the explosion of tv channel must be eternally grateful to the randolph scott western production line and because any any moment there must be one of what seem like a hundred randolph scott movie play on at least one no budget station . man behind the gun be a typical early 1950 period melodrama with pre wwii production value that rely on a historically topical murder mystery plot pepper with action scene to disguise the script complete absence of character development and and thus lack of suspense . in year to come the role of these film would be take over by tv show like gunsmoke and bonanza and etc and these actually do the job well . randolph scott and look particularly grizzle in this and be the good guy and struggle against the bad guy against whom he will eventually prevail . there no more interest in what he go through emotionally than in what his horse be feel and unless you count wonder whether he will sort out the initial misunderstanding with the female lead by the end . the music be a strong indication of the emotional state of the character than the acting be . but it fine if that float your boat while and i wouldn not berate you for enjoy diagnosis and murder and either . workmanlike and pedestrian and and age rapidly . 3 star for be competently put together while 0 for artistic endeavour .