I've seen this movie more than a few times and it never gets old. Like Col. Potter said,, "All a good movie needs is horses, cowboys and horses." But this story goes beyond your typical oater of black hats and white hats; cowboys and Indians. It's the story of a slightly dysfunctional family that could take place in any era,, and I'm sure it has (been done before/since). What I particularly like about this movie is it is nonstop. I tend to get bored by flash-backs, flash-forwards, flash-sideways, endless chase scenes and lengthy shootouts. There was also one musical scene,, another thing I'm not fond of,, but I think it was done well and it worked for me. Always more than capable Van Heflin did a great job. Tab Hunter was a real surprise. I haven't seen all of his work,, "They Came to Cordura",, and maybe I'm biased by years of the pretty boy, can't act label but I though he turned in a journeyman performance this time. James Darren,, as always,, was a bit stiff and understated but being the shy, reserved, younger brother,, I believe understated was called for; stiff wasn't. In support there is Mickey Shaughnessy, Robert F. Simon, Edward Platt, Ray Teal, Will Wright and Paul Birch. Not that any of these guys ever mailed in a performance but Simon and Teal were very good.When I watch a movie I'm not looking to be edified, enlightened, educated, illuminated or inspired. I'm not looking for political statements or correctness (I like "Green Acres" and "The Honeymooners"). I don't delve into the mind of the character and dissect their psyche. I couldn't care less what motivates them. I have neither the time nor the inclination to do any digging. I want to be entertained and this movie did just that. I thought this was a good movie, good story and good acting.

Well I've seen more than my share of Western films, but I can't think of another one right now where a man throws down against his own father. One would think youth would prevail, child is father to the man as it were, but not in "Gunman's Walk", a title that doesn't quite fit the story but that's nothing new for the genre.I caught this one on Turner Classics this evening, neatly timed to coincide with Tab Hunter's eightieth birthday. Cast against type, he portrays 'wild' brother Ed Hackett along side James Darren's more peaceable sibling Davy; they in turn the sons of veteran actor Van Heflin who seems more interesting as a hard case than the characters he portrayed in "Shane" and "3:10 to Yuma".Hunter is actually pretty good here with a vicious streak that catches you off guard. He really hits stride by the time he confronts father Lee (Heflin) at the bar toward the end of the film. He seemed just slightly forced in that scene, but otherwise it suited the moment to set up the final showdown. I had to wince a bit though when Hunter took up with the pair of saloon gals and blared into 'I'm a Runaway'. I know Hunter had a briefly successful singing career, but you couldn't tell here. He certainly didn't have anything on Rick Nelson in "Rio Bravo".If you liked Van Heflin's performance, you might want to look up another Western he starred in toward the end of his career - 1968's "The Ruthless Four". He plays a similar hard edged character and it might be a toss up as to which was the better role. Come to think of it, I'm having a little trouble deciding myself, so you'll have to make up your own mind.Overall, a competent Western, though I didn't find it as compelling as most of the other reviewers on this board. Personally, I thought the Technicolor format worked against it, odd as that might sound. To me, it had the feel of a Fifties B Western and would have come off a bit grittier in good old black and white.

"Gunman's Walk" is not only outstanding on the entertainment level, it also presents what could be clichéd material in a superbly directed and written comment on many issues. The story is an action Western first. Van Heflin, easily one of the greatest of all Western actors, plays a rugged Western hero of the old pioneer days, who participated in many wars against the Native American. Unlike the more sugar coated stories of many Westerns, he is not forgiving of his enemy, and his character is still much the same man when he enters a new era. Heflin's character is now a big man in his territory, respected and feared by all. Heflin gives this character an incredible likability, which in retrospect, makes him even scarier. It is easy to compare this man with Anthony Quinn in "Last Train to Gun Hill", another impressive performance by another great actor. Except this man is much friendlier and less menacing, yet he commands the respect for his abilities with guns, fists, and bravery. Heflin now has a big ranch and two sons. The older one, Tab Hunter, wants to be the big hero his father was, but lives in an era when the Native American is not at war with them. In fact, Ed Platt plays an Indian agent who tries to protect the native population from Hunter's outbursts, to no avail. The younger son, James Darren, is perfectly cast as the dove of the family, who abhors violence. To make matters worse, he is attracted to a beautiful Native American girl, which puts him as the one bearing the brunt of suffering in the middle from both sides. Heflin is going along with the times, but not by conventional means. he hangs on to his valor by recalling his feats in the past. Hunter constantly hears the exploits with other older men in the saloon, speaking as if they were in Floyd's Mayberry RFD barber shop. Exploits against the native Americans that aren't allowed any more, but Hunter wants to have such stories told about him some day. Heflin's character hasn't moved with the times. He simply laughs at them. He raises his sons to be fighters and the end result is that the oldest son steps way over any civilized line. The climax is not exactly hidden. We know that Heflin must confront himself, and he does this by confronting his sons. One he admires, and the other he disowns midway through the movie. By the end, he realizes his mistake. But all through the movie, characters remind us that Hunter isn't the one who caused it all. It is actually Heflin. Yet Heflin's performance is so great that instead of seeing him for the evil man he is, we pity him, and don't blame him. Much like the crafty Fred March in "Hombre", one of the evilest men in Westerns, yet able to snake oil his way through it. Heflin's attitude and character is in the oldest son, and he was responsible. In the end, Heflin admits this, and we forgive him at first, when we see him break down. However, this movie requires much thought. It gives a very frightening picture of the truth about prejudice, and about the evil that is allowed to pass on through cultures and generations, and the way it is done. It is a movie we should watch and learn from, and it is done in a very sneaky way. A must see movie.

Unlike sandcrab's bitter politically-correct review below, I happen to put this one on my A list for 50s westerns. Van Heflin plays a hard cattle rancher who wants the best for his two boys. One (Tab Hunter) is wild, spoiled and bitter about following in his father's shadow, the other (James Darren) is soft, gentle, not prone to gunplay like his older brother is. Heflin is very effective at playing the overindulgent father, blind to the realities that both boys are dealing with.The conflict begins when Hunter and a half-breed Sioux (Bert Convy) that his father has hired, race after a prized white stallion that they've been trying to catch for some time now. Hunter runs his horse into the Indian, forcing him off a cliff into an arroyo, plunging to his death below. Two other Indians witness this and will later testify against Hunter at his trial.At the trial, a drifting horse trader (Ray Teal) testifies in favor of Hunter for a price of 10 mustangs and the white stallion. Heflin catches on to Teal's game and agrees to it in order to protect his son, but warns Teal to get out of town and don't come back or else. In the meantime, Darren has fallen in love with the dead Indian's sister (Kathryn Grant) which also further complicates things between himself and his father.As Hunter sees Teal riding the herd including the white stallion through town, he goes down and confronts Teal and demands the white stallion back. When he refuses, he draws on Teal and shoots him off his horse, severely wounding him. Hunter is placed in jail but once again daddy Heflin covers up for him by offering Teal a bribe he can't refuse.But it all doesn't matter because Hunter breaks out of jail, killing the unarmed deputy (Mickey Shaughnessy) in the process, and forcing the town to form a posse to go after him. Even Heflin can't save his boy at this point, but he knows where he's headed and he gets there before the posse does, thereby provoking a showdown between father and son. With taught direction by Phil Karlson, an excellent script and tight story by Frank Nugent & Ric Hardman along with a powerful performance by Van Heflin, this one deserves to be in any western film buff's collection. I recommend it wholeheartedly. All I hope is that it will be released on DVD, someday. 8 out of 10