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Gun Fury
Gun Fury
Gun Fury
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Gun Fury
Theatrical Poster
Directed byRaoul Walsh
Screenplay byIrving Wallace
Roy Huggins
Based onTen against Caesar
1952 novel
by K.R.G. Granger
Produced byLewis J. Rachmil
StarringRock Hudson
Donna Reed
Philip Carey
Roberta Haynes
CinematographyLester White
Edited byJerome Thoms
James Sweeney
Music byMischa Bakaleinikoff
Arthur Morton
Color processTechnicolor
Production
company
Columbia Pictures
Distributed byColumbia Pictures
Release date
  • November 11, 1953 (1953-11-11)
Running time
82 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Donna Reed and Alma Beltran

Gun Fury is a 1953 3-D American Western film, directed by Raoul Walsh and starring Rock Hudson and Donna Reed, with major supporting roles for Philip Carey and Leo Gordon. The supporting cast includes Lee Marvin and Neville Brand. The film is based on the novel Ten Against Caesar by Kathleen B. George and Robert A. Granger.

Plot

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After a stagecoach holdup, Frank Slayton's notorious outlaw gang leave Ben Warren for dead and head off with his fiancée. Warren follows, and although none of the townspeople he comes across are prepared to help, he manages to recruit two men who have sworn revenge on the ruthless Slayton.

One is Jess Burgess, gang member who had objected to the kidnapping and was abandoned to die in the desert. The other is Johash, an Indian with an equally personal grudge---his sister was abducted and murdered by Slayton under identical circumstances.

As the pursuit continues, "Southern Gentleman" Slayton kills three members of his gang for real and/or imagined offenses.

Just short of the Mexican border, his gang is forced to take shelter in a ghost town. Johash's deadly skill with a sniper rifle cuts off the gang's escape route, as three more gang members fatally discover.

Warren places the only available water in an open space and challenges Slayton to come and get it. Slayton is out of ammunition, and Warren eventually wins a lengthy fistfight that begins at the top of a steep hill and slowly and dangerously progresses to ground level.

Warren's experiences during the American Civil War had made him basically a pacifist. But thanks to Johash, he is able to keep his own hands basically clean; and he and fiancé Jennifer Ballard are re-united.

Production

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The film was shot in the Red Rocks area near Sedona, Arizona, with the striking features of Cathedral Rock as the backdrop in a number of scenes.

Cast

[edit]

References

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Gun Fury

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from Grokipedia
Gun Fury is a American directed by and starring as rancher Ben Warren and as his fiancée Jennifer. The plot centers on a robbery in by outlaw Frank Slayton and his gang, who kidnap Jennifer, leading Warren and his allies to pursue the kidnappers through the harsh desert. Produced by , the film was shot in 3D to capitalize on the era's cinematic trend, featuring point-of-view shots to enhance the immersive experience. Based on the novel Ten Against Caesar by K. R. G. Granger, Gun Fury marked Rock Hudson's first loaned-out role from Universal Studios after his rising stardom, with supporting performances by as the antagonist Slayton, alongside , , and as gang members. The movie runs approximately 83 minutes and exemplifies mid-20th-century Westerns with themes of revenge, loyalty, and , set against the Southwestern landscape. Critically received with mixed reviews, as of November 2025 it holds a 6.0/10 rating on based on user votes and emphasizes action sequences tailored for 3D viewing, such as gunfights and pursuits.

Overview

Plot

In post-Civil War , Ben Warren, a pacifist rancher and Civil War veteran portrayed by , awaits the arrival of his fiancée, Jennifer Ballard, who is traveling by to join him. Frank Slayton's notorious outlaw gang, led by the ruthless ex-Confederate Slayton, robs the , murders the driver, and kidnaps Jennifer after Slayton becomes infatuated with her; the gang shoots Ben and leaves him for dead. Surviving his wounds despite his aversion to violence, Ben sets out in pursuit of the gang, which flees toward with Jennifer as a captive. Along the way, Ben recruits two allies, each harboring personal vendettas against Slayton: Jess Burgess, Slayton's disillusioned right-hand man who defects after growing weary of the leader's brutality, and Johash, a local whose people were massacred by the gang. The pursuit unfolds across the harsh desert, marked by tense encounters with the outlaws. In a saloon near the , Jess kills one gang member who overhears their plans, while another reports back to Slayton, escalating the danger. Jennifer attempts to escape but is recaptured, leading Slayton to execute the sympathetic gang member Curly for aiding her—a betrayal that highlights internal fractures within the group. The gang seeks refuge at the homestead of Estella Morales, Slayton's former lover, who initially joins them but later becomes a pivotal figure by warning Slayton of the pursuers and ultimately aiding Ben's group after sustaining injuries. As the gang's numbers dwindle due to desertions and skirmishes, Slayton proposes an exchange: Jennifer for . At the rendezvous, Slayton murders Jess, prompting , Jennifer, and Johash to press on alone. They cut off the gang's water supply at their border hideout in a , forcing survivors to flee and perish in the . In the climax, Slayton, out of ammunition, engages in a brutal fistfight atop a steep hill that tumbles perilously downward; prevails, defeating Slayton, while Johash finishes the outlaw with a knife. With the gang destroyed, overcomes his and reunites with the freed Jennifer, allowing them to continue their journey to .

Cast

The principal cast of Gun Fury is headed by as Ben Warren, the pacifist rancher who becomes a determined pursuer following the kidnapping of his fiancée. portrays Jennifer Ballard, the kidnapped fiancée at the center of the conflict. plays Frank Slayton, the ruthless leader of the outlaw gang responsible for the stagecoach robbery. Roberta Haynes appears as Estella Morales, a member harboring a romantic interest in Slayton. is cast as Jess Burgess, a former member who joins Warren as a vengeful ally. plays Blinky, one of Slayton's loyal members. Neville Brand portrays Brazos, another key member of the outlaw gang. Supporting roles include Pat Hogan as Johash, an indigenous ally driven by a personal grudge against Slayton.

Production

Development

Gun Fury originated as an of the 1952 novel Ten Against Caesar by K.R.G. Granger ( of Kathleen B. George), published by Houghton Mifflin Company. The story's core pursuit narrative was adapted by screenwriters and as a Western tale of and . Columbia Pictures acquired the rights and developed the project as a mid-budget production, aiming to leverage the growing popularity of lead actor following his breakout roles. Producer Lewis J. Rachmil oversaw the effort, selecting director for his proven track record in directing dynamic, action-driven Westerns such as The Big Trail (1930) and Pursued (1947). The project, initially titled Ten Against Caesar, was announced in early 1953, with the screenplay completed by mid-year to align with Hudson and Donna Reed's early casting commitments.

Filming

Principal photography for Gun Fury took place primarily in the area during the summer of 1953, spanning approximately two months from May to June. The production made extensive use of the region's striking red rock landscapes, including , to depict the film's desert chase scenes and provide an authentic backdrop for the Western action. This choice of location provided an authentic backdrop for the Western action, set in the rugged post-Civil War as in the source novel. The film was lensed in by cinematographer Lester H. White, which vividly captured the vibrant hues of Sedona's scenery and heightened the visual drama of the outdoor sequences. lasted around 4-6 weeks, focusing on the demanding physical production elements amid the expansive terrain. Shooting in the arid environment presented logistical hurdles for the cast and crew, particularly during the intensive action sequences involving horseback pursuits and ambushes. Director , known for his energetic approach to Westerns, emphasized dynamic camera techniques, such as point-of-view shots from moving vehicles like stagecoaches, to convey the relentless pace of the manhunt and optimize the footage for 3D presentation. These methods underscored the film's emphasis on in the pursuit narratives.

Release

Premiere and distribution

Gun Fury had its world premiere on October 4, 1953, in Moberly, Missouri. The film then received a wide theatrical release across the United States on November 11, 1953. With a runtime of 83 minutes, it was initially presented in standard theaters targeting audiences interested in Westerns. Columbia Pictures Corporation handled domestic distribution in the United States, with the studio also managing international releases to Western markets, including Canada on October 30, 1953, Sweden on April 26, 1954, Japan on February 18, 1954, and Italy on March 5, 1955. Marketing efforts positioned the film as an action-packed Western adventure, highlighting in the lead role as an emerging star to draw audiences. Despite featuring A-list talent like Hudson and director , Gun Fury was marketed as a mid-tier Western production from . The film received no nominations for major awards such as the .

Technical aspects

Gun Fury was released as a 3D film employing the Columbia Pictures polarized 3D system, which utilized dual 35mm projectors to deliver left- and right-eye images through orthogonally polarized filters, requiring viewers to wear corresponding polarized glasses for stereoscopic viewing. This setup facilitated the creation of depth effects, including negative parallax elements where objects such as arrows and fists in action sequences projected toward the audience, enhancing the immersive quality of chase and combat scenes typical of the Western genre. The film was photographed , a three-strip color process that captured the vibrant red rock formations and expansive vistas of its settings with rich saturation, thereby amplifying the 3D depth perception by contrasting foreground actions against layered backgrounds. Lester H. White leveraged these natural landscapes, filmed primarily in Sedona, to compose shots that exploited the stereoscopic capabilities for a sense of spatial extension. In , editors optimized the footage for 3D polarization by aligning interocular distances and minimizing convergence errors to reduce , aligning with the film's original intent as a showcase for the technology during the mid-1950s 3D fad, when studios rushed productions to capitalize on audience interest in stereoscopic cinema. However, technical challenges arose from the dual-strip projection requirements, where precise of the two projectors was essential; misalignment often caused headaches or ghosting, prompting some theaters to screen the film in 2D to avoid equipment issues. As one of several Westerns designed to exploit 3D's novelty, Gun Fury shared similarities with contemporaries like Fort Ti (1953), also photographed by White and released by Columbia, both emphasizing outdoor action to demonstrate the format's potential for dynamic depth in genre filmmaking.

Reception and legacy

Critical response

Upon its release in 1953, Gun Fury received generally positive notices from trade publications for its action-oriented storytelling and technical execution. Variety described it as a "superior western" that stood strong even without its 3D format, highlighting the film's robust pacing and engaging sequences. Similarly, The Hollywood Reporter called it "a hard-driving affair smacking of authenticity and well-thought-out construction," praising the direction by Raoul Walsh and the performances, particularly Rock Hudson's lead role as the vengeful rancher Ben Warren. These reviews emphasized the film's strengths in staging brawls and gunplay, as well as the vivid Arizona landscapes captured in Technicolor cinematography. Critics also commended the supporting cast, with delivering a compelling turn as the villainous Frank Slayton, adding depth to the role amid the revenge-driven plot. However, some contemporary assessments noted the film's reliance on familiar Western tropes, such as the kidnapped bride motif and desert pursuits, which rendered the narrative somewhat formulaic despite solid execution. The 3D effects, intended to enhance the action, were seen as underutilized in many scenes, contributing to occasional awkward edits when viewed in standard format. In modern evaluations, Gun Fury holds a mixed reputation as a competent B-Western that helped propel Hudson toward stardom. On Rotten Tomatoes, it has no Tomatometer score yet based on 5 critic reviews, with commentators appreciating the brisk pacing and natural scenery but critiquing the predictable storyline. IMDb users rate it 6.0 out of 10 based on nearly 2,000 votes, often citing plot inconsistencies like the abrupt resolution involving a prisoner exchange as a weakness, though praising Walsh's efficient direction and the ensemble's energy. The film garnered no major awards, positioning it as a reliable but unremarkable entry in the 1950s Western genre.

Cultural impact

Gun Fury marked one of Rock Hudson's early leading roles, coming during a prolific 1953 in which he appeared in five films and helping to solidify his transition to status in the years leading to his stardom. The film showcased Hudson as the pacifist protagonist Ben Warren, highlighting his emerging screen presence under director , with whom he had collaborated on three projects that year. As a 1953 production, Gun Fury contributed to the brief boom in 3D Westerns, exemplifying the format's novelty-driven popularity amid Hollywood's short-lived embrace of stereoscopic filmmaking to compete with television. Originally released in 3D with elements like thrown objects directed at the audience, it remains a representative example of the era's experimental push in the genre. Within the Western genre, Gun Fury stands as a routine entry elevated by its strong ensemble cast, including early appearances by Lee Marvin and Neville Brand, and Raoul Walsh's characteristic action-oriented direction. The film's legacy lies in its solid craftsmanship rather than innovation, reflecting Walsh's expertise in dynamic pursuits and confrontations typical of mid-century oaters. Home media releases include a limited-edition Blu-ray (capped at 3,000 units) from Twilight Time in September 2017, offering both 2D and 3D versions with restored Technicolor visuals. As of 2025, the film is available for streaming on TCM and for rent or purchase on platforms including Amazon Video, Apple TV, and Fandango at Home. It has inspired no significant remakes or adaptations, though it receives occasional revivals in film festivals focused on 1950s 3D cinema, such as screenings at Film Forum.
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