THE FASTEST GUN THERE IS

THE FASTEST GUN ALIVE (1956)
dir: Russell Rouse

THE FASTEST GUN THERE IS
Trump #1, January 1957
w: Harvey Kurtzman
a: Will Elder

Three outlaws (Broderick Crawford, John Dehner, Noah Beery Jr.) come through town, stopping over in Cross Creek for a while. George Kelby (Glenn Ford) had a reputation in another town for being the fastest gun alive, but he and his wife Dora (Jeanne Crain) fled and settled in Cross Creek under the name of Temple to start a new life. They run a shop there and people in the town do not know about his past. He wants to reveal who he is so they won't think he's a wimp and goes out with a gun despite the protests of his wife. He proves who he was to the townsfolk, who respect him and keep his secret safe. But when word gets to the outlaws about George's former life, he must now duel the toughest one (that would be Crawford) or they'll burn down the town.

The surprise ending is that George fakes his death and continues the mild-mannered life he was pursuing.

And I just found out that today would be Will Elder's 100th birthday.