I've not seen all of Audie Murphy's films, just most of them, over 30. After a lifetime of watching him, last night I came across this gem, so I can pose the question, was this Audie Murphy's best acting performance? I know he had little regard for the parts he played saying they were all the same, but watching this picture, which could have done with a better director with more vision, I couldn't help but think that this could have been a truly great western. Murphy plays against type as a hired killer, not the hero he usually is, and in spite of his small frame, completely dominates every scene against much larger men. What makes this a superior western is Murphy's outstanding performance, chillingly ruthless, and the intelligent complex script and supporting performances. It just goes to show how good minor actors can be when given the right words to perform. Charles Drake, never better, R.G. Armstrong, Karl Swenson, Willis Bouchey etc all giving fine acting lessons. Terrific underrated western.

OK...nobody is going to be able to compare Audie Murphy's acting with Olivier, but he effectively underplays this role, and seems to relish being the "villain" of the piece. His gamut of emotions, here, range from a sneer to a smirk, and that is all he needs for this film. The rest of the "B" list cast does an adequate job in framing this tale of morality. Similar films include Bad Day at Black Rock, High Plains Drifter, and High Noon, where the moral character of the Townfolk are called into question. I feel that No Name On the Bullet is more effective that the "A"-listers mentioned, because any damage done to the town and it's people are, essentially, completely self inflicted due to guilt or suspicion. Audie initiates none of the action, and while he philosophizes about the townsfolk's foibles, he is above even judging them. His mere presence starts the chains of events, as one's conscience might move a guilty one to action.This story was done as a "B" western, by people who did "B" westerns, but, could work in many other settings, and is interesting from start until the final credits roll.

Why this got the good reviews it did in the books I read, is a mystery. It's basically a "one- angle" story in which a hired killer enters a town and the whole place goes wildly paranoid wondering who is going to be the man's victim. That sounds fairly interesting but it didn't play that way, getting tiresome very quickly. Then again, some people like this kind of suspense-but nothing-happens type of story, sort of like the popular "High Noon."Audie Murphy ("John Gant") is interesting to watch as the cool-attitude killer but I couldn't much else to get excited about here. The rest of the cast combined can't equal Murphy's effort here. This is more of a melodrama than a western, which may suit a lot of people, but I was looking for a good "western," which usually means a little more action than this dull film.

Audie Murphy (as John Gant) plays it real smooth here. He manipulates the whole town 'leading citizens' into thinking which one is the one he's after (that he's been hired to kill), and leaves them all feeling quite guilty over their past misdeeds. So guilty that the town banker commits suicide, and a couple of others start shooting one another without Gant ever having to lift a finger. This is one of the few times you'll see Murphy play a bad guy, although quite different from the unhinged character you'd later see him play in John Huston's THE UNFORGIVEN (1960). Nothing he did acting-wise, ever topped that one.Universal has released the widescreen Technicolor DVD of this and it's the best way to see it. No speckling and only a couple of brief frame blemishes. Sound is excellent, although the only extra is a trailer.Now if Universal will only see fit to release the following excellent Audiepix westerns on DVD, I'd be a happy man:SEVEN WAYS FROM SUNDOWN (1960) w. Barry Sullivan; RIDE CLEAR OF DIABLO (1954) w. Dan Duryea; HELL BENT FOR LEATHER (1960) w. Steven McNally; and RIDE A CROOKED TRAIL (1958) w. Walter MatthauSo if you all liked NO NAME ON THE BULLET, then I bet you'll probably like the four I listed up above. They're all solid oaters. 7 out of 10