
Gun Crazy
1950, Drama/Crime, 1h 27m
40 Reviews 2,500+ RatingsWhat to know
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. Read critic reviews
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Where to watch
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Movie Info
Cast & Crew
Annie Laurie Starr
Bart Tare
Packett
Judge Willoughby
Ruby Tare Flagler

Deputy Clyde Boston
Critic Reviews for Gun Crazy
All Critics (40) | Top Critics (13) | Fresh (39) | Rotten (1)
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The film may have been a quaint display of American decency and small-town folksiness were it not for the electrifying and darker, more complex presence of Cummins.
February 25, 2020 | Full Review… -
The already-classic trope of lovers on the run, à la Bonnie and Clyde, gets a stylish workout from the director Joseph H. Lewis.
November 16, 2015 | Full Review… -
Fault is in the writing and direction, both staying on the surface and never getting underneath the characters.
April 27, 2009 | Full Review… -
One of the most distinguished works of art to emerge from the B movie swamp.
April 27, 2009 | Full Review… -
Darker and more subtly complex than you'd expect from a 1950s crime caper.
February 27, 2009 | Rating: 4/5 | Full Review… -
Gun Crazy' is a magnificently enjoyable film, distinguished by Joseph H Lewis's restless, catch-all directorial style.
February 27, 2009 | Rating: 4/6 | Full Review…
Audience Reviews for Gun Crazy
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Feb 21, 2021Simply an out-and-out classic, we follow the life of a guy (John Dall) who is fascinated with guns, which is okay - until he meets his better half (Peggy Cummins). Both actors look and seem like that "perfectly nice couple who live next door", but together they spark like dynamite, leading to a action-packed, cross-country chase that's sure to excite. Highly recommended.Kevin M. W Super Reviewer
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Jun 15, 2020Femme fatales don't come any more sinister and psychopathic than Peggy Cummins' Annie Starr. Gun Crazy is among the most inventively shot B-movies I've ever seen.Aldo G Super Reviewer
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Feb 25, 2011A solid noir that really focuses on gun ownership as a metaphor for masculinity. Focusing on Barton's upbringing, the gun is where he finds his male identity. We he eventually meets his love, he does it by winning a shooting contest. Clearly asserting his manliness. For the films femme fatale Annie, wielding the gun is a source of power and in one scene in particular, she shows off her shooting skills to a sea of young men. She shoots out into the crowd, almost as if she is shooting her masculinity all over these men. There is even a scene when she pulls out a gun and sets it on her lap and it is as if she too has her source of masculinity, her very own penis. These are just a few examples of all that Lewis leaves the viewer to unpack. The influence that it would later have on Penn's Bonnie & Clyde is obvious. Although not as intriguing as other Noirs, this psychologically dense film is certainly a good watch.Reid V Super Reviewer
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Oct 03, 2010"Gun Crazy" is square in the predictable "lovers on the run" genre, but it stands out because the suspense as the couple's resources and options thin is unusually fierce and prolonged. Also, both of the lead actors seem to belong in a much different, nicer sort of film, so we especially identify with their frantic confusion and insecurities. On the other hand, the good/bad contradictions of Bart's character strain credibility and it's hard to understand why his less rational mate can manipulate him so easily.Eric B Super Reviewer
Gun Crazy (Deadly Is the Female) Quotes
Bart Tare: | We go together, Laurie. I don't know why. Maybe like guns and ammunition go together. |
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