Johnny Guitar (1954)

June 9, 2017 1:27 AM

On the outskirts of town, the hard-nosed Vienna owns a saloon frequented by the undesirables of the region, including Dancin' Kid and his gang. Another patron of Vienna's establishment is Johnny Guitar, a former gunslinger and her lover. When a heist is pulled in town that results in a man's death, Emma Small, Vienna's rival, rallies the townsfolk to take revenge on Vienna's saloon – even without proof of her wrongdoing.
posted by frimble (5 comments total)

Outside Vienna's bar, it's a decent, slightly ordinary, slightly loopy (thanks to Mercedes McCambridge) Western. Inside, it's a David Lynch movie.

I love this film.
posted by maxsparber at 7:16 AM on June 9, 2017

This film one of my favorite bits of dialogue ever.

The townsfolk converge on the saloon to bring Vienna in. She appears at the top of the staircase, holding two six-shooters.

"You can't shoot all of us, Vienna!"
"Two of you will do."
posted by DirtyOldTown at 8:48 AM on June 9, 2017 [2 favorites]

There's an episode of the You Must Remember This podcast discussing Joan Crawford's role in Hollywood that covers this film specifically.
posted by Parasite Unseen at 9:48 AM on June 9, 2017 [1 favorite]

I first saw this a couple years ago at a library movie-watching group, where I think I was the only attendee who enjoyed the film. It may have been the first movie starring Joan Crawford that I had ever seen. I have since made my entire family watch it.

It's so weird and so good.
posted by darchildre at 1:39 PM on June 9, 2017

Queerest leftist western ever.

It's perfect.
posted by The Whelk at 4:33 PM on June 9, 2017 [1 favorite]