"Top Gun", not to be confused with the 1986 Tom Cruise film of the same name (but little else), is about a gunman returning to his home town of Casper Wyoming to warn the town of an impending raid by a gang of raiders similar to Quantrell's Raiders.
Rick Martin (Sterling Hayden is the so-called top gun in the territory with a history of killings. When he returns, he goes to the cemetery to visit his mother's grave. He is confronted by Marshal Bat Davis (James Millican) who questions him about Martin's reasons for his return. Martin explains that a gang of raiders headed by Tom Quentin (John Dehner) is planning to attack and sack the town.
Martin offers his services to Davis and the town, however Town Council members Ed Marsh (Hugh Sanders), Hank Spencer (Denver Pyle) and wealthy land owner Canby Judd (William Bishop) vehemently oppose it because of Marin's reputation. Martin goes to his one friend in town, hotel owner Jim O'Hara (Regis Toomey) for support. He next goes to visit his ex-sweetheart Laura Mead (Karen Booth) who he finds is now engaged to Judd.
Back in town, Martin is challenged by ambitious gunfighter Lem Sutter (Rod Taylor) which Marin turns down. Davis meanwhile is trying to mount a defense against the impending attack. He is only able to raise four deputies. The Town Council votes to have Davis send Martin out of town. Marin investigating his mother's untimely death discovers that Judd had cheated her out of her property and had her murdered.
Martin and Judd have a knock down drag out fight which Laura breaks up. Martin informs Judd that he has a score to settle before he leavers. Judd conspires with Sutter to confront Martin on his way to settle things with Judd. He does so but is gunned down by Martin. Martin is then arrested by Davis and locked up rendering him unable to aid in the town's defense.
Davis goes to meet Quentin and his gang outside of town to try and reason with him since they were old buddies. The slovenly Quentin guns the marshal down. O'Hara and the deputies try to hold the gang off but are all killed except for O'Hara. The rest of the townsfolk including Judd and the Town Council are hiding in the church.
The Town Council relents and plead with Martin to become Marshal in Davis' place. He reluctantly agrees and formulates a plan to trap the remaining gang members. He manages to do so until there is only himself and Quentin left. As the two face off, the oily Judd sneaks up behind Martin and.......................................
Sterling Hayden at 6ft. 7ins. or so, makes an imposing gunman. William Bishop specialized in sneaky behind the back bad guys in the 50s. Rod Taylor in an early role stands out as the town bully. John Dehner, always better than his material, is a nasty bandit. Millican and Toomey lend able support as well. And watch for western veterans Tom London as Casey, the bad guy that Quentin knocks through the campfire and John "Lefty" Cason as Ben, one of Quentin's gang.
Remade in 1964 as "The Quick Gun" with Audie Murphy.
Rick Martin (Sterling Hayden is the so-called top gun in the territory with a history of killings. When he returns, he goes to the cemetery to visit his mother's grave. He is confronted by Marshal Bat Davis (James Millican) who questions him about Martin's reasons for his return. Martin explains that a gang of raiders headed by Tom Quentin (John Dehner) is planning to attack and sack the town.
Martin offers his services to Davis and the town, however Town Council members Ed Marsh (Hugh Sanders), Hank Spencer (Denver Pyle) and wealthy land owner Canby Judd (William Bishop) vehemently oppose it because of Marin's reputation. Martin goes to his one friend in town, hotel owner Jim O'Hara (Regis Toomey) for support. He next goes to visit his ex-sweetheart Laura Mead (Karen Booth) who he finds is now engaged to Judd.
Back in town, Martin is challenged by ambitious gunfighter Lem Sutter (Rod Taylor) which Marin turns down. Davis meanwhile is trying to mount a defense against the impending attack. He is only able to raise four deputies. The Town Council votes to have Davis send Martin out of town. Marin investigating his mother's untimely death discovers that Judd had cheated her out of her property and had her murdered.
Martin and Judd have a knock down drag out fight which Laura breaks up. Martin informs Judd that he has a score to settle before he leavers. Judd conspires with Sutter to confront Martin on his way to settle things with Judd. He does so but is gunned down by Martin. Martin is then arrested by Davis and locked up rendering him unable to aid in the town's defense.
Davis goes to meet Quentin and his gang outside of town to try and reason with him since they were old buddies. The slovenly Quentin guns the marshal down. O'Hara and the deputies try to hold the gang off but are all killed except for O'Hara. The rest of the townsfolk including Judd and the Town Council are hiding in the church.
The Town Council relents and plead with Martin to become Marshal in Davis' place. He reluctantly agrees and formulates a plan to trap the remaining gang members. He manages to do so until there is only himself and Quentin left. As the two face off, the oily Judd sneaks up behind Martin and.......................................
Sterling Hayden at 6ft. 7ins. or so, makes an imposing gunman. William Bishop specialized in sneaky behind the back bad guys in the 50s. Rod Taylor in an early role stands out as the town bully. John Dehner, always better than his material, is a nasty bandit. Millican and Toomey lend able support as well. And watch for western veterans Tom London as Casey, the bad guy that Quentin knocks through the campfire and John "Lefty" Cason as Ben, one of Quentin's gang.
Remade in 1964 as "The Quick Gun" with Audie Murphy.