Gun Crazy - Love, Obsession, and the Noir Revolution
In this episode of the Classic Film Club, we take a thrilling plunge into the world of post-war film noir with the groundbreaking classic *Gun Crazy* (1950). Join host Brian as he unpacks the electrifying story of Bart Tare, a young man whose childhood fascination with firearms spirals into a passionate yet destructive relationship with carnival sharpshooter Laurie Starr. Discover how their intense chemistry propels them into a life of crime, driven by love, obsession, and a thirst for excitement. We delve into the film's revolutionary technical achievements, including the iconic bank robbery sequence shot in a single unedited take, and explore director Joseph H. Lewis's innovative visual style that enhances the narrative's emotional depth. The episode highlights the powerful performances of Peggy Cummins and John Dall, and the hidden history of the screenplay co-written by blacklisted writer Dalton Trumbo, adding layers of defiance to this tale of outsiders. As we analyze *Gun Crazy*'s lasting impact on cinema, particularly its influence on later films like *Bonnie and Clyde*, we also reflect on its themes of love, obsession, and the costs of passion. Does this classic still resonate with modern audiences? Tune in to find out, and share your thoughts on whether *Gun Crazy* holds up in today's cinematic landscape.
For more, visit our website at https://bitesz.com/podcast/the-classic-film-club-revisited-re-rated and join the conversation on Spotify, YouTubeMusic, and Facebook. Don't forget to subscribe for more cinematic journeys!
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Brian: Hello and welcome back to the Classic Film
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Club, the podcast where we dust off the
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reels, revisit Hollywood's golden age
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and ask the big question. Do these
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classics still hold up today? I'm your host,
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Brian. And today we're diving headfirst into
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one of the most electrifying examples of post
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war film noir. Gun Crazy.
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Released in 1950 and starring Peggy Cummings
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and John Dall
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the 1950 film noir Gun Crazy
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stands as a groundbreaking exploration of
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obsession, love and violence in post war
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America. This influential movie tells
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the story of Bart Tare a young man whose
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fascination with firearms begins in
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childhood. Not out of violent tendencies, but
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from a pure technical interest that lands him
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in reform school after stealing a gun.
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The film establishes early that Bart isn't
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violent by nature, a point he emphasizes to
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the judge during his hearing. The narrative
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takes a dramatic turn when the adult Bart
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encounters Laurie Starr, a carnival
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sharpshooter who can hit targets while
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blindfolded. Their immediate attraction
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ignites a passionate and ultimately
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destructive relationship. Lori's thirst for
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excitement draws the initially reluctant Bart
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into a life of crime, setting them on a path
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of no return. Their chemistry is electric
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from their first meeting across the carnival
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tent marking the beginning of their dangerous
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descent. The film's technical achievements
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were revolutionary for its time, particularly
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the famous bank robbery sequence captured in
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a single unedited take from the backseat of a
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car. This scene, shot guerrilla
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style on real streets with actual
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pedestrians, exemplifies director Joseph
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H. Lewis innovative approach to filmmaking.
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Lewis, nicknamed Wagon Wheel Joe for his
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distinctive visual style, made creative use
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of unusual camera angles and frames,
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including shooting through wagon spokes,
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fences and reflections to enhance the
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film's artistic impact. The casting
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proved crucial to the film's enduring appeal.
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Peggy Cummings, at just 25 and born in Wales,
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brought both sweetness and danger to the role
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of Laurie Star. Having already starred
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opposite Tyrone Power in the late George
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Apley and Forever Amber, Cummings
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delivered a performance that feels
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startlingly modern. John Dahl's portrayal
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of Bart provided a compelling contrast. His
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classical training and natural vulnerability
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created a character torn between moral
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conscience and overwhelming love. Dall was
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known for his role in Hitchcock's Rope, where
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he demonstrated his ability to portray
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complex, troubled characters. An interesting
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historical. The screenplay was secretly
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co written by Dalton Trumbo, one of the
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blacklisted Hollywood 10 due to McCarthy
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era censorship. Another writer, Millard
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Kaufman, was credited instead.
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Trumbo's contribution wasn't officially
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acknowledged until decades later, adding
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another layer of defiance to this story about
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outsiders. While Gun Crazy didn't achieve
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immediate commercial success upon its 1950
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release, with critics divided between
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dismissing it as pulp and recognizing its
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innovative qualities, it gained significant
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recognition during the 1960s. The
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film's influence can be clearly seen in later
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works, particularly 1967's
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Bonnie and Clyde, with directors Arthur
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Penn and Robert Benton directly citing it
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as an influence. The production's low budget
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actually contributed to its authentic feel.
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Many scenes were filmed without permits,
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using real locations and genuine public
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reactions. Director Lewis famously
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instructed his leads to perform as if they
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were the only two people left in the world,
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creating an intense intimacy that permeates
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the entire film. This approach
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resulted in a documentary like realism that
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was ahead of its time. Originally titled
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Deadly as the Female, the movie was later
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renamed Gun Crazy. Though it premiered under
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its original title in some cities, today,
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it's preserved in the US National Film
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Registry. Recognized for its cultural and
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artistic significance. The film's enduring
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power lies not just in its action sequences
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or crime narrative, but in its intimate
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portrayal of destructive love and addiction.
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Not to crime itself, but to the intensity
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of human connection. At its core,
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Gun Crazy transcends its noir
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origins to become a study of obsession
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and the prices we pay for passion. The
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film's technical innovations, combined with
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its psychological depth and raw energy,
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continue to influence filmmakers and
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captivate audiences, cementing its place
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in cinema history as more than just another
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crime thriller. Its exploration of the
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relationship between love and obsession and
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destruction remains relevant and compelling
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for modern viewers, making it a significant
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piece of American cinema that continues to
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resonate decades after its release. It feels
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like you're intruding on something private,
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dangerous, and all too human. Let's drop
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a few bits of trivia perfect for your next
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movie night. Flex. The film's original title
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was Deadly as the Female. It premiered under
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that name in some cities before being
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retitled Gun Crazy. The production was
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so low budget that some of the robbery scenes
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were shot without permits, using real streets
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and unsuspecting townspeople. Director
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Joseph H. Lewis told Cummings and Dall to act
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like they were the only two people left in
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the world. That intimacy defines the
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entire film. And that legendary one
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take bank robbery sequence. It was filmed
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guerrilla style from a real car,
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on real streets, using real reactions.
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No reshoots, no staged extras, just
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pure adrenaline. So does Gun
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Crazy still hold up for me? Absolutely. it's
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pulpy and stylish, but also deeply
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emotional and surprisingly modern.
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Underneath the gun smoke, it's really about
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addiction. Not to crime, but
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to love. Two people who can't escape
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each other or themselves. But
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what about you? Have you seen Gun Crazy?
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Does it still pack a punch in 2025?
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Or does it feel like a relic of another age?
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Give it a watch, then rate it out of 10 and
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drop your thoughts and rating in the
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comments. You'll find us on Spotify,
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YouTubeMusic and Facebook. Just search the
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Classic Film Club. And if you're enjoying
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these journeys through cinema's past, make
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sure to follow or subscribe so you never miss
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an episode. Next time, we'll tackle
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another noir gem. one that asks whether
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redemption ever really exists. Until
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then, I'm Brian. Your classic
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film Tragic. And this has been the Classic
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Film Club.