The Gunfighter Set the Blueprint for John Wayne’s The Shootist

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The Western genre was established by iconic actors like John Wayne and classic films such as Shane, High Noon, The Searchers, and The Gunfighter. Directors like John Ford, Howard Hawks, and George Stevens crafted a cinematic vision of the West. A film released in 1950 was particularly influential, setting the stage for seven decades of Westerns and even impacting the final film of John Wayne’s career.

The 1950s were a turning point for Western movies. They saw the beginning of a new, more realistic style – often called “anti-Westerns” – that moved away from simple good-versus-evil stories. Earlier Westerns tended to romanticize life in the West, portraying heroes and villains in stark contrast. These new films, however, offered more complex characters and a grittier, more honest look at the setting. In 1950, Gregory Peck starred in a film that helped launch this trend, though it’s still surprisingly unknown today.

The Gunfighter is a Classic Western Masterpiece

In 1950, the film The Gunfighter, directed by Henry King and written by William Bowers and William Sellers, was released. It stars Gregory Peck as Jimmy Ringo, a famous gunfighter trying to leave his violent past behind and return home. His plans are disrupted when a young, impulsive man challenges him in a saloon, leading to a fatal confrontation. Even though Ringo acted in self-defense, he fears his notorious reputation will lead to his condemnation, and the situation escalates when the dead man’s brothers seek revenge.

Having disarmed the brothers, Ringo wants to continue his journey to Cayenne and hopes for a peaceful rest. However, when he stops at the local saloon, he runs into Mark Strett, now the town’s lawman, who urges him to move on. Mark soon discovers Ringo has returned to find his former wife, Peggy, and their son, who are now living under different names. Unable to simply leave, Ringo’s presence quickly attracts the notice of people seeking revenge.

He told Peggy he was planning to move somewhere he wouldn’t be known, and hoped she might join him one day. But despite trying to escape his destiny, he was killed in the street, ending his life and his story. In a final act, Peggy publicly revealed her connection to Ringo.

Right from the beginning, it feels like Ringo was always headed for trouble, given how many enemies he had. The film mainly shows us that a violent life almost always leads to a violent end, and that even if someone tries to change, not everyone will accept their apology. Ultimately, it’s a story about the consequences of our choices and how difficult it is to escape the path we’ve created.

How The Gunfighter Influenced John Wayne’s Final Film

Twenty-six years after starring in The Gunfighter, John Wayne played the lead role in The Shootist, which was based on a novel by Glendon Swarthout. Similar to the 1950 film, it tells the story of a famous gunslinger who is getting older and thinking about how he’ll be remembered. Like the character Ringo in The Gunfighter, the main character, Books, is well-known, and many young rivals try to gain fame by challenging him. When Books arrives in Carson City, he discovers he has cancer – a disease John Wayne was battling himself during filming.

The story follows a notorious gunslinger attempting to outrun his past and find a quiet life before he dies. He finds lodging with a thoughtful widow and unexpectedly becomes a father figure to her son, sharing his skills with a firearm, much to the widow’s dismay. Soon, news of his presence attracts a series of challengers, each hoping to kill him, but all failing in an instant. Ultimately, the gunslinger accepts his fate and chooses to meet his end with a final, dramatic showdown.

Similar to The Gunfighter, The Shootist tells the story of an aging, famous gunslinger who simply wants to retire. However, while echoing themes of regret found in the earlier film, John Wayne’s portrayal differs significantly. Wayne, known for choosing strong, patriotic roles, played a man who embraced his past actions rather than apologizing for them, reflecting his own views on the often-brutal realities of the Old West. This is powerfully demonstrated through the character of Books.

Clint Eastwood Took Some Cues From The Gunfighter

I’ve always noticed how many modern movies seem to take inspiration from classic Westerns, and directors love to put their own twist on those older stories. Clint Eastwood really stands out to me as someone who does this well. He completely reimagined George Stevens’ Shane with his 1985 film, Pale Rider, turning it into something totally different. Even his 1973 movie, High Plains Drifter, felt like it drew inspiration from High Noon, though in a more subtle way, and explored similar ideas but with a much darker focus on revenge. He kept that trend going in 1992 with Unforgiven, proving he really knew how to take an old-school Western and make it his own.

Similar to The Shootist, Unforgiven feels like a reimagining of The Gunfighter, with Eastwood playing William Munny, a retired gunslinger. Munny, now a recovering alcoholic trying to support his family after his wife’s death, hesitantly takes on one last bounty hunt after years of trying to live a peaceful life. Older and out of practice, he has trouble readjusting to his former life, and enlists the help of his longtime friend, Ned Logan. But when they encounter the ruthless Sheriff Little Bill Daggett, the situation quickly becomes intensely personal for the once-notorious killer.

Peck’s film has clearly had a huge impact on how Hollywood tells stories about aging gunslingers. This idea has become a popular trope, appearing in many genres like superhero, action, and science fiction. While numerous films explore the consequences of violence on people and society, The Gunfighter does it exceptionally well.

The marketing for the film The Gunfighter captured the essence of the aging gunslinger story with a simple phrase: “A man who had gone too far, stopped too late and denied love too long.” This tagline perfectly describes the classic tale, seen in films like Shane and The Shootist, and continues to be a powerful storytelling element today.

The Gunfighter Has An Underrated Legacy

Though often overshadowed by films like The Searchers and Shane, The Gunfighter has had a significant and lasting impact on the Western genre. Modern action movies, such as John Wick, clearly show how its themes and storytelling techniques have become standard. Unlike the grand scope of The Searchers or the quick pace of Tombstone, The Gunfighter is a more intimate film, focusing on the human side of a legendary gunslinger as he faces life after his prime.

Gregory Peck is best known today for playing Atticus Finch in the film To Kill a Mockingbird. This role, as a strong advocate for what’s right, is a stark contrast to characters like Jimmy Ringo, showcasing Peck’s range as an actor. Along with To Kill a Mockingbird, The Gunfighter is another classic film that cemented Peck’s place in movie history and deserves to be revisited by modern audiences.

In early 2025, 20th Century Studios revealed plans to remake the 1950 film The Gunfighter, with Ethan Hawke cast in the main role. Hawke has proven his talent for westerns since appearing in In a Valley of Violence. However, this new version will face a tough challenge to surpass the original, as John Wayne’s The Shootist remains a beloved and moving classic.

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2026-01-01 02:52