Ever get that itch for a grainy, mid-century Western? You're flipping through a streaming service or a late-night cable channel, and you see a title that sounds like pure pulp. Two Gun Lady. It’s a 1955 flick that doesn't usually get the same flowers as a John Ford masterpiece, but honestly, it’s a fascinating look at the "tough woman" trope before it was a mainstream obsession. If you’re digging into the cast of Two Gun Lady, you aren't just looking for a list of names. You're looking at a snapshot of Hollywood's "Poverty Row" era, where hardworking actors churned out features in days, not months.
The movie follows Kate Masters, a woman with a quick draw and a long memory. She returns to a small town to hunt down the men who murdered her parents. Standard? Maybe. But for 1955, seeing a woman carry the action was a vibe.
The Leading Lady: Peggy Castle as Kate Masters
Peggy Castle was the heart of this thing. Most people today might not recognize her name instantly, but back in the 50s, she was the quintessential B-movie queen. She had this sharp, classic beauty that could shift from "damsel" to "dangerous" in a heartbeat. In Two Gun Lady, she plays Kate Masters. It’s a role that required her to be both vulnerable and physically imposing, at least by mid-century standards.
Castle wasn't just a random hire. She had a solid run in Westerns and film noir. You might have seen her in 99 River Street or later in the TV series Lawman. In this film, she’s doing her own stunts—mostly. It’s her performance that keeps the movie from feeling like a total parody of the genre. She had this way of squinting at the villains that made you believe she actually knew how to handle those Peacemakers strapped to her hips.
The Supporting Players: William Talman and Marie Windsor
You can't talk about the cast of Two Gun Lady without mentioning William Talman. If that name sounds familiar, it’s probably because he spent years losing cases to Raymond Burr as District Attorney Hamilton Burger on Perry Mason. Here, he plays Dan Corbin. He’s the love interest, but also the guy who’s supposedly there to help her, even though she clearly has everything under control. Talman had a very specific, rugged energy. He wasn't a "pretty boy" lead; he was a character actor who happened to get leading roles in smaller films because he felt authentic.
Then there’s Marie Windsor. Honestly? She’s the MVP of many of these movies.
Windsor plays Bess, and she brings that trademark "femme fatale" energy she perfected in The Narrow Margin. She was often called the "Queen of the Bs," and she wears that title well here. Her interactions with Castle provide a nice friction. While Kate Masters is the moral center of the film (despite the revenge plot), Windsor’s character usually represents the darker, more cynical side of the frontier.
The Villains and the Townfolk
Robert Lowery plays "Icarus" (or Bruce) Allison. Lowery is a name film buffs love because he actually played Batman in the 1949 serial Batman and Robin. Seeing a former Caped Crusader as a Western antagonist is the kind of trivia that makes these old movies worth watching. He plays the villain with a certain slickness that contrasts well with the dusty, rugged setting.
The rest of the roster is filled with names you'd see in the credits of a dozen other Westerns from the same decade:
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- Joe Sawyer as Ben Marsh. Sawyer was one of those "hey, it’s that guy" actors who appeared in literally hundreds of projects.
- Ian MacDonald as Joshua 'Jud' MacKenzie. MacDonald was a staple villain in the genre, famously appearing as Frank Miller in High Noon.
- Earle Lyon as Chris. Lyon didn't just act; he eventually moved into producing, which was a common path for guys working in these lower-budget features.
Why This Specific Lineup Mattered
In 1955, the Hollywood studio system was changing. Big epics were still king, but there was a massive hunger for "programmers"—movies that filled the bottom half of a double feature. The cast of Two Gun Lady was assembled to be reliable. These weren't A-list stars demanding millions; they were professionals who knew how to hit their marks and deliver lines without fluff.
The chemistry between Peggy Castle and William Talman is surprisingly grounded. It doesn't feel like a fluffy romance. It feels like two people who have seen a lot of dirt and blood just trying to survive a bad situation. That’s the nuance you get when you hire seasoned pros like Marie Windsor and Joe Sawyer. They build a world that feels lived-in, even if the set looks like it was built in three hours on a backlot.
People often overlook the "bit players" in these films. But look at someone like Kit Carson (the actor, not the historical figure). He had a small role here. These guys were the backbone of the industry. They rode horses, fell off wagons, and got shot in the street so the stars could look good.
Production Context and Reality Checks
Director Richard Bartlett wasn't trying to win an Oscar. He was trying to make a 75-minute movie that kept teenagers in their seats at the drive-in. Because of that, the performances are very "one-take." You’ll notice some awkward pauses or slightly stiff movements. That’s not necessarily bad acting; it’s just the reality of 1950s independent filmmaking.
The film was distributed by Associated Film Releasing Corporation. It wasn't a MGM or Warner Bros. powerhouse production. This is important because it allowed for a bit more "edge." The revenge theme in Two Gun Lady is pretty stark. Seeing a woman systematically hunt down men was a bit more radical then than we give it credit for now. Peggy Castle’s portrayal of Kate isn't just "tough for a girl." She’s just tough.
The Impact of the Casting Choices
Choosing Peggy Castle was a smart move for the producers. She had a following. Audiences knew that if Castle was on the poster, they were getting a certain level of grit. Pair her with Marie Windsor—who basically defined the tough-talking broad of the 1950s—and you have a powerhouse female duo that was rare for the time.
William Talman was also a strategic pick. He was recognizable but didn't overshadow the female lead. He played the "supportive lawman" role with enough gravitas that he didn't seem like a secondary character, but he also didn't take over the movie. It’s a delicate balance that modern action movies still struggle with.
Behind the Scenes Tidbits
There’s a lot of lore about these mid-50s sets. The shooting schedules were brutal. We’re talking six-day weeks, 12-hour days. Most of the cast of Two Gun Lady were likely working on other projects simultaneously or moving directly from this set to a TV guest spot on Gunsmoke or Bonanza.
- The Peacemaker Fact: The guns used in the film were standard Colt Single Action Army revolvers. Castle had to practice her draw significantly because those things are heavy. If you watch her holstering her weapon, she does it with a confidence that most actors today would need a month of "boot camp" to replicate.
- Location Shooting: Much of the film was shot in California, likely around the Iverson Movie Ranch or similar locations. These places were the "office" for Western actors. They knew every rock and every trail.
- The Wardrobe: Notice Kate’s outfit. It’s practical. She’s not wearing a ballgown in the desert. The costume design helped cement the idea that this character was there for business, not just to look pretty.
Finding the Movie Today
If you're trying to track down this cast in action, you're usually looking at public domain collections or specialty Western channels. Because it wasn't a "prestige" film, the prints can be a bit rough. But that’s part of the charm. Watching the cast of Two Gun Lady through a bit of film grain makes the 1880s setting feel more authentic, oddly enough.
The film has seen a bit of a resurgence among fans of "feminist Westerns." While that label might be a bit of a stretch for a 1955 B-movie, the core of the film—a woman taking agency in a violent world—still resonates. Peggy Castle’s performance is a big reason why the film hasn't faded into total obscurity like so many other low-budget Westerns from that year.
Actionable Insights for Western Fans
If you actually want to dive into this era of film or study the work of this cast, don't just stop at Two Gun Lady.
Check out Marie Windsor in The Killing (1956) right after this. It shows her incredible range. For William Talman, obviously, Perry Mason is his legacy, but his work in The Hitch-Hiker (1953) is genuinely chilling and shows why he was such a powerhouse in the cast of Two Gun Lady.
- Watch for the tropes: See how many times the movie subverts the "damsel in distress" cliché. It’s more than you’d think.
- Study the background actors: Many of the "extras" in the saloon scenes were actual cowboys or long-time stuntmen. Their authenticity adds a layer that modern CGI crowds just can't match.
- Compare and Contrast: Watch this alongside a big-budget 1955 Western like The Man from Laramie. You’ll see the difference in pacing and how the B-movie cast has to work twice as hard to sell the drama.
Basically, the cast of Two Gun Lady represents a specific, hardworking era of Hollywood. They weren't just actors; they were craftsmen. They showed up, did the work, and created a cult classic that still gets talked about in 2026 by people who appreciate the grit of a well-made B-Western. If you want to see a movie where the woman doesn't wait to be saved, this is your starting point. Check out the film on Archive.org or YouTube; it’s often available for free because of its public domain status.