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Gun Crazy

Play trailer Poster for Gun Crazy Released Jan 20, 1950 1h 27m Crime Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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91% Tomatometer 66 Reviews 84% Popcornmeter 2,500+ Ratings
When gun-obsessed pacifist Bart Tare (John Dall) witnesses expert shooter Annie Laurie Starr (Peggy Cummins) demonstrate her firearm prowess at a carnival one night, it's love at first sight. Aimless Bart joins the traveling show and begins a romance with Annie, but her dangerously rebellious spirit soon gets them both fired. After eloping, the young lovers embark on an armed robbery spree, managing to elude the authorities until Annie insists on pulling one last job.
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Gun Crazy

Gun Crazy

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Critics Consensus

Well-acted and strikingly filmed, Gun Crazy (Deadly Is the Female) delves into the darkness of human nature with noir-fueled B-movie flair.

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Critics Reviews

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Mildred Martin Philadelphia Inquirer Dall is particularly good as the boy who only feels important with a gun in his hands, and Miss Cummins, a pleasant surprise histrionically as the girl who doesn't give a hoot about anything except John, money and not getting caught. Sep 15, 2021 Full Review Mae Tinee Chicago Tribune John Dall docs fine acting in this crime melodrama, which is frequently better than many of the more elaborate and expensive films on the same subject. Sep 15, 2021 Full Review Marjory Adams Boston Globe For the most part, the film seems to be one that you've seen before. Sep 14, 2021 Full Review Sean Axmaker Stream on Demand ... the greatest of the criminal lovers-on-the-run thriller, explodes onto the screen in a fury of sex and guns and love and violence... a masterpiece of style and a blast of cinematic ecstasy on a budget barely bigger than a B movie. May 4, 2024 Full Review Justine Smith Vague Visages In the film’s misty final stretch, the characters are lost in a dense fog. They anticipate their own demise, but they latch onto their weapons knowing very well that surrendering is no longer an option... Nov 21, 2023 Full Review Rob Gonsalves Rob's Movie Vault A vivacious, visually exciting noir. Rated: A Nov 23, 2022 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

View All (234) audience reviews
Anthony J Sure it has its stylistic moments - lots of them actually- but the film is badly dated and the often corny acting undercuts the 'art' of it. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 03/17/25 Full Review mark g This film is subtle brilliance. I think too many people don't see the forest through the trees here. It's a film noir fairy tale, and that is how it should be perceived. The characters are just that, characters, not meant to be taken literally. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 03/16/25 Full Review acsdoug D I didn't find John Dall particularly believable as a tough guy armed robber on the lam. Peggy Cummins is good though, and it's a good story, has a real Bonnie and Clyde feel to it. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 07/26/24 Full Review Abe A Utterly boring and predictable pulp, and not even particularly well-acted. The more I watched, the less sense it made and more over-the-top it traveled. At least it was shortish at 87 minutes, but was still about 30 minutes too long. Rated 2 out of 5 stars 07/21/24 Full Review Bill B Overrated by the critics, the direction and pacing is a bit uneven in this Bonnie-and-Clyde type drama. Dall and Cummins are good and the finale is atmospheric. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 04/20/24 Full Review harwee h Somewhat a forgotten classic, but its about the cast in a pre-Bonnie and Clyde sense Rated 3 out of 5 stars 04/06/24 Full Review Read all reviews
Gun Crazy

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Movie Info

Synopsis When gun-obsessed pacifist Bart Tare (John Dall) witnesses expert shooter Annie Laurie Starr (Peggy Cummins) demonstrate her firearm prowess at a carnival one night, it's love at first sight. Aimless Bart joins the traveling show and begins a romance with Annie, but her dangerously rebellious spirit soon gets them both fired. After eloping, the young lovers embark on an armed robbery spree, managing to elude the authorities until Annie insists on pulling one last job.
Director
Joseph H. Lewis
Producer
Frank King, Maurice King
Screenwriter
MacKinlay Kantor, MacKinlay Kantor, Dalton Trumbo
Distributor
United Artists
Production Co
King Brothers Productions
Genre
Crime, Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Jan 20, 1950, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
Nov 21, 2016
Runtime
1h 27m
Sound Mix
Mono
Aspect Ratio
35mm
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