CommentsXp Best movie ever!

Peereddi I was totally surprised at how great this film.You could feel your paranoia rise as the film went on and as you gradually learned the details of the real situation.

Guillelmina The film's masterful storytelling did its job. The message was clear. No need to overdo.

Edwin The storyline feels a little thin and moth-eaten in parts but this sequel is plenty of fun.

Wuchak RELEASED IN 1968 and directed by Vincent McEveety, "Firecreek" stars Jimmy Stewart as a farmer living on the outskirts of a small town of 'losers' where he's the 'honorary sheriff.' When a group of ne'er-do-wells comes to town he's compelled to take action. Henry Fonda plays the leader of the rabble-rousers while Inger Stevens appears as the quiet woman who sparks his interest. Gary Lockwood plays the top troublemaker with Jack Elam & James Best in tow. BarBara Luna is on hand as an irresistible squaw and Robert Porter as the "stable boy," the catalyst.The director was a reliable TV director of shows (e.g. Star Trek) & movies, but "Firecreek" was his first theatrically-released film. While his oeuvre includes a handful of other theatrical films, he mainly stuck with TV. I point this out because "Firecreek" has a bit of a TV Western feel to it, which isn't to say it's not a solid Western, it's just not on the level of the contemporaneous "Bandolero!", also starring Stewart. The build-up is long and low-key, but the dialogues are good for the most part and you get to know the characters and their situation in a remote town of 'losers,' as Dean Jagger's character humbly describes them.Speaking of the town, this is a decidedly town-bound Western, with some scenery shots at the beginning. This isn't necessarily a bad thing as the celebrated "Rio Bravo" (1959) was a town-bound Western, but this limits the movie. In other words, don't expect a wilderness Western with numerous breathtaking scenic shots in the background, e.g. "Jubal" (1956).Stevens plays the notable intelligent lady that trips the trigger of Fonda's character. Unfortunately, she'd be dead less than two years after the release of "Firecreek" from (supposedly) intentional overdose. She was only 35; what a shame.The producers made a good decision to NOT make Fonda's character a one-dimensional villain. Actually, the man's nothing of the kind, but he has to fulfill his part, his duty, in order to maintain the respect of his men. The success of the movie all depends on if Stewart can deliver the goods when the protagonist is finally forced to make a stand, come hell or high water. And he does so superbly.THE FILM RUNS 104 minutes and was shot in North Ranch, Agoura Hills, California, as well as Warner Brothers Burbank Studios with establishing shots in Sedona, Arizona. The screenplay was written by Calvin Clements Sr. ADDITIONAL CAST: Morgan Woodward, Ed Begley, Jay C. Flippen, Jacqueline Scott & Brooke Bundy.GRADE: B/B- (6.5/10)

Ziglet_mir 'Firecreek' was a film I stumbled over late one night after watching another movie trying to fill my quota for the day. I was in the mood for Jimmy Stewart and I found myself watching this.When one thinks of westerns or 'The Western' one would likely not mention 'Firecreek,' mostly because it seems to not be well known, but if it were to be known, it very well could be one of the greats. Full disclaimer up front; the film is flawed in ways during the final gunfight but nothing that ultimately takes away from the message it tries to give and the character study that it punctuates. 'Firecreek' begins slow, trickling really... setting up the super low-key vibe of the town and its people in a way that makes you think the movie deserves to be lesser known when in reality it is setting you up for the ultimate truth in THE best scene of the film, before the final gunfight. Now, let me quickly note here how Jimmy Stewart is one of the amazing few who have had moments of acting that have sent chills down my spine, or left me quiet and dumbfounded by the power or the passion in which they say their lines. One example that comes to mind is his monologue in the alleyway in Harvey (LEGENDARY moment), and the same thing happens in 'Firecreek.' Not another monologue in an alleyway and especially not one about an imaginary rabbit, but one that screams the message of the film and could very well catch you off guard. The scene is between Stewart and the shopkeeper played sublimely by Dean Jagger, who in a moment of reflection brings to light what Stewart's character was ignoring all along.And you can begin to tell that THIS is what this film was building up to; this moment that has Stewart's character drowning in his own too-polite, too-nice sentimentality's that have cost him too much. It is now he realizes that what has happened to 'Firecreek' has gone on long enough, and even if there's a chance of dying, dammit, he's gonna do it anyway all in the name of pride and dignity because he was always proud of his beloved town.And Fonda... playing almost the same character as Stewart but as the leader of an outlaw gang. I didn't notice it at first, but then, like the revelation Stewart's character goes through, I realized that Fonda is subdued as well. He has a change of heart (possibly looking for romance) and wants to change his lifestyle but is tied to the antics of the gang as its leader and allows it (Stewart is tied to the town as its $2 salary SHERAF while his wife is about to give birth to a child). The parallel is interesting and makes the character study even more entertaining.Kinda got a little carried away there, but you get the point. 'Firecreek' is an under- appreciated film that holds way more weight than has been mentioned about it. The cast as a whole is fantastic, and Stewart's riveting passion at the end wouldn't be justified without mentioning the instigators of his town's temporary hell played by blue-eyed devil Fonda, Lockwood, Elam, Best, and Woodward. Inger Stevens does a wonderful job as a spinster who takes care of Fonda briefly and takes part in entertaining him reluctantly with little conversation as he recovers from a wound he received prior to his gang's antics in 'Firecreek.' Stevens' greatest moment also comes at the end, making a powerful and emotional statement albeit as brief as it is. Another blonde-haired, blue-eyed beauty in Brooke Bundy is worth mentioning as she steals some moments as wonderful eye-candy.'Firecreek' is an excellent example of Stewart and Fonda doing what they were always good at, especially Stewart who once again shines in moments of ultimate humanity and humility as the guy we all know as not a 'John Wayne' or 'Clint Eastwood', but as the Jimmy Stewart, the aw-shucks anti-hero who did it better then anyone else.

eggletonrod I don't know how I have missed this one! I cannot think of a human dilemma that is not sensitively addressed in this film. never been a James Stewart fan, but I've never seen him pull off his one trick so well. but the real stars are the supporting cast, and the evocative screenplay, along with imaginative direction. I have always thought of jack elam as the prince of baddies, but here he is almost shaded by his compadres, whose personalities are much more developed than in an average western. henry Fonda puts in another fine turn, as the world-weary outlaw leader. his eyes in the final scene are alone worth the price of admission.even minor players are allowed to contribute significant lines. all -in -all, a very refreshing change from the spaghetti westerns of the time, and harking back to classics such as "the gunfighter", and my personal all-time favourite, "gunfight at the OK corral".

Scott LeBrun Old friends and former roommates James Stewart and Henry Fonda are well teamed here in this very good Western; it doesn't quite become a classic, but it's so nicely acted and suitably engrossing that it's still a fine film of its kind. Stewart plays Johnny Cobb, an easygoing part time lawman in the tiny town of Firecreek, which is visited by Bob Larkin (Fonda) and his companions, a group of hired guns who are bored and itching to make some trouble. Johnny will find that his laid back approach to law enforcement will only cause problems, so in the end he will have no choice but to confront Larkin and gang. Extremely well shot by William H. Clothier, "Firecreek" is capably directed by Vincent McEveety and maintains a classic American Western style, at a time when the Italian made Spaghetti Westerns were putting a new spin on the old genre. Written by Calvin Clements Sr., it tells a fairly dark and gritty tale, one with a feeling of somber inevitability to it all. It benefits from its rather even handed treatment of antagonist Fonda, who's not a one-dimensional, moustache-twirling Oilcan Harry type. His associates, however, are less subtle. Jack Elam is fun as always as the older and wiser Norman, but chewing up the scenery are the fantastic Gary Lockwood as the volatile Earl and the amusing James Best, whose character Drew will automatically remind you at times of his famous TV character of 'Dukes of Hazzard' sheriff Roscoe P. Coltrane, giggles and everything. The women in this tale fill some strong roles, in particular Inger Stevens as Evelyn Pittman; her scenes with Fonda are compelling. Barbara Luna as Indian gal Meli and Brooke Bundy as Leah are quite lovely to look at. The superb supporting cast also features Dean Jagger as store owner Mr. Whittier, Ed Begley as the preacher, Jay C. Flippen as hotel owner Mr. Pittman, Jacqueline Scott as Cobbs' pregnant wife, the fine character actors John Qualen and Morgan Woodward, and the appealing Robert Porter as town simpleton Arthur; your heart just goes out to this guy. The film gets fairly violent as it goes along (albeit without really showing anything in the way of gore), and is somewhat shocking. Cobb doesn't emerge from the final confrontation unscathed. Ultimately, this is a good story of figuring out the right thing to do, and having to overcome ones' instincts if necessary. Fans of the actors and the genre should find it to be quite satisfactory. Seven out of 10.