Gary Cooper Gives Frank Sinatra a Lesson in the Old West

Happened upon these fascinating behind-the-scenes photographs on Reddit capturing a memorable moment from the production of Johnny Concho (1956), with Hollywood legend Gary Cooper demonstrating the proper way to handle a Colt .44 Frontier revolver to the film’s star, Frank Sinatra.

Although Cooper did not appear in the finished film, he served as a technical advisor during production, bringing decades of experience from starring in some of Hollywood’s greatest Westerns. Having built his career playing iconic frontier heroes in classics such as High Noon, The Westerner, and Sergeant York, Cooper was uniquely qualified to help ensure the film’s gun handling and Western mannerisms looked authentic on screen.

Johnny Concho was an unusual project for Sinatra, who played the title role of a swaggering, arrogant gambler rather than the traditional clean-cut Western hero. The film received mixed reviews upon its release, but it has since become an interesting curiosity within Sinatra’s filmography thanks to its darker lead character.