The Stranger Wore a Gun

**_Randolph Scott is caught between good and evil in this action-packed oater_** A spy used in the infamous Quantrill raid on Lawrence, Kansas (Randolph Scott), flees to Prescott, Arizona, after the war and gets mixed up with a shady gang of stagecoach robbers (led by George Macready). Lee Marvin and Ernest Borgnine are on hand as heavies. "The Stranger Wore a Gun" (1953) is a 3-D Western, which can be discerned by objects constantly being pointed at the viewer. It was directed by one-eyed Andre De Toth, known for the more famous 3-D flick “House of Wax” from the same year, not to mention great Westerns “The Indian Fighter” (1955) and “Day of the Outlaw” (1959). While not in the same league as Randolph’s better Westerns, like “Ride the High Country” (1962) and “The Tall T” (1956), this is still a worthwhile Scott Western. There’s more action than most and some decent human interest is thrown in, including his wavering between two women, one older (Claire Trevor) and one younger (Joan Weldon). Meanwhile Alfonso Bedoya is amusing as a rival gang leader. The only issue I have is the way the protagonist confusingly veers between good and evil (and hypocrisy), which makes it hard to get a lock on the character. It’s just challenging to root for a duplicitous ‘hero,’ yet it could be argued that it’s core to the character’s inner conflict and potential redemption. It just could’ve been better written. Speaking of which, the story is based on the yarn “Yankee Gold” by the author of “High Noon.” The film runs 1 hour, 22 minutes, and was shot at Iverson Ranch in northwest Los Angeles and the Lone Pine area (Alabama Hills/Whitney Portal), which is about 200 miles north. GRADE: B-/C+