Platicsco Good story, Not enough for a whole film

ShangLuda Admirable film.

Salubfoto It's an amazing and heartbreaking story.

Caryl It is a whirlwind of delight --- attractive actors, stunning couture, spectacular sets and outrageous parties. It's a feast for the eyes. But what really makes this dramedy work is the acting.

OllieSuave-007 I've watched this movie once on TV with my dad. Though I don't remembered much from it, I do recall being pretty intrigued by the overall story, rooting for the cowgirl-like character Vienna (Joan Crawford) stand up against an evil gang, led by the nefarious and cold Emma Small (Mercedes McCambridge).I remembered Emma Small being a notorious and evil character and provided much of the thrills and suspense in the movie, and seeing Vienna trying to outdo the bad Emma was nothing short of satisfying.Though released in 1954, the movie was filmed in brilliant color and, while the acting may have had its campy moments and the plot could have used more good guy vs. bad guy elements, it was still a pretty exciting little western for me as a kid to watch back in the day.Grade B-

jakob13 Nicholas Ray has taken a theme of America's expansion westward to the Pacific and brought us two strong women who embody landownership, cattle barons and the ever widening industrial revolution and urbanism that will challenge and ultimately vanquish older capitalist forms of power. Love is a theme but the women, Vienna played with nerve and steel by Joan Crawford and the impulsive Emma Small by Mercedes Cambridge overshadow the men in the film. And it's a duel in sun between the whore that made good as a bar girl and now has a title for land the railroad will develop and she will build a town on it, and Small the gun totting land and cattle baroness. is 'Johnny Guitar' a precursor of feminism? It's up to you to judge. Nonetheless, it's Crawford's finer hour.

MattyGibbs This is one of the more interesting old westerns featuring screen legend Joan Crawford. Two strong willed women fight a power battle against the backdrop of a murder. Most westerns featured women mainly as the love interest but this is different in that the women featured are both tough and both willing to use a gun. This to me is a more realistic version of the old west. Joan Crawford is excellent as the feisty hotel owner waiting for a railroad to come through town and make her rich. Her nemesis played brilliantly by Mercedes McCambridge wants her out of town and seeks to do this by blaming her for the murder of her brother. The acting is excellent and it features an early appearance by the excellent Ernest Borgnine. There are good performances too by John Carradine and Scott Brady. The only downside coming from a predictably wooden performance by Sterling Hayden as Johnny Guitar. The action and story rattle along at a good pace and the smart script mainly steers clear of many of the old western clichés. It all culminates in a great final few scenes. This is a very good entry in the western genre and all the better for making the women the lead protagonists. Highly recommended to western fans.

daviddaphneredding In this Republic Pictures movie produced by Herbert J. Yates and directed by Nicholas Ray, Joan Crawford, who could be more awe-inspiring than any man alive, was a woman who needed the man who had run out on her years before, Johnny Guitar himself: Sterling Hayden was his sometimes boisterous self, but, again, in this movie Vienna (played by Crawford) was a woman who needed Johnny Guitar, since she was harassed by Emma Smalls, a woman who was poisoned with hate toward Vienna; Mercedes McCambridge was outstanding as the hate-possessed woman. Another actor who was mean toward Johnny Guitar was Ernest Borgnine, who played Bart. Ward Bond was his loud self as Mr. McGivers, Ben Cooper played well his part as Turkey, a young eighteen-year-old boy who was trying hard to be a man, and Scott Brady was definitely an arrogant man. The story is simple: at the beginning there is a stagecoach robbery...in which Emma Small's brother is killed... as Johnny Guitar is going into town, and Emma Smalls who, unlike Vienna, does not want the railroad to come through, is so prejudiced toward Vienna that she, in her own mind, thinks Vienna was responsible for the robbery. Then, after a bank robbery by Scott Brady and his three cohorts, Emma is again convinced that Vienna is responsible, and she leads a posse to pursue and kill Vienna; and no, Vienna can not survive without Johnny Guitar. Not only do Crawford and Hayden play two people who love strongly, but the movie addresses hatred, bitterness, extreme anger, and prejudice, and the effects of same. New Mexico looked beautiful (in its own way) and Peggy Lee's voice is melodious as she sings the title song from the movie. The superb acting, the beautiful scenery, and the thought-provoking story render this movie an outstanding production.