Why the Bartender? spoiler
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Archived from the IMDb Discussion Forums — Film and Television Discussion
LesterFester — 9 years ago(April 30, 2016 10:21 AM)
What was the thing with the bartender? Why did he get involved? Was it just bragging rights that he could then claim that he had killed JB?
" Made It Ma Top - O' - The - World! " -
movies789 — 9 years ago(April 30, 2016 10:55 AM)
That, perhaps. On the other hand, Books was a notorious gunman who had just killed three people in his bar, including the establishment's own faro dealer. The bartender had been in the back room during the shooting; so, theoretically, it's conceivable that he thought that Books had murdered them and, possibly, might have gone on to murder others - including, had Books turned on his way out, perhaps the bartender, himself. The viewer knows better, of course, but that could, theoretically, have been the bartender's thinking.
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juanmonge69 — 9 years ago(July 10, 2016 03:44 PM)
The bartender knew what was happeningSo did everyone in town. That is why The Doctor, Bond and the other were outside.
The bartender saw Books off Sweeney, Bulford and Cobb.
Strangely, Books was shot in the armsIt may not have been a mortal wound.
The bartender was a coward and an opportunist who shot Books in the back. -
star_in_the_zenith_79 — 9 years ago(July 23, 2016 02:00 PM)
I would say it was a combination of wanting to make a name for himself by being the one to take out Books, and his contempt for Books for shooting up his place and killing his faro dealer.
It doesn't seem likely to me the bartender knew ahead of time what was going on. Because when Pulford comes in asks him why he is there so early and Pulford tells him he is expecting someone.
My guess is he probably planned to tell everyone he shot Books in self defense after Books gunned the other three down thinking he'd be hailed as some kind of hero. He obviously did not count on Gillom showing up.