Johnny Guitar
“Gun-Queen of the Arizona Frontier! And her kind of men!”
Synopsis
On the outskirts of town, the hard-nosed Vienna owns a saloon frequented by the undesirables of the region, including Dancin' Kid and his gang. Another patron of Vienna's establishment is Johnny Guitar, a former gunslinger and her lover. When a heist is pulled in town that results in a man's death, Emma Small, Vienna's rival, rallies the townsfolk to take revenge on Vienna's saloon – even without proof of her wrongdoing.
Trailers, Teasers & Extra Featurettes
Official promotional previews, behind-the-scenes footage, and exclusive clips.
Michael Lehmann on JOHNNY GUITAR
Type: Featurette • Published 2013-09-30
Top Cast
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Joan Crawford
Vienna
Sterling Hayden
Johnny 'Guitar' Logan
Mercedes McCambridge
Emma Small
Scott Brady
Dancin' Kid
Ward Bond
John McIvers
Ben Cooper
Turkey Ralston
Ernest Borgnine
Bart Lonergan
John Carradine
Old Tom
Royal Dano
Corey
Frank Ferguson
Marshal Williams
Paul Fix
Eddie
Rhys Williams
Mr. Andrews
Ian MacDonald
Pete
Trevor Bardette
Jenks (uncredited)
George Bell
Posseman (uncredited)
Bob Burrows
Posseman (uncredited)
Curley Gibson
Posseman (uncredited)
Chick Hannan
Posseman (uncredited)
Release History & Theatrical Window
Los Angeles, California
Festival / Special Debut
May 26, 1954
Wide Cinema Exhibition
November 8, 2007
Physical Home Media
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Nicholas Ray
- Screenplay & Story
- Philip Yordan
- Original Score
- Victor Young
- Original Title
- Johnny Guitar
- Country of Origin
- United States of America
- Spoken Languages
- English
- Runtime
- 1h 50m
- Production Studios
- Republic Pictures
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Nicholas Ray
Philip Yordan, Roy Chanslor, Nicholas Ray, Ben Maddow
Victor Young
Harry Stradling Sr.
Richard L. Van Enger
Nicholas Ray
Department Leadership Roster
Nicholas Ray
Director
Philip Yordan
Screenplay
Nicholas Ray
Writer
Ben Maddow
Writer
Nicholas Ray
Producer
Harry Stradling Sr.
Director of Photography
Richard L. Van Enger
Editor
Victor Young
Original Music Composer
Sheila O'Brien
Costume Design
Age Classification & Content Advisories
Official viewer rating standards and content warnings across international classification boards.
NR: Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.
International Certification Matrix
FSK 16 — Restricted to viewers aged 16 and older.
Tous publics — Universal audience.
Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for Johnny Guitar.
Featured In Curated Collections
Editorial lists, community rankings, and cinematic collections featuring Johnny Guitar.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Johnny Guitar
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is Johnny Guitar about?
On the outskirts of town, the hard-nosed Vienna owns a saloon frequented by the undesirables of the region, including Dancin' Kid and his gang. Another patron of Vienna's establishment is Johnny Guitar, a former gunslinger and her lover. When a heist is pulled in town that results in a man's death, Emma Small, Vienna's rival, rallies the townsfolk to take revenge on Vienna's saloon – even without proof of her wrongdoing.
Who directed Johnny Guitar?
Johnny Guitar was directed by Nicholas Ray.
Who stars in Johnny Guitar?
The principal cast of Johnny Guitar includes Joan Crawford, Sterling Hayden, Mercedes McCambridge, Scott Brady, Ward Bond.
When was Johnny Guitar released and how long is it?
Johnny Guitar was released in 1954 with a total runtime of 1h 50m.
Who composed the musical score for Johnny Guitar?
The original motion picture soundtrack for Johnny Guitar was composed by Victor Young.
Is Johnny Guitar based on a book or true story?
Johnny Guitar is adapted from the following source material: Novel: "Roy Chanslor".
What is the age rating and content advisory for Johnny Guitar?
Johnny Guitar holds official age classifications: DE: 16 (FSK 16 — Restricted to viewers aged 16 and older.); FR: U (Tous publics — Universal audience.); US: NR (Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.).