Hour of the Gun (1967)

Too much of everything

If you don't like this, we can't be friends.

Excellent, Without a doubt!!

Better Late Then Never

Westerns were still in vogue in the sixties and many classics of the genre were made during this decade. One of the driving forces in the genre was director John Sturges who made films like THE LAW AND JAKE WADE, THE MAGNIFICENT SEVEN, THE HALLELUJAH TRAIL and GUNFIGHT AT THE O.K. CORRAL. Ten years after that last film he returned to the subject matter with this film.The movie opens with the classic showdown between lawmen Wyatt Earp (James Garner) with Doc Holliday (Jason Robards) and brothers Morgan (Sam Melville) and Virgil (Frank Converse) by his side against the Clanton gang. The film presents a different story than most in that we see a town where some are fearful of Earp and his way of doing things rather than offering full support. Previously films depicting the gunfight always portrayed him as flawless.What follows is a trial where lies are spoken but the truth comes out as Ike Clanton (Robert Ryan) attempts to thwart the efforts of Earp to prevent him from taking over everything. When he offers money to the man that takes out the Earps things begin to go worse for Clanton. With both Virgil and Morgan shot, one dying, Wyatt and Doc recruit a few men to help and set out to track down and either kill or bring back the last members of Clanton's gang to face justice. By this time even Clanton has left town for safer spaces.The movie wraps itself around the discussion of trying to figure out if Earp was a man seeking justice and upholding the law or if he'd become a self-proclaimed vigilante by this time. At times he seems to be one or the other but for the most part I found the character to be a little bit of both. With the way things were in the west during this period in history it would be hard to determine how to separate the two.The movie is an entertaining western that provides plenty of action as well as scenic views of the wide open spaces. Both Garner and Robards take relish in their roles and give them life that some actors might simply walk through. The supporting actors are great as well with Ryan taking to the heel role with ease. Among the other cast members both Monte Markham and William Windom as fellow trackers aiding Wyatt and a then unknown named Jon Voight as one of the bad guys stand out. In the end this is how westerns were back then and it is a treat to watch as a fan of the genre.Twilight Time offers the movie in a clean and beautiful presentation but with few extras. Sometimes there just aren't many to offer which is understandable. Here we have an isolated music & effect track and the theatrical trailer. With only their standard 3,000 units made if you're looking for a copy pick one up before they're gone.

Excellent western with the powerful James Garner Robert Ryan jason Robards and mix of vintage actors. Each episode is A STORY, the one with Wyatt group against Warsaw is hypnotizing. A movie one of a kind second to none "Mr. holiday, that will be all"

Most people know about the GUN fight at the O. K. Corral, but very few knew what happen after the gunfight before this movie was made. That is where this movie begins.James Garner plays Wyatt much like Burt Lancaster did in Gunfight at the O. K. Corral, tight lipped and straight faced. Garner is a great actor but in my opinion he play this just a little to grim. I think I counted Garner smiling twice in the entire movie.Jason Robards plays Doc Holliday in a very cynical way. Reminding Wyatt and hoping that he wont throw all his principles of being a upstanding lawman away. He stays with Wyatt on his vengeful task at getting even with the men responsible for killing Morgan and shooting Virgil.The movie is filled with plenty of action and gun play, what is missing, is a female lead and just a touch of humor, two things that every great movie has and needs. Why these two important ingredients were left out is anyone's guess. I enjoyed this movie, but I do must westerns. The acting was very good and so was the script. But this is not a date movie or one the kids now days would like. It is however a great kick back good old boys shoot um up. So grab a pizza and a beer and set back and enjoy.

The gunfight at the O.K. Corral is just over. Bodies lie in the dust. Now the killing really begins. Please note that elements of the plot are discussed, but first, a civics lesson. Ike Clanton (Robert Ryan) is determined to buy or shoot his way into power in Arizona. The territory sooner or later will be a state. Clanton knows all those "Easterners" are moving in with their own ideas of law, order and who should be in control. Standing in his way is Wyatt Earp (James Garner). Earp is a no-nonsense lawman who'll take down anyone who breaks the law. He's fast enough with a gun and ready enough to use it that he keeps getting in Clanton's way. If that doesn't frustrate Clanton enough, Earp has his two brothers to back him up, along with his good friend, Doc Holliday (Jason Robards). Clanton makes his play to eliminate the Earps with the shootout at the corral. By now the movie is only ten minutes over. The gunfight itself takes 30 seconds, just as it did in real life. Hour of the Gun tells us what happened next. Clanton brings charges of murder against Earp and Holliday. They are narrowly acquitted. Clanton follows up with back shootings of Earp's brothers, leaving Virgil crippled and Morgan dead. Earp is not going to back down and now the grudge is personal. Holliday will stick with Earp. Clanton is going to use the law as well as his gang to run Earp out of the Territory or see him dead. Earp is going to legally go after the men he suspects attacked his brothers. Legally, he has warrants for their arrest. Legally, Doc Holliday points out to Earp, "Those aren't warrants you have there...those are hunting licenses." That's exactly how Earp sees things. There may be a legal posse set up by Clanton to run down Earp, but Earp is on a hunt of his own, aided by Holliday and a small group of "deputies." Hour of the Gun is just as linear as that. It's also one of the grimmest and best directed Westerns most people have never seen. Too bad, because James Garner may have given the best performances of his career. He plays a man of deadly commitment to the law, and doesn't hesitate to use the law to justify his own brand of capital punishment before trial. Robards almost seems to recognize the weight of the role and what Garner is doing with it. There's no competition from Robards, just masterly support. As far as Robert Ryan goes, we don't see much of him, but when he's on he gives a lot of authority to Ike Clanton. Ryan provides the believable ruthlessness that leads to what turns out to be Earp's Vendetta Ride, the hunting down and killing of those who attacked his brothers. Yet toward the end of the movie when Earp is determined to bring retribution directly to Clanton one way or another, Hour of the Gun slips down a notch on the old gun belt. Earp has given up any pretense of enforcing the law. With Clanton in Mexico, Earp is just going to kill him. It depends on Doc Holliday, of all people, to provide a bit of law-abiding morality. "The whole thing's hypocrisy," Doc tells Earp. "The rules they tack on say unless you're wearing that badge or a soldier's uniform, you can't kill. But they're the only rules there are. They're more important to you than you think. Play it that way, Wyatt, or you'll destroy yourself. I know you. You can't live like me." Wyatt Earp shows that he can. This is a good movie that just happens to be a western. John Sturges directed it ten years after he turned out the Lancaster/Douglas big hit, Gunfight at the O.K. Corral. As a lean, mean piece of movie making, Hour of the Gun puts the earlier film in the shade. Even so, Hour of the Gun was a flop. It is unrelentingly grim. There is no romance and almost no females, just lots of tension, a number of quick gunfights, several great line deliveries from Robards and Garner's performance. I think it's a better movie.