Johnny Guitar

"A psychosexual melodrama disguised as a Western" – this is how film critic Roger Ebert defined the bold and fascinating Johnny Guitar. The film's heroine Vienna (Joan Crawford in a phenomenal performance) is a saloon keeper and skilled gunslinger fighting for her life.

At the time of the film's release in 1954, most American critics did not think highly of it; it was the Europeans, particularly François Truffaut, who discovered this gem. Over the years, it received countless interpretations focusing on McCarthyism, gender issues, Freudian analysis and more. One thing is certain, Nicholas Ray's virtuosic directing – the use of color, costumes and stylized sets stand out in this restored copy – and the brilliant script and make Johnny Guitar a rare and rewarding film experience.