Quantez

Quantez is a 1957 American CinemaScope Western film directed by Harry Keller and starring Fred MacMurray and Dorothy Malone.^[1]

Quantez
Film poster by Reynold Brown
Directed by	Harry Keller
Screenplay by	R. Wright Campbell
Story by	Ann Edwards R. Wright Campbell
Produced by	Gordon Kay
Starring	Fred MacMurray Dorothy Malone
Cinematography	Carl E. Guthrie
Edited by	Fred MacDowell
Music by	Herman Stein
Color process	Eastmancolor
Production company	Universal International Pictures
Distributed by	Universal Pictures
Release date	September 6, 1957 (1957-09-06)
Running time	81 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English

Plot

Heller's (John Larch) gang of outlaws pull a robbery, kill a man and ride toward Mexico, fleeing a posse. To spend the night, they first head for the border town of Quantez, but are shocked to discover that it has become a ghost town, with no one else there.

Gentry (Fred MacMurray), the gang's most experienced man, finds liquor in the saloon, while Teach (John Gavin), a younger gunslinger, becomes interested in Chaney (Dorothy Malone), who is Heller's woman but upset over the murder during the holdup. Gato, who was raised by Apaches, is infuriated by Heller's referring to him as "breed" and other slights.

Gato (Sydney Chaplin) discovers a warning from Apaches to anyone who comes to town. He seeks out Delgadito (Michael Ansara), the tribe's leader, and proposes they kill the whites and divide the loot. Heller, meantime, is trying to get his partners to do the same, kill the others so there's more money to split among who's left. Gentry and Teach both have feelings for Chaney, who wants to leave town as soon as possible.

A wandering minstrel comes to town, calling himself Puritan (James Barton), and while he paints Heller's portrait, he sings a song about John Coventry, a legendary outlaw in these parts. Puritan is suddenly astonished when he spots Gentry and realizes that he is Coventry. The veteran gunman is trying to put his violent life behind him for good.

In a final gunfight, Gato is killed by Delgalito after a betrayal. Heller is killed by Gentry, and with arrows raining down, Gentry sacrifices himself, providing cover while Chaney and Teach make their getaway.

Cast

• Fred MacMurray as Gentry / John Coventry
• Dorothy Malone as Chaney
• James Barton as Puritan
• Sydney Chaplin as Gato
• John Gavin as Teach
• John Larch as Heller
• Michael Ansara as Delgadito

Reaction

The New York Times said the film "could hardly be duller".^[2]