A Man Called Gannon *** (1968, Anthony Franciosa, Michael Sarrazin, Judi West) – Classic Movie Review 7031

Tony Franciosa stars as a cowpoke drifter who takes a tenderfoot kid (Michael Sarrazin) under his wing and helps a widow rancher (Judi West) in a range war, in the 1968 Western A Man Called Gannon. 

Tony [Anthony] Franciosa stars as cowpoke drifter Gannon who takes a tenderfoot kid under his wing and helps the widow woman rancher Beth Cross (Judi West) in a range war against the wicked cowmen in Universal Pictures‘ likeable, brooding 1968 Western programmer remake of their 1955 Man Without a Star (which starred Kirk Douglas).

Franciosa is no Kirk Douglas, and no cowboy either, but he gets by on intense, understated acting, and A Man Called Gannon is a fair, sturdy little Western, tougher than the original and still pacey, with attractive Technicolor cinematography and earnest, craftsmanlike direction by James Goldstone. The young Michael Sarrazin is very appealing as Jess Washburn, the callow kid from the east whom Franciosa’s Gannon teaches to be a cowboy on Beth Cross’s ranch, though they end up on opposite sides.

Also in the cast are Susan Oliver, John Anderson, David Sheiner, Gavin MacLeod, Harry Basch, James T Callahan, Harry Davis, Jason Evers, Eddie Firestone, Edra Gale, Ed Peck, Jack Perkins, Cliff Potts, Robert Sorrells, Harry Westerfield and Terry Wilson.

A Man Called Gannon is directed by James Goldstone, runs 105 minutes, is made by Universal Pictures, is written by Gene R Kearney, based on the 1955 screenplay by D D Beauchamp and Borden Chase, based on the novel Man Without a Star by Dee Linford, shot in Technicolor by William Margulies, produced by Howard Christie, scored by Dave Grusin and designed by Henry Bumstead.

Michael Sarrazin (1940–2011).

Remembering Michael Sarrazin (1940–2011).

© Derek Winnert 2018 Classic Movie Review 7031

Check out more reviews on http://derekwinnert.com