About Gunfight in Abilene

'Gunfight in Abilene' is a 1967 American western film directed by William Hale. The story revolves around conflicted former Confederate officer Cal Wayne who returns to Abilene, Texas, after the Civil War to find his sweetheart Amy Martin engaged to his old friend, cattle rancher Clint Rushton.

Production

The movie was created under the banner of Universal Pictures and filmed in Thousand Oaks, California. William Hale directed the movie, while the screenplay was written by Burt Kennedy and Berne Giler. The movie features a detalied plot focusing on the personal and social turmoil post the Civil War period.

Actors

• Bobby Darin as Cal Wayne: The lead actor plays a conflicted war hero trying to adjust to his new life. His portrayal brought depth to the character's internal struggles.
• Emily Banks as Amy Martin: As Cal's former sweetheart, Banks delivers an emotional performance, reflecting the complications of love and loyalty in war-torn times.
• Leslie Nielsen as Clint Rushton: Nielsen excellently portrays the role of a sturdy cattle rancher with underlying negative shades.

Trivia / Interesting Facts

• The film's story was based on a teleplay from 'The Rifleman', a TV series.
• Despite being a western-style film, 'Gunfight in Abilene' was primarily filmed in California.
• Bobby Darin, known mostly for his singing, was cast in the lead role.

Quotes

• "There's a time to stay, and there's a time to leave...and this is no time to leave."
• "This is my town too, and I am back to stay."

Music, Soundtrack

• The film's music was composed by Joseph Gershenson.
• Bobby Darin, who played the lead role in the film, also sang the title song.
• In addition to the title song, the film's soundtrack includes western-style instrumentals adding to the film's atmosphere.