Rimfire is a 1949 American Noir Western directed by B. Reeves Eason.
Captain Tom Harvey, an undercover army agent, is investigating the theft of army gold shipments. During his undercover investigations, Harvey takes on the job of deputy sheriff and is drawn into discovering the source of a ghost who is terrorizing the town. The ghost is apparently the manifestation of a gambler who was wrongly convicted and hanged.
Tropes:
- And Starring: The credits end with "...and Introducing Margie Stapp".
- The Bad Guys Are Cops: Sheriff Jim Jordan was part of the gang responsible for the federal gold heist and is now killing off everyone else who knows about the gold so he can keep it for himself.
- Calling Card: The killer leaves a playing card on the body of each of the bodies: starting with the deuce of spades and working upwards through the suit. The killer also uses solid gold bullets.
- Chairman of the Brawl: During the Gambling Brawl between Blazer and The Abilene Kid in the Blue Moon Saloon, Porky The Piano Player gets hit by a chair thrown by Blazer. He keeps playing for several minutes before gradually keeling over sideways.
- Couldn't Find a Lighter: Lee uses a burning brand from the campfire to light his cigarette just before his His Name Is... moment.
- Frame-Up: The Abilene Kid is framed for cheating at cards and executed after facing a Kangaroo Court.
- Gambling Brawl: After being bluffed out of a winning hand in a game of poker by The Abilene Kid, Blazer loses his temper and punches the Kid. The two get involved in a No-Holds-Barred Beatdown, which remarkably does not spill over into a Bar Brawl.
- Genre Mashup: The Western + Film Noir.
- Gotta Kill Them All: Is the Vengeful Ghost of The Abilene Kid killing everyone who found him guilty or was otherwise involved in his execution? Or is there some other connection between the victims and a more mortal killer at work?
- His Name Is...: Lee, one of the outlaws, figures out that everyone who has been murdered by The Abilene Kid's 'ghost' is connected to the federal gold robbery. Just as he announces to his companion that he has worked out who the ghost is, a shot rings out from the darkness and he keels over.
- Hooker with a Heart of Gold: Lolita, the saloon girl who is sweet on The Abilene Kid. She saves his life during the Gambling Brawl when she claps her derringer to Blazer's head when he draws a gun on the unarmed Kid, and later is one of the few citizens to cooperate with Tom in his quest to catch the killer.
- I Call It "Vera": Judge Gardner has a trusty old rimfire revolver called "Betsy" which he keeps on his bench to keep order in the court during trials.
- Kangaroo Court: The Abilene Kid is convicted and sentenced to hang in a 'verdict by acclamation' in courtroom filled with members of the outlaw gang. Lolita describes it as "a first rate railroading".
- One-Word Title
- The Piano Player: Porky is the piano player in the Blue Moon Saloon. During the Gambling Brawl between Blazer and The Abilene Kid, Porky gets hit by a chair thrown by Blazer. He keeps playing for several minutes before gradually keeling over sideways.
- Professional Gambler: The Abilene Kid.
- Prospector: Comic Relief character Chico. He can't tell real gold from fools gold and, when he discovers the stolen gold stashed in a cave, apparently doesn't realise that gold does not naturally occur in ingots.
- "Scooby-Doo" Hoax: The killer makes it appear as if the Vengeful Ghost of The Abilene Kid is responsible for the murder of those who sentenced him to death.
- Stern Old Judge: Judge Gardner. Very much a hardliner on the importance of law and order, and on citizens doing their civic duty, he is nonetheless not a Hanging Judge. It is obvious that he is dissatisfied when the Kangaroo Court hands down a guilty verdict in the The Abilene Kid's trial, but a legal verdict has been returned and he has no choice but to see it carried out.
- The Trope Kid: Professional Gambler The Abilene Kid.
- Weapon Title: Rimfire refers to an ammunition type.
