Karry Best movie of this year hands down!

Stoutor It's not great by any means, but it's a pretty good movie that didn't leave me filled with regret for investing time in it.

Curapedi I cannot think of one single thing that I would change about this film. The acting is incomparable, the directing deft, and the writing poignantly brilliant.

Rosie Searle It's the kind of movie you'll want to see a second time with someone who hasn't seen it yet, to remember what it was like to watch it for the first time.

Wizard-8 Today, "Death of a Gunfighter" has all but been forgotten, with the little memory of it being that it was the first movie to be given the "Alan Smithee" directorial credit. With that in mind, one may understandably expect a pretty bad movie, but surprisingly, the movie is actually fairly decent for the most part. Despite two directors working on the movie behind the Smithee pseudonym, the movie does have a consistent feel to it throughout. The action sequences are also pretty well done, though it should be noted that the movie is more of a character study than an action western. It's interesting that Widmark's character is not totally sympathetic, this contributing to the ability to see both sides equally of the big issue confronting the townspeople in the movie. You also see both sides of the attitude those townspeople have. The script is, I admit, a bit murky on a few details. And the movie often looks and feels that it was shot on the Universal Studio's backlot. But in the end, the movie is a decent western for those in the mood for an unconventional western drama (which includes the cynical ending of the movie.)

Jeff (actionrating.com) Skip it – The 70's weren't kind to westerns, and this is no exception. I am taken aback by how many western buffs consider this to be a classic. I found it to be one of the most boring and pointless westerns I've ever seen. An aging Richard Widmark plays a sheriff in a turn-of-the-century town hell-bent on modernization. Perhaps it is a profound film in the sense that it is a good picture of a man who had trouble changing with the times. But it has a totally different feel than any of the other classic westerns. Unique movie, yes. Good western, no. There are plenty of unique westerns out there that are much, much better. 1.5 out of 5 action rating.

kenjha A town is unhappy with its marshall but can't get rid of him. Don Siegel was let go as the director and was replaced by Allen Smithee, the first film credited to the fictitious name, which is usually an indication that a film is likely to be not good. While the direction is lackluster, the script is even worse. Widmark plays a marshall with a reputation for a quick trigger. He refuses to turn in his badge when asked to do so by the town council, which hired him. The reason for this bizarre behavior is not explained. It's strange seeing Horne in a Western. She does OK in a rare dramatic role, although she's given little to do.

tavm In continuing to review African-Americans on film and television in chronological order for Black History Month, we're now at 1969 with Death of a Gunfighter with Lena Horne in her only straight role though you do hear her recording of the song, "Sweet Apple Wine" in the beginning and end credits. Though she's billed above the title with Richard Widmark, her role of Claire Quintana is very much a supporting one that's mainly there as one of the few people who stands by Marshal Frank Patch (Widmark) as the townspeople are fed up with his violent ways of dealing with justice. Also among the supporting cast are Michael McGreevey as Dan-a young man who also likes the marshal, Darleen Carr-sister of The Sound of Music's Charmian Carr-as his girlfriend Hilda, Jacqueline Scott-probably best known as Richard Kimble's sister Donna on "The Fugitive-as the widow, Laurie Mills, of the first man killed by Patch at the beginning of the movie, Harry Carey, Jr. as Rev. Rork, John Saxon as county Sheriff Lou Trinidad who tries to get Patch to get out of town peacefully, and, in a nice surprise from his later role as Archie Bunker, Carroll O'Connor as the bar owner, Lester Locke, who bides his time in letting other people get Frank before he himself tries. Many of the cast I just mentioned and lots of others I haven't contribute great tension as the film chronicles the last days of the Marshal. Horne acquits herself nicely with her few scenes and it's nice seeing her and Widmark kiss at their wedding especially when one knows that Widmark played a racist opposite Sidney Poitier in his movie debut, No Way Out (1950). Love the music score, by Oliver Nelson, and direction especially many of the close-ups. That direction, by the way, was credited to one "Allen Smithee" which is the name used when the real director doesn't want his own name used. In this case, they're Robert Totten-who had "creative differences" with Widmark, and Don Siegel-who had filmed the actor previously in Madigan. This marked "Smithee's" feature film debut. All in all, Death of a Gunfighter was another pleasant surprise for me.