Year: 1959
Runtime: 77 mins
Language: English
Director: Jack Arnold
After twenty‑four so‑called “victims” fell to his swift gun, hired assassin John Gant rides into the quiet town of Lordsburg—a place that has marked him for death. As the townspeople realize a skilled killer is among them, paranoia spreads, and every leading citizen worries that rivals will employ Gant to exact personal revenge.
Get a spoiler-free look at No Name on the Bullet (1959) with a clear plot overview that covers the setting, main characters, and story premise—without revealing key twists or the ending. Perfect for deciding if this film is your next watch.
In the dusty, sun‑baked outskirts of the West lies Lordsburg, a quiet frontier town whose peaceful veneer is suddenly shattered when a lone rider pulls into the main street. The newcomer, John Gant, is a hired gun whose reputation for swift, decisive violence precedes him, and the townsfolk quickly sense that his arrival has been marked by fate. A subtle, simmering dread spreads through the streets, turning ordinary conversations into whispered speculation and setting a tone that balances classic Western austerity with a tightening psychological edge.
The town’s fragile order is embodied in its modest law‑hand, where the local sheriff feels compelled to confront Gant even as the community’s popular sentiment teeters between fascination and fear. Into this uneasy tableau steps Luke Canfield, a young doctor whose cautious curiosity masks an inner resolve, and his steadfast father, Asa, a blacksmith whose hands are as steady as his moral compass. Beside Luke stands his fiancée, Anne Benson, a compassionate woman caring for her ailing, former‑judge father, whose presence adds a layer of genteel vulnerability to the rugged setting. Their relationships illustrate the clash between duty, personal bonds, and the looming threat that a lone gunslinger brings to a close‑knit settlement.
Beyond the civic core, Lordsburg houses a network of interests tied to the surrounding mines. The powerful Earl Stricker and the ambitious Thad Pierce watch the outsider with wary eyes, while Ben Chaffee, a fellow proprietor, navigates his own suspicions. In the shadows, Lou Fraden and his wife Roseanne whisper of old scores and possible motives for Gant’s presence, hinting at hidden histories that could ignite old rivalries. These varied perspectives weave a tapestry of tension, where every glance could conceal an agenda and every silence might herald conflict.
As the sun arcs over the horizon, the film maintains a steady pulse of anticipation, letting the stark landscape and the unspoken doubts of its inhabitants speak louder than any gunfire. The presence of Gant forces each resident to confront the fragile line between justice and vengeance, honor and survival, leaving the audience to wonder whether the quiet town can withstand the storm that rides on a single horse.
Last Updated: December 05, 2025 at 09:20
Discover curated groups of movies connected by mood, themes, and story style. Browse collections built around emotion, atmosphere, and narrative focus to easily find films that match what you feel like watching right now.
Stories where an external threat unleashes internal fears and hidden guilt.If you liked the psychological tension in No Name on the Bullet, you'll find similar movies here. These stories feature a steady build of paranoia and fear in isolated settings, where characters are forced to confront their own guilt and suspicion. They are tense, character-driven dramas with a morally ambiguous edge.
The narrative pattern involves an inciting incident—often the arrival of a mysterious outsider or a destabilizing event—that acts as a catalyst within a confined group or location. The plot unfolds not through frequent action, but through the gradual unraveling of social bonds and the exposure of personal secrets, leading to a climax driven by psychological pressure rather than physical confrontation.
Movies are grouped here because they share a specific mood of claustrophobic dread and a narrative engine powered by paranoia. They prioritize psychological tension over physical action, feature a steady pacing that allows suspense to build, and often conclude with a bittersweet or morally complex resolution that leaves a lasting unease.
Films where an assassin's presence exposes a community's corruption.Explore movies similar to No Name on the Bullet that feature a killer who acts as a catalyst for drama. These films focus on how the mere presence of a hired gunman exposes hypocrisy, fear, and hidden crimes within a community, creating a tense and morally complex narrative.
The narrative revolves around a highly skilled, often enigmatic assassin whose arrival in a settled environment acts as a catalyst. The plot is less about the killer's specific target and more about the chain reaction of fear, accusation, and confession they trigger. The story explores themes of justice, guilt, and societal decay, as the characters destroy themselves through their own paranoia and hidden agendas.
These films are grouped by a shared plot device and thematic focus. They feature a specific character archetype—the professional killer as an agent of chaos—and use this figure to explore deep-seated moral corruption within a group. The tone is consistently tense and the endings are often bittersweet, questioning the very concept of justice.
Don't stop at just watching — explore No Name on the Bullet in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what No Name on the Bullet is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.
Read a complete plot summary of No Name on the Bullet, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.
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Discover the characters, locations, and core themes that shape No Name on the Bullet. Get insights into symbolic elements, setting significance, and deeper narrative meaning — ideal for thematic analysis and movie breakdowns.
Visit What's After the Movie to explore more about No Name on the Bullet: box office results, cast and crew info, production details, post-credit scenes, and external links — all in one place for movie fans and researchers.
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