It is a performances centric movie

A different way of telling a story

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.

Great movie. Not sure what people expected but I found it highly entertaining.

Thank God! This movie was entertaining. Based off, Jack Ehrlich's 1972 novel, 'The Fastest Gun in the Pulpit', this television film directed by Daniel Petrie was watchable. Made for the ABC Network, the movie is about a top gunslinger Ernie Parsons (Marjoe Gortner) who escapes from a lynching mob for a crime he did not commit, by taking the identity of a dead corpse of a preacher, he found in the desert. With his new identity as a fast-gun preacher in the dirtwater town of Castle Walk, he helps the town folks overcome the tyrannical rule of a local rancher, Ross (David Huddleston), whose killers, bullies & enforcers ranch hands been terrorize the town with an iron fist. This made-for-TV film seen to be tailor made just for the main actor, former evangelist, Marjoe Gortner. Marjoe first gather up fame, when he was a kid. His parents arranged for him at age four to be ordained as a preacher, due to his extraordinary speaking ability; he was the youngest known in that position. As a young man, he preached on the revival circuit, until the late 1960s, where the teenager Gortner experienced a crisis of conscience about his double life. He decided his performing talents might be put to better use as an actor or singer. When approached by documentarians, Howard Smith and Sarah Kernochan, he agreed to let their film crew follow him during 1971 tour of revival meetings in California, Texas, and Michigan. It was there, that he gave "backstage" interviews to the filmmakers between sermons and revivals, explaining intimate details of how he and other ministers operated, exposing that it was just a money scheming machine. The resulting film, Marjoe, won the 1972 Academy Award for best documentary. Being a controversial figure, Marjoe struggle to get good actors roles after the documentary. Marjoe Gortner was an unappealing main star even before this film and that hurts the film's success as not a lot of people bother, watching the TV special. Don't get me wrong, he's not the worst actor in the world, he's just mediocre. He does have some charm to his character, whenever he making good-natured jokes against the villains or trying to act the part of the preacher to the doubtful town folks. He does have a good pistol prowess that really make it seem like he would be a season gunslighter. There's was a cool duel halfway through the movie that you can't miss with a mysterious gunslighter (Geoffrey Lewis). I kinda wish Geoffrey Lewis was more in the film. His brief screen time was worth it. Probably the best part about the film. There are pretty good 'call to arms' speeches to the townfolks that Marjoe does that. With that you would think the citizens would rise up against Ross, but you'll be greatly disappointed. The town folks remain cowards throughout the film, until the end. They're probably the most annoying thing in the film. In my opinion, this movie is probably Marjoe's best role besides 1974's Earthquake. The movie is probably more famous now, for its supporting cast. Most of them would end up starring in Mel Brooks' master comedy 1974 hit, "Blazing Saddles". It's weird to see both Danny Huddleston and Slim Pickens in a serious western film. Danny Huddleston was great as the villain, but rarely used in the film. Nor was he was menacing. Slim Pickens stars as Ernie's right hand man, One-Eye Joe AKA Billy. He protects Ernie's secret. Like Danny Huddleson, Slim Pickens's talent was very overlook, here. Both characters could had stand out more. There's a romantic sub-plot between Parson Frank AKA Ernie and eighteen year old, Sally (Pamela Sue Martin) but in his preacher's garb can't seem to follow through on a move. While, Pamela Sue Martin is pretty as hell. The whole romantic sub-plot was a bit waste of time, and forced as hell. The main plot, while giving us nothing new, does work as a B-movie western film. It remind me so much of the 1975's God Gun. I just wish, it had that mysterious spirituous feel to his character after Ross's men thought they kill him. I would love the film makes Parson Frank look like somewhat a revengeful fallen angel out to get the gangs for their sinful acts. Sadly, we don't get that. While often clichés as hell, the movie does have enough meat of violence, love, and twist and turns to get us through the 74 minute run time. Sadly, the television made film had very little attention and end up being one of those films in the public domain, so beware of some of the video prints out there. The budget was so low, that they just reused the old set from 1939's Arizona, Old Tucson studios for filming. Any fan of Westerns, could see that, they didn't bother adding anything new to the location. Despite production values are definitely made-for-TV, the lord works in mysterious ways and it got made. Overall: it wasn't a bad movie. It could had been better. Sadly, my prayers wasn't answer.

About seven years earlier Robert Mitchum essayed the character of a gunfighter/preacher in Five Card Stud. Although that film was far better than The Gun And The Pulpit, this made for television is a cut above average for television film. It also has the unassailable casting of Marjoe Gortner as a false preacher.As we know Marjoe who was only using his first name when being a child preacher did a documentary exposing the racket that huckster evangelism is. So it's fitting and proper that he play a phony preacher in The Gun And The Pulpit, a gunfighter on the run who exchanges clothes with a dead preacher on the road to escape a posse.There's plenty of trouble in the town where he takes up the pulpit, the local Ponderosa owner David Huddleston is leaning on everybody with his gunfighters on the payroll. Marjoe's fast draw wins him a lot of admirers most especially Estelle Parsons and her nubile young daughter Pamela Sue Martin. She's the reason he's staying. And there's also Slim Pickens who knows his secret and his real identity, but knows the town needs a savior. {pun intended}.This western moves real nice with the kind of plot that was standard fare for the front row matinée kids of the 30s and 40s. Marjor is a good western hero, maybe he should have gone into that line of work.

i saw this funny western only once when it came on TV when i was a mear eleven years old,but i was in love with the vivacious pamela sue martin who i'd seen in 'the posideon adventure' two years before and of course because of her i loved it then very much. as for now i'd say it was kinda corny in an 'alias smith and jones' kind of way,but harmless and fun just the same and of course who can deny a film with marjoe gortner its due. i wish it was on video so i could leer at the gorgeous ms. martin once again,but it is rare to find a 70's TV movie on video,let alone DVD. but for old time sake,i give it five stars. i hope this nostalgic rant helps somebody.

I've seen this movie about 4 times, under various circumstances, including a night in the hospital when I couldn't sleep. I have always liked Marjo Gortner in his limited career, and this movie was a lot of fun. It reminds me of the old TV westerns like "Maverick" in its humour and characterizations. I can't believe it's not had 5 votes yet.