Johnny Concho

Johnny Concho is a 1956 American Western film directed by Don McGuire starring Frank Sinatra, Keenan Wynn, William Conrad and Phyllis Kirk. This was Sinatra's first Western and the role allowed him to play against type in his portrayal of the film's villain. This film was unsuccessful for Sinatra, but he made four films the previous year and in 1956 also had a hit in High Society with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, filmed in Panavision and color.

Johnny Concho
Directed byDon McGuire
Produced byHenry W. Sanicola
Screenplay byDavid P. Harmon
Don McGuire
Story byDavid P. Harmon
StarringFrank Sinatra
Keenan Wynn
William Conrad
Phyllis Kirk
Music byNelson Riddle
CinematographyWilliam C. Mellor
Edited byEda Warren
Production
company
Kent Productions
Distributed byUnited Artists
Release date
  • July 1956 (1956-07) (United States)
Running time
85 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Box office$1.9 million (US)[1]

Plot

The mean and boastful Johnny Concho is also a coward, but the people of Cripple Creek, Arizona, let him have his way. They know that Johnny's brother, who doesn't live in town, is the notorious gunfighter Red Concho, someone they truly fear.

Mary Dark, daughter of the general store's owner, is in love with Johnny, but isn't yet aware of the kind of man he really is.

Johnny has everyone so cowed that, in a card game, he needn't even show his hand to claim the pot. That lasts until the day a man named Tallman comes to town. Tallman calls the bluff of Johnny at the poker table. Johnny wants the sheriff, Henderson, to take care of this, but Tallman stuns everyone by announcing that he recently stood up to Red Concho in another town and killed him.

Exposed for the yellow-belly he is, Johnny rides off. Mary still loves him and follows, but wherever Johnny goes, word reaches that he is not a man to be trusted or feared. Tallman, meanwhile, has taken over Johnny's role in Cripple Creek, appointing himself as the law and demanding to be paid a percentage from every business in town.

Mary still wants to marry Johnny, but at the wedding his cowardice comes out once more. A man who knew his brother informs him that Red was actually just like Johnny, a blowhard with no guts.

Johnny pulls himself together and returns to Cripple Creek to face Tallman in the street. Tallman wounds him, but the townspeople are impressed by Johnny's bravery and willing to help. Mary's father shoots Tallman and kills him. Johnny prepares to leave town, knowing he's not wanted here, but Mary and the others invite him to stay.

Cast
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References
  1. 'The Top Box-Office Hits of 1956', Variety Weekly, January 2, 1957
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