Quote:
Originally Posted by Demdike@Cult Labs  Last Train from Gun Hill (1959)
Cracking John Sturges western in which sheriff Kirk Douglas' wife is raped and murdered by two men one of whom Douglas soon finds out is the son of former partner Anthony Quinn, a wealthy land owner who pretty much runs the town of Gun Hill just a train ride away.
Although quite similar to 57's 3:10 To Yuma in that Douglas spends a fair portion of the film hanging out in a top floor hotel room trying to evade Quinn as he holds his son captive as they wait for the train, this film is so much better. The tension is there from the off and Sturges taut direction never lets go. Both Douglas and Quinn are terrific and their sparring chat in an early scene really convinces. Kirk Douglas in particular is excellent, very grim throughout, even though he holds morality and the law in his hands you really wouldn't want to cross him.
Although it's clear who is in the wrong the script certainly has gray areas in reasoning an eye for an eye or in this case a life for a life, but it all makes the inevitable showdown finale the more thrilling.
Highly recommended.  Kirk Douglas and Earl Holliman in a dvd screen grab. |
Makes me even more excited to watch this now. Think it's gonna have to be tomorrow night don't think I can't wait until my original plan of Saturday or Sunday.
