warlock 1959 (M12)

A town needs a gunman to protect them from the cowboy troublemakers. They hire Henry Fonda. Fonda comes with Anthony Quinn, the gambler. Fonda quells the troublemakers. The troublemakers are forced to rob stagecoaches to make up for the fact that they've been kicked out of town. An enemy of Quinn's is coming to town and he learns of this. When the troublemakers try to rob the stagecoach, Quinn (long distance with a rifle) shoots his enemy. The troublemakers decide to make a stand and they confront Fonda. With the help of Quinn, Fonda fends them off. The brother of one of the men that Fonda kills is Richard Widmark, a good guy who had lots of bad friends. Fonda is a marshal, that is a somewhat vigilante appointed by the town, because the real law doesn't get to town often enough. When the real law comes to town and challenges the town, who is willing to be a deputy (real law), Richard Widmark steps forward and takes the job. The troublemakers wish to kill Richard Widmark, but Fonda helps fend them off. Fonda discovers that Quinn (a cripple) has killed people and used Fonda. Forced by Quinn, Fonda kills Quinn. Fonda, who had been considering settling down, now scoffs at the idea. Widmark tells Fonda to get out of town. Fonda tells him, you better come with guns if you want to kick me out. When Widmark confronts Fonda, Fonda demonstrates how easily he would have outgunned him, but having decided that he cannot domesticate himself, Fonda leaves town without killing Widmark, leaving a new law in the town.

C+