1955's "Hidden Guns" belies its status as a Poverty Row Republic Western with a script that allows its actors to enact the clichéd characters in their own inimitable style. Current singing star Faron Young, using his own name as the deputy, provides singing commentary on the action, just like Tex Ritter did for the 1952 classic "High Noon," and this marked only the second featured role for 24 year old Angie Dickinson as the doctor's daughter, only four years away from "Rio Bravo.
For a straightforward Western with no frills, "Hidden Guns" has some positive features. It has a decent story and features some entertaining acting by John Carradine as one of the villains.
Five is the highest rating my conscience will allow for this oater, given that production values are near non-existent, and most of the acting is the same. This was made towards the end of the Republic Studios era, and if one had to base their entire output's reputation on this film, that ending might have been a welcome relief.
