Johnny Guitar (1954)

Vienna (Joan Crawford) is the strong willed owner of a saloon who hires a former gunfighter and ex-lover called Johnny Guitar (Sterling Hayden) to help her in her dealings with the hostile townspeople, in particular a jealous and vengeful nemesis (Mercedes McCambridge). In a poll of French film critics on the greatest westerns, JOHNNY GUITAR was voted the top slot. They'll get no argument from me. Nicholas Ray's bold, expressionistic (especially in its use of the color red) Freudian western is a fascinating, heady concoction. Rich in detail and imagery, the film is often said to be an allegory on the witch hunts by the House Of UnAmerican Activities Committee and Ray's use of red drenches the screen from the flaming red rock wall in Vienna's saloon to the red sunsets, red flames and red costuming only seems to give weight to the theory. The film is also notable for its female protagonists which dominate the film, unusual for a male dominated genre like the western. McCambridge gives a stunning unrestrained performance, near jumping out of her skin with both hate and repressed sexuality. The screenplay by Philip Yordan has some of the best writing in any western. A late night encounter between Crawford and Hayden where accusations and regrets are brought forth, beautifully acted by both, is a gem. The haunting score is by Victor Young, cinematography courtesy of Harry Stradling Jr. With Scott Brady, Ernest Borgnine, Ben Cooper, Ward Bond, John Carradine, Paul Fix, Royal Dano and Frank Ferguson.