Invitation to a Gunfighter main backdrop
Invitation to a Gunfighter main poster

Invitation to a Gunfighter

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5.9/10 • 53

1964-10-141h 32m

Western

He Kills By Invitation

In New Mexico, a Confederate veteran returns home to find his fiancée married to a Union soldier, his Yankee neighbors rallied against him and his property sold by the local banker who then hires a gunman to kill him.

Directors
Richard Wilson
Editors
Robert C. Jones

Top Billed Cast

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  1. Yul Brynner

    Yul Brynner

    Jules Gaspard d'Estaing

  2. Janice Rule

    Janice Rule

    Ruth Adams

  3. George Segal

    George Segal

    Matt Weaver

  4. Alfred Ryder

    Alfred Ryder

    Doc Barker

  5. Clifford David

    Clifford David

    Crane Adams

  6. Mike Kellin

    Mike Kellin

    Blind Union Vet

  7. Brad Dexter

    Brad Dexter

    Kenarsie

  8. Pat Hingle

    Pat Hingle

    Sam Brewster

  9. Bert Freed

    Bert Freed

    Sheriff

Reviews1

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John Chard Avatar

John Chard

May 4, 2017

3/10

Thematically fine but executed with very little skill. Rebel soldier Matt Weaver returns to town after the Civil War, only to find that his home has been sold by unscrupulous town boss, Sam Brewster. Brewster, fearing for his safety, hires gunfighter Jules Gaspard d'Estaing to eradicate Weaver. But as d'Estaing's settles in to town it becomes clear to him just what a corrupt and morally bankrupt bunch the townsfolk are. It grieves me to mark a film like this, with so many good people involved with it, down so low. The thematic heart of this picture is fabulous, nothing none of us haven't seen before, but tales of hired gunmen straightening out dirty towns are always of interest if handled with care and a commitment to the moral essence. Invitation To A Gunfighter, in spite of starring Yul Brynner, George Segal, Brad Dexter, Pat Hingle and Strother Martin, and being directed by Orson Welles collaborator Richard Wilson, is ploddingly paced and acted like a low budget C movie. The score from David Raksin is intrusive and completely out of sync with the nature of the piece, whilst the back lot location is all too evident. The piece briefly picks up entering the final third, where thankfully Brynner is asked to earn his pay outside of walking around glumly, but it's a false dawn as the finale has all the excitement of a runny nose. I'm in the minority judging by the comments written for this film thus far, so maybe it caught me at a bad time, but the chances of me ever seeking this one out again are remote to say the least. 3/10

Media

  • Invitation to a Gunfighter poster
  • Invitation to a Gunfighter poster
  • Invitation to a Gunfighter poster
  • Invitation to a Gunfighter poster

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Status
Released
Original Language
English
Budget
$1,800,000.00
Revenue
$3,100,000.00
Keywords
gunshot woundshootoutconfederate soldier