"I've never seen a woman who was more like a man," a character observes of Vienna (Joan Crawford), who has just opened a saloon that hasn't exactly endeared itself to the local townspeople. Emma (Mercedes McCambridge), the local sexually repressed, lynch-happy harpy, is particularly displeased. Vienna is wooed both by the Dancin' Kid (Scott Brady) and by Johnny Guitar (Sterling Hayden), a peripatetic tough guy-turned-troubadour with whom she has a past.

Joan At Her Best!

I loved this movie.Its one of Miss Crawford's finest.Lots of camp and fun.Does anyone know of a release date for this title on dvd in the U.S.? Or what, if any studio is planning "Johnny Guitar" to release?Aloha Craig

Crawford and McCambridge in the blueprint for "Mommie Dearest"

JOHNNY GUITAR is a very enjoyable western melodrama with Joan Crawford, strikingly filmed in colour, as Vienna the misunderstood saloon owner who spearheads the drive for a railroad to be built through her small town. She comes under the hatred and scorn of her fellow townsfolk, not the least of which a scary pariah called Emma Small (played wonderfully by Mercedes McCambridge in another of her trademark characters with bull-dyke tendencies). Vienna's only help lies in her former love, Johnny Guitar (Sterling Hayden). When Vienna is accused of taking part in a robbery it sets into motion a chain of events that could end in her lynching...

This film is a hair's breath from being high-camp. Joan Crawford plays Vienna in her usual style, exchanging insults and threats with McCambridge in the film's most memorable scenes. A choice line of McCambridge is "She's nuthin' but a railroad tramp". Watching their scenes made me think of Faye Dunaway and Diana Scarwid in MOMMIE DEAREST, they seem to create the same energy on screen, perhaps they watched JOHNNY GUITAR in preparing for their performances?...

JOHNNY GUITAR is more than a western, and a must-see for fans of Crawford.

Overrated cult western

I wanted to like this film.I really did.So many people I admire(Martin Scorcese for example)rave about this film.My problem is mainly with the performances.Joan Crawford overacts with a bug eyed intensity not seen since the days of silent movies.Which makes it impossible to overlook the fact that she is one of the least attractive(to put it kindly)leading ladies ever.She resembles a drag queen.And not a very passable one at that.