesting for its quality than its place in the development of independent production. "<ref name="dvdtalk.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.dvdtalk.com/dvdsavant/s823five.html|title=DVD Savant Review: Five Guns West|website=www.dvdtalk.com}}</ref> [[TV Guide]] gave the movie 2 out of 5 stars, finding it similar to other westerns of the time.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tvguide.com/movies/five-guns-west/review/114828/|title=Five Guns West - TV Guide|website=TVGuide.com}}</ref> Variety found the movie acceptable for smaller venues,but found it to have too much talking and not enough action


According to John Lund's obituary, in Lund's "later days as a hero of westerns he proved generally rather boring, quite possibly because he was rather bored by the likes of ''Five Guns West'' and ''[[The Woman They Almost Lynched]]''."<ref>John Lund;Obituary
The Times; London (UK) [London (UK)]13 May 1992. </ref>
==Home release==
==Home release==
The movie is available on line for free from several sites, including [[YouTube]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://video.search.yahoo.com/yhs/search?fr=yhs-mozilla-002&hsimp=yhs-002&hspart=mozilla&p=five+guns+west+review#id=6&vid=b7d3416efc7e7643835467c214306f23&action=click|title=five guns west review - Yahoo Video Search Results|website=video.search.yahoo.com}}</ref> and released on DVD in 2003 <ref name="dvdtalk.com"/>
The movie is available on line for free from several sites, including [[YouTube]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://video.search.yahoo.com/yhs/search?fr=yhs-mozilla-002&hsimp=yhs-002&hspart=mozilla&p=five+guns+west+review#id=6&vid=b7d3416efc7e7643835467c214306f23&action=click|title=five guns west review - Yahoo Video Search Results|website=video.search.yahoo.com}}</ref> and released on DVD in 2003 <ref name="dvdtalk.com"/>
==Proposed Follow Ups==
==Legacy==
In February 1955, Corman announced he would follow the movie with ''Fortress Beneath the Sea'', to be made off the coast at Baja; ''High Steel'', a steeplejack story; ''Cobra'', to be filmed in India; and an untitled film written by Campbell. Corman wanted Malone for ''Cobra''. None of these movies would be made.<ref>MOVIELAND EVENTS: Paul Schofield Gets Huston Attention
⚫
Campbell and Corman later made ''[[The Secret Invasion]]'' using the same basic idea.<ref>Obituary: Robert Campbell Vosburgh, Dick. The Independent 04 Oct 2000: 6.</ref>
Los Angeles Times 9 Feb 1955: 21. </ref><ref>Powell-Boyer-Niven Combine Plans Feature; Rail Film Stars Chosen
Schallert, Edwin. Los Angeles Times (29 Apr 1955: B9. </ref>

In June 1955 Corman said he wanted to reunited Lund and Malone in ''Reception'', about a Confederate hero who brings a northern bride to his home in Georgia. That film was not made either.<ref>Wright, Whitmore Head Show at La Jolla; Pedro Armendariz to Produce
Schallert, Edwin. Los Angeles Times 13 June 1955: b9. </ref>

⚫
However Campbell and Corman later made ''[[The Secret Invasion]]'' using the same basic idea.<ref>Obituary: Robert Campbell Vosburgh, Dick. The Independent 04 Oct 2000: 6.</ref>
==See also==
==See also==
*[[List of American films of 1955]]
*[[List of American films of 1955]]

Revision as of 06:51, 15 May 2020

Five Guns West
Film poster
Directed byRoger Corman
Written byR. Wright Campbell
associate
Ben Haye
Produced byRoger Corman
StarringJohn Lund
Dorothy Malone
Mike Connors
Jonathan Haze
Production
company
Paolo Alto[1]
Distributed byAmerican Releasing Corporation
Release date
  • April 15, 1955 (1955-04-15)
Running time
78 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$60,000[2]
Box office554,911 admissions (France)[3]

Five Guns West is a 1955 Western film set during the American Civil War directed by Roger Corman. It was Corman's first film as director although he had already made two as producer. It was the second film released by the American Releasing Company, which later became American International Pictures.[4]

The film stars Dorothy Malone, John Lund and Mike Connors. The cast also includes R. Wright Campbell, who wrote the screenplay. He is billed as "Bob Campbell" in the credits as an actor but as "R. Wright Campbell" as screenwriter.[5]

Plot

Five men, due to be hanged, accept a pardon to join the Confederate army due to the army being desperate for men during the last days of the American Civil War. Their tasks is to go after a traitor and a shipment of stolen gold.

They end up taking a woman, Shalee Jethro, captive and begin fighting over her, before one of the men, Govern Sturges, intervenes on her behalf.

Cast

Production

Development

The film was the third movie producer by Roger Corman but the first one he directed, and his first movie in color. The second film he produced, The Fast and the Furious and been bought for distribution by a newly formed company, American Releasing Corporation (ARC), headed by Sam Arkoff and James H. Nicholson. Corman had offers from other companies but said he chose ARC because the company were willing to forward him money in advance, which he could use to finance other films.[6] In October 1954 ARC announced that they would make three more films with Corman's company, Palo Alto, over the next twelve months, starting with Five Guns West in November.[4] ARC later became the famous American International Pictures.[7]: 21 

Corman had directed second unit on Fast and the Furious and decided to direct Five Guns West himself. This was announced in November 1954.[8] Corman later said "the work by the directors on the two films I had produced was acceptable. But I thought, I can do better, more efficient work; I can make better films."[9]

Female lead Dorothy Malone had been in Fast and the Furious. This was her first film following the death of her younger brother. Malone had Battle Cry and Young at Heart awaiting release when she made the film.[10] Corman said he paid her and John Lund "as much as I could afford".[11] Touch Connors was cast shortly after Malone.[12]

Corman said the story idea was his but the structure and script was the work of R. Wright Campbell, an actor he had met through Jonathan Haze. Campbell was paid $200 to write the script - it was his first screenplay - and was cast in a key role.[7]: 22 

The film marked the first time Corman worked with cinematographer Floyd Crosby, who would become one of the director's key collaborated.[13]

Prior to filming, Corman's directing experience was limited to doing second unit on Fast and the Furious and observing film sets on the lot at 20th Century Fox. In order to get some practice before staring Five Guns West, he shot an 8-minute short film on 16 mm over one day with some actor friends. Corman says he never bothered having this film processed and edited. He later wrote in his memoirs "if a young man came to me today with similar credentials there's no way I'd hire him. I'd tell him to go out and get more training."[14]

Filming

The film was shot over nine days at Iverson's ranch in the San Fernando Valley.[15] Corman bought stock footage of Indians to use in the film. He says he prepared thoroughly for the shoot with the assistance of Floyd Crosby and art director Ben Hayne. Corman says Hayne was particularly helpful being a western buff and would assist Corman in doing sketches for each shot. The director says he was comfortable working with the camera but less so with actors.[16]

Corman later recalled that he was "very, very nervous" during the shoot. "I had been confident about my work as producer, but as soon as I made the transition to director, I became shaky. I was so nervous I couldn't eat lunch for the first five or six days. All could do was shoot in the morning and stare at the script and study it to find out what I was going to do in the afternoon."[17]

Corman reportedly went over budget making the movie.[18] However he later said the film "was a breakthrough for me. With almost no training or preparation whatsoever, I was literally learning how to direct on the job. It took me four or five of these training pictures to learn what a film school student knows when he graduates."[19]

Reception

Before the film had even been released, ARC assigned Corman to another Westenr, Apache Woman. According to Corman both films made a profit.[20]

Corman said the fact the film was in color helped put it in the top half of double bills through most of the US, although in some major cities in was a second feature.[21]

Critical

Picture Show called it "ably acted and directed".[22]

DVD Savant found "The movie is less interesting for its quality than its place in the development of independent production. "[23] TV Guide gave the movie 2 out of 5 stars, finding it similar to other westerns of the time.[24] Variety found the movie acceptable for smaller venues,but found it to have too much talking and not enough action

According to John Lund's obituary, in Lund's "later days as a hero of westerns he proved generally rather boring, quite possibly because he was rather bored by the likes of Five Guns West and The Woman They Almost Lynched."[25]

Home release

The movie is available on line for free from several sites, including YouTube,[26] and released on DVD in 2003 [23]

Proposed Follow Ups

In February 1955, Corman announced he would follow the movie with Fortress Beneath the Sea, to be made off the coast at Baja; High Steel, a steeplejack story; Cobra, to be filmed in India; and an untitled film written by Campbell. Corman wanted Malone for Cobra. None of these movies would be made.[27][28]

In June 1955 Corman said he wanted to reunited Lund and Malone in Reception, about a Confederate hero who brings a northern bride to his home in Georgia. That film was not made either.[29]

However Campbell and Corman later made The Secret Invasion using the same basic idea.[30]

See also

References

  1. ^ Of Local Origin New York Times 9 Nov 1954: 30.
  2. ^ Samuel Z Arkoff & Richard Turbo, Flying Through Hollywood By the Seat of My Pants, Birch Lane Press, 1992 p 35
  3. ^ Box office information for Roger Corman films in France at Box Office Story
  4. ^ a b SIRK WILL DIRECT UNIVERSAL MOVIE: Lot Again Signs Jane Wyman and Rock Hudson to Co-Star in 'All That Heaven Allows' By THOMAS M. PRYOR Special to The New York Times.28 Oct 1954: 47.
  5. ^ FIVE GUNS WEST Monthly Film Bulletin; London Vol. 22, Iss. 252, (Jan 1, 1955): 152.
  6. ^ Corman and Jerome 1990, p. 25.
  7. ^ a b Mark McGee, Faster and Furiouser: The Revised and Fattened Fable of American International Pictures, McFarland, 1996
  8. ^ Seven Theaters Offer 'Sabrina' Los Angeles Times 24 Nov 1954: 14
  9. ^ Corman p 28
  10. ^ Whole Town's Talking About F.S. The Washington Post and Times Herald 15 Nov 1954: 22.
  11. ^ Corman p 17
  12. ^ Work in Filmland! Director Keeps Five Writers Busy! Hopper, Hedda. Chicago Daily Tribune 17 Nov 1954: b4
  13. ^ Frank (1996) The Films of Roger Corman
  14. ^ Corman p 27
  15. ^ Roger Corman & Jim Jerome, How I Made a Hundred Movies in Hollywood and Never lost a Dime, Muller, 1990 p 27
  16. ^ Corman p 28
  17. ^ Emery, Robert J. (2003). The Directors Take Three. Allworth Press. p. 121.
  18. ^ Gary Smith, American International Pictures: The Golden Years, Bear Manor Media 2014 p 18
  19. ^ Corman p 27
  20. ^ Corman p 30
  21. ^ Roger Corman Interviews (Kindle ed.). p. 73 of 228.
  22. ^ FIVE GUNS WEST (Anglo. Amal.) Picture Show; London Vol. 65, Iss. 1704, (Nov 26, 1955): 10.
  23. ^ a b "DVD Savant Review: Five Guns West". www.dvdtalk.com.
  24. ^ "Five Guns West - TV Guide". TVGuide.com.
  25. ^ John Lund;Obituary The Times; London (UK) [London (UK)]13 May 1992.
  26. ^ "five guns west review - Yahoo Video Search Results". video.search.yahoo.com.
  27. ^ MOVIELAND EVENTS: Paul Schofield Gets Huston Attention Los Angeles Times 9 Feb 1955: 21.
  28. ^ Powell-Boyer-Niven Combine Plans Feature; Rail Film Stars Chosen Schallert, Edwin. Los Angeles Times (29 Apr 1955: B9.
  29. ^ Wright, Whitmore Head Show at La Jolla; Pedro Armendariz to Produce Schallert, Edwin. Los Angeles Times 13 June 1955: b9.
  30. ^ Obituary: Robert Campbell Vosburgh, Dick. The Independent 04 Oct 2000: 6.

External links

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