The Gun and the Pulpit (1974)

Marjoe Gortner is Ernie Parsons, a fast gun about to be hanged when a pretty blonde he’s been romancing shows up with a lie that sets him free.

But when he leaves her behind, the blonde admits she lied. So Parsons finds himself on the run with a posse on his trail.

That’s when he comes across the body of the Rev. Frank Fleming, who has a note in his pocket saying he’ll be most welcome in the town of Castle Walk.

Parsons’ next stop, of course: Castle Walk, pretending to be the reverend they’ve been waiting for.

But Castle Rock is a town with problem. Namely Mr. Ross (David Huddleston), who runs the town and squashes all opposition with the help of the 20 gunmen he’s hired.

In fact, as Ernie Parsons, aka Rev. Frank Fleming arrives in Castle Walk, a townsman who balked at Ross’s control is being buried. He died from a gunshot wound to his back.

Does Parsons keep right on going?

Nope, because the widow has a pretty 18-year-old daughter named Sally (Pamela Sue Martin) who looks quite ripe and catches his eye.

Old-timer Billy One-Eye (Slim Pickens) quickly figures out Parsons’ ruse, but keeps it a secret. After all, Castle Walk might benefit from a reverend who shoots better than he preaches.

Marjoe Gortner as Ernie Parsons, impersonating Rev. Frank Fleming as he arrives in the town of Castle Walk in The Gun and the Pulpit

Pamela Sue Martin as Sally Underwood, the girl who convinces Ernie Parsons there might be hope for Castle Walk in The Gun and the Pulpit (1974)

Review:

Not at all bad for a TV comedy Western. Gortner makes a likeable lead, Pickens doesn’t overact and Pamela Sue is easy on the eyes.

Plus there’s a great scene where Parsons squares off against a fast gun (Geoffrey Lewis) that Ross had brought to town. They both walk away from their gunfight unscathed.

This is also a movie that’s more interesting with the backstory.

At age 4, Marjoe Gortner became a child evangelist. He toured the country, especially the Bible Belt, for years raking in dough for his parents.

At 23, he invited a film crew to follow him on a tour. The resulting film, “Marjoe,” was a deliberate takedown of evangelism and won the 1972 Academy Award for Best Documentary.

Afterward, Marjoe — the name is a combination of Mary and Joseph — launched an undistinguished acting career. As of this review, his last film role was in 1995’s “Wild Bill.” In the role of a preacher.

David Huddleston as Mr. Ross, asking the new preacher for a truce in Castle Walk in The Gun and the Pulpit (1974)

Slim Pickens as Billy One-Eye, the man who figures out the new preacher’s true identity in The Gun and the Pulpit (1974)

Directed by:
Daniel Petrie

Cast:
Marjoe Gortner … Ernie Parsons
Slim Pickens … Billy One-Eye
David Huddleston … Mr. Ross
Geoffrey Lewis … Jason McCoy
Estelle Parsons … Sadie Underwood
Pamela Sue Martin … Sally Underwood
Jeff Corey … Head of posse
Karl Sweson … Adams
Jon Lormer … Luther
Robert Phillips … Tom Underwood
Melanaie Fullerton … Emma Underwood
Larry Ward … Max
Joan Goodfellow … Dixie

Runtime: 83 min.

Geoffrey Lewis as Jason McCoy, Ross’s hired gun, trying to do away with Ernie Parsons in The Gun and the Pulpit (1974)

Estelle Parson as Sadie Underwood, a recent window looking to the reverend for help in The Gun and the Pulpit (1974)

Memorable lines:

Head of Posse: “Ernie Parsons, having been found guilty by a jury of your peers…”
Ernie Parsons: “I didn’t see any jury.”
Head of Posse: “Well, they was around. Anyway, what difference does it make. You gunned down Windy Jones and he was one of our most beloved and respected citizens.”
Ernie Parsons: “I heard he was the town drunk.”
Head of Posse: “Well, now that he’s dead, he’s one of our town’s most beloved and respected citizens.”

Sadie Underwood: “These are my children.”
Ernie Parsons, laying eyes on Sally: “That’s a child.”
Sadie: “She’s 18.”
Ernie: “Oh, she certainly is.”

Billy One-Eye: “How come you know so much about gunfighters, reverend?”
Ernie Parsons: “The Lord’s work takes one to many places times. Matthew 31.”
Billy One-Eye: “There ain’t no Matthew 31.”
Ernie: “Well, there ought to be.”

Jeff Corey as the sheriff and head of a posse about to hang Ernie Parsons in The Gun and the Pulpit (1974)

Marjoe Gortner as Ernie Parsons keeps two of Mr. Ross’s men at bay while in the company of Sadie (Estelle Parsons) and Sally Underwood (Pamela Sue Martin) in The Gun and the Pulpit (1974)