The Master Gunfighter
Encyclopedia
The Master Gunfighter is a film released in 1975, written and produced by Tom Laughlin
, who also played the lead as Finley. It is commonly believed Laughlin also directed the film, using the name of his son, Frank Laughlin, as a pseudonym. He had used his children's names in various forms as pseudonyms in the past — 'T.C. Frank' as the director of Billy Jack
, and "Frank and Teresa Christina", his three children's first names — as the writers. In this case, the film was in fact directed by Laughlin's son, Frank.
This film is set in southern California
near Santa Barbara
in the period shortly after California became part of the United States. American settlers and the U.S. government discriminated against the Mexican landowners and frequently took their land by force or legal skullduggery. This film focuses on wealthy Latino
ranchers whose land and wealth are at risk. They decide to misdirect a U.S. government ship carrying gold so that it will be wrecked and plundered. To prevent themselves from being caught, they plan to massacre the local Chumash Indians. The hero is the now estranged adoptive son (Finley), a master swordsman and gunfighter, who tries to prevent this while still saving his family.
The Master Gunfighter is mainly a remake of the 1969 Japanese film Goyokin
.
Reviews of the film were somewhat mixed, though the female lead, Barbara Carrera
, was nominated for a Golden Globe award for her performance.
Tom Laughlin (actor)
Tom Laughlin is an American actor, director, screenwriter, author, educator and political activist. Laughlin is best known for his series of Billy Jack films. He has been married to Delores Taylor since 1954. Taylor has also co-produced and acted in all four of the Billy Jack films...
, who also played the lead as Finley. It is commonly believed Laughlin also directed the film, using the name of his son, Frank Laughlin, as a pseudonym. He had used his children's names in various forms as pseudonyms in the past — 'T.C. Frank' as the director of Billy Jack
Billy Jack
Billy Jack is a 1971 action film. It is the second, and highest grossing, in a series of motion pictures centering on a character of the same name, played by Tom Laughlin who also directed and co-wrote the script. Filming began in Prescott, Arizona, in fall 1969, but the movie was not completed...
, and "Frank and Teresa Christina", his three children's first names — as the writers. In this case, the film was in fact directed by Laughlin's son, Frank.
This film is set in southern California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
near Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara, California
Santa Barbara is the county seat of Santa Barbara County, California, United States. Situated on an east-west trending section of coastline, the longest such section on the West Coast of the United States, the city lies between the steeply-rising Santa Ynez Mountains and the Pacific Ocean...
in the period shortly after California became part of the United States. American settlers and the U.S. government discriminated against the Mexican landowners and frequently took their land by force or legal skullduggery. This film focuses on wealthy Latino
Latino
The demonyms Latino and Latina , are defined in English language dictionaries as:* "a person of Latin-American descent."* "A Latin American."* "A person of Hispanic, especially Latin-American, descent, often one living in the United States."...
ranchers whose land and wealth are at risk. They decide to misdirect a U.S. government ship carrying gold so that it will be wrecked and plundered. To prevent themselves from being caught, they plan to massacre the local Chumash Indians. The hero is the now estranged adoptive son (Finley), a master swordsman and gunfighter, who tries to prevent this while still saving his family.
The Master Gunfighter is mainly a remake of the 1969 Japanese film Goyokin
Goyokin
is a 1969 jidaigeki film co-written and directed by Hideo Gosha. Set during the late Tokugawa era, the story follows a reclusive ronin who is trying to atone for past transgressions. In 1975 it was remade as a Western film, entitled The Master Gunfighter.-Plot:...
.
Reviews of the film were somewhat mixed, though the female lead, Barbara Carrera
Barbara Carrera
Barbara Carrera is a Nicaraguan-born American film and television actress as well as a former model. She is best known for her roles as Bond girl Fatima Blush in Never Say Never Again and as Angelica Nero on the soap opera Dallas.-Early life:Barbara Kingsbury was born in San Carlos, Río San Juan,...
, was nominated for a Golden Globe award for her performance.