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A Gunfight

A Gunfight

Western · Drama · 1971

Will Tenneray and Abe Cross are two aging, famous gunfighters, both in need of money. Tenneray comes up with the idea to stage a duel to the death in a bullfight arena, with the ticket proceeds going to the winner.

Movie details

A Gunfight

“In Bajo Rio, they pay to see a man kill a bull. Today, they'll pay to see a man kill another man.”

1971 Western · Drama 1h 29m

Critical arithmetic

One number, for now.

TMDB

5.8 / 10

Community rating

Will Tenneray and Abe Cross are two aging, famous gunfighters, both in need of money. Tenneray comes up with the idea to stage a duel to the death in a bullfight arena, with the ticket proceeds going to the winner.

CriticWise case file

What this film says about your taste.

Not a recommendation score. A measure of how closely the film’s taste signals resemble yours.

The archetype split

Who fights over A Gunfight?

The split comes from the same five-axis model used by the test, not audience ratings or review sentiment.

Taste neighbourhood

Nearby on the taste map.

TMDB supplies the candidates. CriticWise reorders them by craft, strangeness, prestige, emotion, and pace.

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Names above the title

The people responsible.

Directed by

Lamont Johnson

Written by

Harold Jack Bloom

Johnny Cash

Johnny Cash

Abe Cross

Kirk Douglas

Kirk Douglas

Will Tenneray

Jane Alexander

Jane Alexander

Nora Tenneray

Karen Black

Karen Black

Jenny Simms

Dana Elcar

Dana Elcar

Marv Green

Robert J. Wilke

Robert J. Wilke

Marshal Tom Cater

Keith Carradine

Keith Carradine

The Young Gunfighter

Court is in session

Put A Gunfight on trial.

Two incompatible taste archetypes. One film. Read the arguments, then issue a completely binding cultural ruling.

The defence The Prestige Tourist

“Patience is part of the point.”

Duration becomes texture. The film asks you to inhabit its world instead of merely processing its plot.

The prosecution The Adrenaline Seeker

“A test of endurance, your honour.”

Stillness keeps submitting itself as meaning. At some point, contemplation needs something worth contemplating.