Sterling Hayden is a deputy out for revenge when a bandit gang murders his friend and mentor, an old-time marshal. Yvonne DeCarlo is a dance-hall floozy headed for California who runs into Hayden on the trail and eventually falls for him (after he pushes her around and even slaps her a couple of times). The Arizona scenery--it was shot around Sedona--is attractive and there's a good, for the most part, cast of western veterans: Robert J. Wilke, Lane Chandler, John Pickard and Zachary Scott (who seems wildly out of place as a dandified bounty hunter). But the story is trite, the dialogue is lame and the only time the movie actually comes alive for any amount of time is during the bursts of action, which veteran director Lesley Selander handles with his usual skill at these things. Other than that, there's not much to recommend this film. Hayden pretty much sleepwalks through the part, and although DeCarlo is supposed to be his love interest, they in fact have no chemistry whatsoever and whatever "romance" there is comes across as forced, not helped by DeCarlo's overacting. It's pretty much a run-of-the-mill western--better than some, not as good as most. It's not totally without merit, but doesn't have enough to recommend it.

Shotgun is another revenge themed western, well scripted and performed. Sterling Hayden plays Clay Hardin, the man out for revenge and his hard-bitten, callous character holds the viewers attention. Along the the way he picks up Abby ( Yvonne DeCarlo ), a tough and sassy saloon girl, who doesn't think much of Clay at first, but soon finds herself warming towards him. Soon they come to the aid of Reb Carlton ( Zachary Scott ) a sleazy bounty hunter, who happens to be hunting after the same men as Hardin. Some tense moments develop between Hardin and Carlton over the triangle relationship now simmering over the desirable Abby. Shotgun is not a sappy cowboy picture, it has an adult themed story-line with some violence and action to keep it interesting. Like so many westerns from the 1950s, Shotgun features beautiful Technicolor vistas, and offers the audience satisfactory entertainment.

Shotgun is directed by Leslie Selander and collectively written by Clark E. Reynolds, Rory Calhoun and John C. Champion. It stars Sterling Hayden, Yvonne DeCarlo, Zachary Scott and Guy Prescott. A Technicolor production with music by Carl Brandt and cinematography by Ellsworth Fredricks. Standard revenge themed Oater set amongst the beautiful back drop of Sedona in Arizona. Story follows a familiar trajectory. Ben Thompson (Prescott) hits town after a long stint in jail, he's after the blood of the lawmen who put him there. When tragedy strikes during this act of revenge, Marshal Clay Hardin (Hayden) sets off in pursuit. Out on the trail he will acquire companionship in the form of saddle tramp Abby (DeCarlo) and bounty hunter Reb Carlton (Scott). A pressure cooker atmosphere is generated between the three of them as we head towards the finale where the Apache join the fray and truth, justice and consequence will out. Selander was an old pro at the Western game, unfortunately in this instance his inexperience with "tougher" themed Oaters shows. It is all very workmanlike and he fails to rein in DeCarlo's overacting and ignite a flame in Hayden who is in one of his "I'm only doing it for the money" moods. However, spurts of violence are handled efficiently enough to liven up the middle third when the picture threatens to sink into a boorish pot of beans. There's also a nice twist on the duel formula at film's end, with machismo and tricks showing a hand to reward the patient. It isn't a must see for Western fans, and frustrations reside within, but there's enough to keep it above average. Sometimes beautiful scenery and Sterling Hayden riding into an Apache camp with muscles flexed is enough to pass the time of day with. And so it proves here. 6.5/10

Shotgun is one of those special westerns, that in spite of having no ambitions, came out above average. Lesley Selander had great practice in doing westerns, from the days of Hopalong Cassidy and this is in my opinion his best. The story is about a sheriff searching for the man who killed his boss. Among other weapons he carries a sawed-off shotgun. He rescues Yvonne De Carlo and is joined by bounty hunter Zachary Scott. Part of the writing credits went to Rory Calhoun, an actor who made mostly westerns and one wonders why he did not take the main role for himself. In Brazil this film did quite well at the box office and had a good title "Escreveu seu nome a bala" (He wrote his name with bullets)