Year: 1964
Runtime: 84 mins
Language: English
Director: Bill Ward
An outlaw hunted for a bounty crosses paths with a marginalized woman also marked by society. A former Confederate rides the frontier, stealing stagecoaches to fund aid for the local poor. His plans clash when he confronts a gang of robbers whose motives are far less altruistic.
Get a spoiler-free look at The Ballad of a Gunfighter (1964) 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.
The dusty expanse of the frontier hums with the haunting strains of an El Paso ballad, a place where the line between law and legend blurs beneath a relentless sun. In this rugged world, outlaws and dreamers carve their own codes, and every street corner seems to echo with stories of redemption and ruin. The tone is both gritty and lyrical, a western that feels as much like a folk song as a gunfight, inviting the audience to linger over the sunrise‑kissed mesas as much as the clink of a revolver’s cylinder.
Marty rides the open range like a phantom—an outlaw pursued for a bounty yet guided by his own restless sense of honor. He drifts into towns where the walls are plastered with prayer‑filled verses and the cantinas pulse with whispered hopes, instantly becoming a magnet for those who live on society’s edges. His presence is a catalyst, stirring both admiration and unease among the locals who recognize the promise of a man who can tip the balance between oppression and opportunity.
Secora is the woman marked by the world’s harsh judgments, a figure whose past has taught her the hardest lessons about survival and dignity. She works in a cantina that serves as a sanctuary for the town’s marginalized, and her quiet resilience draws Marty’s curiosity, setting the stage for an unlikely connection that hints at deeper, unspoken longings. Their interactions are charged with a tentative tenderness, suggesting that love might bloom even in the most unforgiving of landscapes.
Alan, a former Confederate turned frontier rider, walks a morally ambiguous path, using the spoils of stolen stagecoaches to funnel aid to the town’s poorest families. His altruistic veneer collides with a band of rustlers whose motives are far less noble, promising a clash of ideals that will test the fragile equilibrium of the community. The film teases the tension between self‑interest and self‑sacrifice, inviting viewers to wonder which side of the frontier’s ever‑shifting moral compass each character will ultimately choose.
Last Updated: December 04, 2025 at 23:45
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 about criminals with noble intentions who meet a tragic end.If you liked the tragic story of the noble outlaw in The Ballad of a Gunfighter, explore more movies about criminals with good intentions who face inevitable, sad endings. These Westerns and crime dramas feature romantic, melancholic heroes marked by society.
Narratives typically follow an outlaw protagonist who commits crimes for a perceived greater good, clashing with forces of pure greed or corruption. A central, often tragic, romance or connection to a marginalized individual deepens the emotional stakes, leading to a final, violent confrontation that solidifies their doomed status.
Movies are grouped here for their shared focus on the 'good bad man' archetype, a melancholic tone driven by a foreboding sense of fate, and stories that balance romantic or altruistic themes with the harsh reality of a violent life.
Atmospheric stories of loneliness and moral conflict in the Old West.Fans of the atmospheric, lonely feel of The Ballad of a Gunfighter will find similar movies here. These Westerns prioritize mood over action, featuring steady pacing, moral dilemmas, and a deeply melancholic tone that explores the sadness of the frontier.
These stories often unfold at a deliberate pace, allowing the atmosphere of a small town or vast landscape to become a character itself. The plot revolves around internal and external conflicts—such as moral dilemmas, forbidden love, or social marginalization—that are resolved not with triumph, but with a sense of loss and sobering reality.
The connection is based on a dominant melancholic tone, a steady and atmospheric pacing that builds a somber mood, and a shared focus on themes like loneliness, tragic romance, and the grim realities of the West.
Don't stop at just watching — explore The Ballad of a Gunfighter 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 The Ballad of a Gunfighter is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.
Read a complete plot summary of The Ballad of a Gunfighter, 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 The Ballad of a Gunfighter. 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 The Ballad of a Gunfighter: box office results, cast and crew info, production details, post-credit scenes, and external links — all in one place for movie fans and researchers.
Discover movies like The Ballad of a Gunfighter that share similar genres, themes, and storytelling elements. Whether you’re drawn to the atmosphere, character arcs, or plot structure, these curated recommendations will help you explore more films you’ll love.
The Ballad of a Gunfighter (1964) Scene-by-Scene Movie Timeline
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