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Sadly Over-hyped

Overrated

As somebody who had not heard any of this before, it became a curious phenomenon to sit and watch a film and slowly have the realities begin to click into place.

I couldn't get into this one. A cavalry patrol recaptures a stolen Gatling Gun, and must escort it (and the gun thieves) back to a safe location through hostile Apache territory. I noted the anti nuclear weapons subliminal message discussed early on in the movie's dialog. One scene I found baffling involved a pacifist preacher, who knew the hostile Apache chief, Two Knifes, coming out of a homestead while being restrained by the homestead family and the Cavalry patrol commander, yelling for Two Knives that his friend the preacher was in the homestead. Out of nowhere arrows hit the pacifist preacher, yet for some reason do not hit the cavalry commander and the other combatants....lack of realism. There are corny old school cinematic (what you see in black and white films) romantic subplots...I do not understand how one of the females who was part of this cavalry / civilian group, and involved in the corny romance sub plots, was able to untie one of the gun thieves being escorted in order to have their corny face touching moments...no one was watching the prisoner? Why didn't these people steal one of the horses and run, especially if the gun thief knew he was probably going to be executed anyway? I could not watch this film any longer, I had to end it there. It took a lot for me to give it a 3. Brian Ghilliotti

As you may have guessed by what I wrote in the above summary line, "The Gatling Gun" is far from the classics the western film genre has managed to produce. True, the movie managed to round up an interesting cast, from John Carradine to Woody Strode. But despite the talent on display, the movie stubbornly gives the majority of them precious little to do, and an even smaller amount that is actually interesting or compelling. Stronger characters would have helped, but the movie would still have suffered from a slapdash feeling. As I said, this movie is pretty cheap, from the tacky costumes to filming every scene on drab locations. Director Robert Gordon also seems unable to inject any excitement; the sporadic action is pretty flat. The only things that may raise viewers from a slumber are one scene involving fire (you'll know it when you see it) and John Carradine's hilariously hammy performance, though Carradine exits the movie pretty early before he can tickle us some more.

There's a surprisingly familiar cast in this pretty standard "Cavalry vs Indians" flick, with its one primary distinction being the focus on the title weapon. Stockwell plays a lieutenant whose Gatling gun, intended to ward off rampaging Apaches, has been absconded with by reverend Carradine, his step-daughter Luna and renegade soldier Fuller. As he and his men are recovering the weapon, the Apaches, led by Rivas, force them all to take shelter in an abandoned ranch house where they come upon Harris, his grown children Wayne and Jordan and their pal Buttram. Buttram is enlisted to help work on the gun when it's discovered that a key part (the firing pin) is missing. When they realize that the ranch is under siege and that they will likely be massacred if they stay there indefinitely, they take off across the desert, being ever pursued by Rivas who wants the gun badly. There's nothing particularly new or eye-opening about this story or the film, but the cast of veteran film and TV performers is able to make the whole thing go down relatively easily. Stockwell gives a fairly non-dynamic performance, but looks good in his uniform britches and is able to convey the toughness that a man in his position would need to possess. Fuller, sadly, is rather wasted in the role of a scoundrel. He spends the bulk of the film tied up in one location or another. Luna is adequate in her role, sporting the requisite pile of hair that most western women, especially senoritas, were expected to wear in films of the era. Tall, imposing Strode lends a nice bit of presence as Stockwell's scout. Buttram, of "Green Acres" fame, manages to rein in his zanier side and provides gentle comic relief without being ridiculous about it. Harris attempts to give a heartfelt and solid performance, but is hampered by a tendency to let long pauses occur before he speaks, as if he forgets it's his turn or can't remember the line. Handsome Wayne has very little to do here but protect the ladies as the film is quite crowded. Rivas (known best for his brief turn in "The King & I") has a menacing look about him and is a decent threat. Jordan has a very preposterous role and plays it preposterously. She's a red-headed tomboy and a sure-shot who still finds time during Indian attacks and piles of dead cavalrymen to doll up in an elaborate hairdo and low cut (and anachronistic) gown to try to seduce Stockwell. Why would someone on the run from Indians, who has to walk in order to avoid weighing down the horse-drawn cart, even pack such an item of clothing? Only those interested in the use of the Gatling gun (even though it stays inactive for the bulk of the movie) or those who appreciate the varied cast will want to bother with this otherwise routine movie. At least it isn't too long and has a fair share of action, including a harrowing death by pyre. Incidentally, some DVD's of this film only run 86 minutes and the film's credits indicate right on screen that it is a 1971 film, not 1973 as it is listed here.

In many ways, this movie looks and feels much older than 1973, and I'm still not quite convinced that this is accurate. Yet, the social conscience of the 70's is there, if only in throw away lines and occasional, unexpected preachiness. The struggle for the WMD of the era, i.e. the Gatling Gun of the movie's title, involves a small band of US Cavalry, one "bad apple" (Robert Fuller playing effectively against type), and the Apaches, headed by the Spanish speaking chief "Two Knives." Thrown in the mix are the vixenish step-daughter of a self-righteous preacher (must have been a handful for that man of the cloth) and an All-American, sharp-shootin'"Annie Oakley Type" who in one brief scene appears in a dress and is described as "All Girl" (which she is!). Plus John Wayne's son, I think, and a couple of old codgers. Any and all of the characters vacillate here and there in their views on the treatment of the American Indian and their role in history but the Gatling Gun has the final word.