Invitation to a Gunfighter [DVD]

On my list top 10 westerns. Well written script, excellent cast, great acting. I bought it, The entire story, a good western or any film, does not have to have guns blazing. This story is a sequence of events that begin slow and as the players true natures are reveled, it heats up to a terrific ending. The moments he lays eyes on her, he KNOWS she is special. No way he is leaving town, no way. Had it not been for her, the story would have gone in another direction. After he has all the background on all the townspeople, then he shows them all who he really is. AND the soundtrack was good, catchy backbeat, quiet, not overbearing, I really like how the music was used here. Not the magnificent 7, the magnificent 1. yul bryner. MUST SEE FILM.

Invitation to a Gunfighter was made before I was born. It brought to life on the screen conflicts as old as humanity with some of out darker traits tossed in so you do not ever get the chance to believe this is a shoot 'em up western. In the end the damsel in distress fares little better than she began. If there is a winner it is those honest hard working folk in the background as their plight is the plot despite limited screen time. Was probably a four star movie when it came out and maybe still is in all actuality. For simply staying timelessly relevant and giving the amazing Ms. Rule an intriguing character it gets a bonus star from this reviewer.

If you think : "I just don't like westerns." - I think that this is a mistake - it is a western only in its setting. Lovers of real storytelling, complete with action, drama, and love, need to not miss this !! Set in the context of might-makes-right, this is a movie which was far ahead of its time in relation to bigotry issues - released in 1964, this was probably a major reason it was not big boxoffice - that and those who are averse to the kind of violence the title mistakenly indicates. It has an excellent personal drama to go along with the anti-bigotry message. None of the few deaths in it are gruesome - and each is a significant addition to the story.A true-to-life story of the loss, love, and heroism the good people struggle with while they deal with the evil and the apathy of those around them. Anyone who deals with the suffering of bigotry, a victim or defender against it, will identify with the movie.

What a character! Jules Gaspard ''Jewel'' d'Estaing is so unique, he's going to Santa Fe but he decides to stay in Pecos when he sees Ruth Adams for the first time and then perceives that he can take advantage of the developing situation after the banker Brewster and the townspeople make the decision to hire a gunfighter (a boy named Dancer who escapes after d'Estaing makes a gesture to him) in order to kill the only citizen who joined the Confederate Army. Matt Weaver is now back and wants his house back even if he has to die. d'Estaing accepts to kill Weaver but he changes his mind...

This movie is worth a watch if not only for the great acting of Brynner and the beauty of the object of his affection. It took me a while to figure out Brynner's motivations in this flick but eventually it came to fruition. Brynner's character is torn between his past, his present and his possible future. George Segal does a good job as well. Hope this helps.

This is one of those movies that you want to watch again -right away . I am going to wait, but like other classic westerns , or any great movie, you can see it again and again, and get the same satisfaction.

Yes Oscar winning actor Yul Brynner (The King & I) steps totally out of his comfort zone to do a western. And he pulls it off. This is the same guy that was Pharoah opposite Charlton (Moses) Heston in the epic 10 Commandments. He is backed up by a good cast including George Segal, Janice Rule, & Pat Hingle. Not an epic western but well worth watching.

1 of my top 10 westerns of all time

This is most unusual Western fare. The film is directed by Richard Wilson who also co wrote the script with his wife. Wilson shows an assured hand with the directorial duties as you might expect from someone who learnt his trade in the legendary Mercury theatre, and acted in most of Orson Welles American films. His theatre background is very evident in this film which could be easily transposed to the stage. Location filming is almost non existent, most of the action taking place indoors. The emphasis is very much on the script and the acting abilities of the cast.Yul Brynner in what was certainly one of his finest roles plays the dandyish Jules (silent S) Gaspard (silent D) D'Estaing a Creole gunfighter who arrives in the New Mexico town of Pecos just after the end of the Civil war. The town is after the blood of George Segal the only man to have fought the rebel cause in the war. Brynner, just passing through decides to stay and takes money from a corrupt town official to kill Segal. But below the harsh exterior there is always the possibility that Brynner may have a conscience. The divisions between good and bad become blurred and we head to a bloody showdown.There is a richness to the film beyond this brief synopsis. Issues of racism and class divisions are unusually and honestly covered. We discover that D'Estaings mother was a slave owned by his Father who sold her when she persisted in asking that he educate her son beyond his station. A traumatic event that you realise has affected his whole psyche. The two main stars Brynner and Segal in one of his earlier roles are both excellent. Strother Martin that old Peckinpah favourite also appears as the town barber. The film contains a memorable scene where Brynner in a fest of wanton vandalism wrecks most of the town. Powerful stuff, but emotions run high in this film. There is a powerful scene at the end of the film where barriers of race and class are broken down, which is remarkably similar to one in the film "Gladiator". Those that have seen that film and watch this one will know what I mean.If you are expecting a traditional western you will be disappointed. This is not a big budget film, a fact that does not require a genius to work out. The cinematography I usually crave in a Western is non existent. No Lucien Ballard or Winton Hoch was required here. But I will forgive that in this film. This a well crafted minor classic. Most unusual and ultimately very satisfying. The sound quality on my DVD was a little poor, but I was happy to overlook this to see the film again after a long break. It is an impressive piece of film making and well worth watching.

This is most unusual Western fare. The film is directed by Richard Wilson who also co wrote the script with his wife. Wilson shows an assured hand with the directorial duties as you might expect from someone who learnt his trade in the legendary Mercury theatre, and acted in most of Orson Welles American films. His theatre background is very evident in this film which could be easily transposed to the stage. Location filming is almost non existent, most of the action taking place indoors. The emphasis is very much on the script and the acting abilities of the cast.Yul Brynner in what was certainly one of his finest roles plays the dandyish Jules (silent S) Gaspard (silent D) D'Estaing a Creole gunfighter who arrives in the New Mexico town of Pecos just after the end of the Civil war. The town is after the blood of George Segal the only man to have fought the rebel cause in the war. Brynner, just passing through decides to stay and takes money from a corrupt town official to kill Segal. But below the harsh exterior there is always the possibility that Brynner may have a conscience. The divisions between good and bad become blurred and we head to a bloody showdown.There is a richness to the film beyond this brief synopsis. Issues of racism and class divisions are unusually and honestly covered. We discover that D'Estaings mother was a slave owned by his Father who sold her when she persisted in asking that he educate her son beyond his station. A traumatic event that you realise has affected his whole psyche. The two main stars Brynner and Segal in one of his earlier roles are both excellent. Strother Martin that old Peckinpah favourite also appears as the town barber. The film contains a memorable scene where Brynner in a fest of wanton vandalism wrecks most of the town. Strong stuff, but emotions run high in this film. At the very powerful films ending there is a scene where barriers of race and class are broken down that is remarkably similar to one in the much more famous film "Gladiator". If you have seen that film and watch this one you will know what I mean!If you are expecting a traditional western you will be disappointed. This is not a big budget film, a fact that does not require a genius to work out. The cinematography I usually crave in a Western is non existent. No Lucien Ballard or Winton Hoch was required here. But I will forgive that in this film. This a well crafted minor classic. Most unusual and ultimately very satisfying. The sound quality on my DVD was a little poor, but I was happy to overlook this to see the film again after a long break. It is an impressive piece of film making and well worth watching.

Invitation to a gunfighter is a slow moving drama of a western. It's not bad, it's just not that exciting. The cover and the title make it seem like it's going to be a classic but in truth it's quite unusual. I'd say it veers between a five star film and a two star film. There's nothing about it that's bad as such, good cast,plot,screenplay, but at the same time it never really reaches any great moments. Definataly worth seeing if you're a western fan for its originality but not a top ten classic.

Sorry. I found this a mediocre western that did not do the genre any favours.

Very Good