Covering similar ground to the superior "High Noon", "Firecreek" finds sodbuster and part-time sheriff Jimmy Stewart standing up to Henry Fonda's crew of professional killers with no help from his fellow townsmen (expect for a mentally-challenged young man who has a target on his forehead the moment he appears on screen). The acting elevates the pedestrian material with top-billers Stewart and Fonda supported by great character actors like Ed Begley and Jack Elam. As a killer, Fonda plays against type (but not as momentously as he did in the same year's "Once Upon a Time in the West") but Stewart plays his typical soft-spoken, easy-going 'nice guy put in a tough spot'. A good but not great '60s Western highlighting old-school values that were starting to disappear from the genre with the advent of the anti-hero.

Old friends and former roommates James Stewart and Henry Fonda are well teamed here in this very good Western; it doesn't quite become a classic, but it's so nicely acted and suitably engrossing that it's still a fine film of its kind. Stewart plays Johnny Cobb, an easygoing part time lawman in the tiny town of Firecreek, which is visited by Bob Larkin (Fonda) and his companions, a group of hired guns who are bored and itching to make some trouble. Johnny will find that his laid back approach to law enforcement will only cause problems, so in the end he will have no choice but to confront Larkin and gang. Extremely well shot by William H. Clothier, "Firecreek" is capably directed by Vincent McEveety and maintains a classic American Western style, at a time when the Italian made Spaghetti Westerns were putting a new spin on the old genre. Written by Calvin Clements Sr., it tells a fairly dark and gritty tale, one with a feeling of somber inevitability to it all. It benefits from its rather even handed treatment of antagonist Fonda, who's not a one-dimensional, moustache-twirling Oilcan Harry type. His associates, however, are less subtle. Jack Elam is fun as always as the older and wiser Norman, but chewing up the scenery are the fantastic Gary Lockwood as the volatile Earl and the amusing James Best, whose character Drew will automatically remind you at times of his famous TV character of 'Dukes of Hazzard' sheriff Roscoe P. Coltrane, giggles and everything. The women in this tale fill some strong roles, in particular Inger Stevens as Evelyn Pittman; her scenes with Fonda are compelling. Barbara Luna as Indian gal Meli and Brooke Bundy as Leah are quite lovely to look at. The superb supporting cast also features Dean Jagger as store owner Mr. Whittier, Ed Begley as the preacher, Jay C. Flippen as hotel owner Mr. Pittman, Jacqueline Scott as Cobbs' pregnant wife, the fine character actors John Qualen and Morgan Woodward, and the appealing Robert Porter as town simpleton Arthur; your heart just goes out to this guy. The film gets fairly violent as it goes along (albeit without really showing anything in the way of gore), and is somewhat shocking. Cobb doesn't emerge from the final confrontation unscathed. Ultimately, this is a good story of figuring out the right thing to do, and having to overcome ones' instincts if necessary. Fans of the actors and the genre should find it to be quite satisfactory. Seven out of 10.

While the acting & the pacing on this film is well done, the film has a couple of things that hold it from being great. One of them is that Jimmy Stewart is playing almost an identical role to one he has played many times in his career. He is again the common everyman who is the accidental hero. By the time this movie is made, Stewart has done this so many times that it has become pretty much routine. I give the make up department credit though, Stewarts hair is really dyed well to try & make him look a little younger than he is by this point.Henry Fonda plays the head bad guy here. While it is a departure from what he usually plays, there are times where he is a little too wooden & there are times where he is too vulnerable. That is the scripts fault, not Fondas.The ending here, is one that has been done many times & is much too predictable. Still, the film has good character development, is well filmed, & has a very good cast so I found it good enough to get above it's faults. Still, I think the script could have been better & less predictable that it is.

The low budget and 50-something Jimmy Stewart playing a 30-something farmer cause many people to dismiss this western. I saw it on AMC recently and they gave it only two stars. However, this is a taut character study where the acting is just wonderful. The two stars (Stewart and Fonda) are good, as usual, but the supporting players really bring out the flavor of the old west. Character actors the likes of Jack Elam, James Best, and Gary Lockwood are excellent, multi-layered villains. For my money, the best acting is an understated performance by Robert Porter as the simpleton Arthur. He plays the character with the just the right amount of childish dignity and enthusiasm, so that his portrayal is truly touching. A very nice way to spend an afternoon.