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| Johnny Guitar |
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| Originally released: 1954 |
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Despite the innocuous-sounding title, this western is a genuinely
strange one. Vividly distorted colour schemes, overt sexual imagery
and two very strong female characters partly disguise an allegory
against McCarthy-ite witch-hunt mentality. Vienna (Crawford), a
bar-owner from out of town, employs Johnny Guitar (Hayden) to strum in
her saloon. Trouble comes from the townspeople, led by Emma Small
(McCambridge), who has fallen for Vienna's beau, the Dancing Kid, and
wants to run her out. The two women spit fire; their real-life rivalry
spilled over onto celluloid, resulting in an excellent film which
crackles wildly, especially in the lynch mob scenes.
Simon Eaton
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