Target (1958)

Target (1958) is a Western directed by George Sherman, starring Timothy Carey, Harry Carey Jr., and John Dehner, with appearances by Richard Reeves, Lyle Bettger, and Ray Teal. The film features a range of Hollywood actors, including Maureen Hingert, Robert F. Simon, and Don Gordon. The movie is set in the American West, with scenes filmed in California and Arizona, showcasing the work of cinematographers like Henry Freulich and Ray Rennahan. The story involves outlaws, lawmans, and Native Americans, with references to the Apache, Navajo, and Comanche tribes.

● Target (1958)

The film Target (1958) is part of the Western film genre, which includes classics like The Searchers and Red River, directed by John Ford and Howard Hawks, respectively. The movie features a range of Western film actors, including John Wayne, Clint Eastwood, and Lee Marvin, who have appeared in films like The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance and The Good, the Bad and the Ugly. The story is set in the American West, with references to the California Gold Rush, the Mexican-American War, and the Indian Wars, involving figures like Geronimo, Sitting Bull, and Crazy Horse. The film's themes are reminiscent of works by Zane Grey and Louis L'Amour, with influences from Fenimore Cooper and Mark Twain.

● Plot

The plot of Target (1958) involves a range of characters, including outlaws like Jesse James and Billy the Kid, and lawmans like Wyatt Earp and Doc Holliday, who have been portrayed by actors like Tyrone Power and Kirk Douglas. The story takes place in the American West, with scenes set in Tombstone, Arizona, Deadwood, South Dakota, and Abilene, Kansas, featuring references to the Gunfight at the O.K. Corral and the Battle of Little Bighorn. The film's narrative is influenced by the works of Dashiell Hammett and Ernest Hemingway, with a focus on action film and adventure film elements, similar to those found in The Treasure of the Sierra Madre and The African Queen.

● Production

The production of Target (1958) involved a range of film crew members, including director George Sherman, producer William C. Thomas, and cinematographer Henry Freulich, who have worked on films like The Lone Ranger and The Cisco Kid. The movie was filmed on location in California and Arizona, with scenes shot in Iverson Movie Ranch and Monument Valley, featuring the work of production designers like Boris Leven and Albert Nozaki. The film's special effects were created by A. Arnold Gillespie and Donald Jahraus, with a focus on stunt work and action sequences, similar to those found in The Wild Bunch and Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid.

● Release

The release of Target (1958) was handled by United Artists, with the film being distributed to movie theaters across the United States, including Grauman's Chinese Theatre and Radio City Music Hall. The movie was promoted through trailers and posters, featuring the work of graphic designers like Saul Bass and Reyner Banham. The film's release coincided with other Western films, including The Big Country and Rio Bravo, directed by William Wyler and Howard Hawks, respectively. The movie has since been released on DVD and Blu-ray, with special features like commentary tracks and behind-the-scenes footage, similar to those found on The Searchers and Unforgiven.

● Reception

The reception of Target (1958) was mixed, with some film critics praising the movie's action sequences and stunt work, while others criticized the film's plot and character development. The movie has been compared to other Western films, including The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance and The Good, the Bad and the Ugly, with some critics noting the influence of Akira Kurosawa and Sergio Leone on the film's direction and cinematography. The film has since become a cult classic, with a dedicated fan base and a reputation as a hidden gem of the Western film genre, similar to The Outlaw Josey Wales and Pat Garrett & Billy the Kid.