3:10 to Yuma (1957)

Admirable film.

A different way of telling a story

I think this is a new genre that they're all sort of working their way through it and haven't got all the kinks worked out yet but it's a genre that works for me.

There are moments in this movie where the great movie it could've been peek out... They're fleeting, here, but they're worth savoring, and they happen often enough to make it worth your while.

Having shied away from westerns in the past (except for the spaghetti variety) it means I can come to a film like this afresh. And what a joy it is. From the very opening with the big sky and the tumbling landscape to the very end with clouds of steam from a trundling train, this is a beautiful experience. Based upon a story by a young Elmore Leonard, this is a solid tale, well told with dramatic and affecting photography and realistic and affecting dialogue. So many wondrous shots, children crowded behind a window and perfectly framed, ominous shadows across the bar-room floor anticipating the approach of the bad men. But are they that bad? For a film in which we basically have a ticking clock, ever anticipating the end, it is astonishing how complex the characters are revealed. The faultless Glenn Ford seduces the beautiful Felicia Farr and the magic moment as she prepares to give herself to the baddest man in town is the sparkling of her fluttering eyes. Her desires may run counter to the interests of the town and his may cause him unnecessary delay but hey they are only human. I won't give a way the ending but suffice to say it is at once predictable and astonishing. A smile, a laugh and a tear. A suitable ending for a film of many delightful contradictions and issues of human frailty. Brilliant.

A small time rancher with wife and 2 young sons is failing because of the drought. Dan Evans (Van Heflin) and Alex Potter, the town drunk, agree to deliver Ben Wade (Glen Ford), to the State Penitentiary in Yuma. They use a fake breakdown of the stage near the Evans ranch, and slip Wade out of the coach. Later, they move Evans into the hotel in Bisbee to wait for the 3:10 train to transport him to Yuma. Richard Jaekel is the second in command for Wade's outlaw band and looses him in the above exchange. However, Jaekel accidentally realizes that Ben Wadeis in the hotel with Evans when the deceased's brother tries to gun himdown in the hotel room. Robert Ernhardt as Butterfield, the Stage LineOwner who was held up and his man killed in the robbery is paying Evansand Potter to make sure that Wade gets on the plane. Ben Wade spendshis time waiting for the train to arrive by trying to strike an agreement with Evans to let Wade go for a large sum of money and by not attempting to enforce a a veiled threat to his family. It it pretty hard to figure whether Dan Evans will stand true or fail to complete his mission. Though Butterfield has gotten the cooperation of 7 or 8 townsmen to guard Wade, they all walk out when Jones is murdered by the Wade gang, leaving only Butterfield and Evans. killed. When the train arrives, Evans, keeping a sawed-off double barrel 12 gauge shotgun held on Wade keeps him in check. Evans manages to maneuver Wade to the train, but for some reason, Wade cooperates by jumping on the train. He has apparently figured out he has a chance to escape from Yuma Prison and not get Evans killed in the process.What made this film unique was the acting. Instead of pushing for an all out gunfight, Ben Wade allows Dan Evans to complete the transfer and deliver him on the train, where he will be taken to the prison. Of course, this does leave the question of whether Ben Wade will actually serve his punishment or yet be able to escape. Well written, acted, cast, and told. A good old Western.

3:10 TO YUMA was a difficult film for me to watch because it's one of those rare times that I've seen the remake, starring Christian Bale and Russell Crowe, before the original. The two films have plots that follow one another closely, so they're virtually indistinguishable, although the remake adds in extra action sequences that weren't in this '50s western.This original turns out to be a surprisingly decent little fable with strong black and white cinematography and good performances from the two leads. Glenn Ford is a likable ne'er-do-well and Van Heflin puts in a commendable turn as a man of principle. The plot is quite straightforward, but it lends itself well to an undercurrent of tension that runs throughout and you're never quite sure what the outcome will be.I suppose you could argue that this version of the story is a little slow in paces (that scene in the hotel room seems to go on forever) but it's still above average and well made by genre standards and a film that's difficult to criticise too much.

Years and years ago, I saw "3:10 to Yuma" and loved it. However, seeing it about 30 years later, I am struck how many illogical plot elements there are in the film--too many to make this a truly memorable western.When the film begins, Ben Wade (Glenn Ford) and his gang are holding up the stage. In order to make this easier, they've stampeded some of a local rancher's cattle into the path of the wagon. Dan Evans (Van Heflin) can't do anything to stop the men from doing this with his cattle, as it's just him and his two small sons against a dozen vicious killers. Additionally, Evans is a pragmatic guy and doesn't want to be a hero.Later, after Wade is captured, the local Marshall wants to take the gang leader into Yuma to be tried for murder and robbery. However, there's a problem--the town is minuscule and he needs help. One of the guys he enlists is Evans. While Evans is hesitant to risk his life, he's about to lose his ranch--and the reward money could sure help him. So far, this is a very good western. The dilemma is interesting and Evans is an interesting sort of anti-hero. However, as the film progresses many problems are very noticeable. First and foremost, Wade tries several times to escape and even nearly kills several people in the process. So why not just shoot him?! After all, if a prisoner tries to escape, you shoot him. And, with his gang of thugs wandering about, you really cannot see why they didn't kill the murderer. It isn't like there's any doubt that he is a killer-- he admits it and was witnessed doing the killing. So why allow him to repeatedly try to escape and threaten to have the various posse members killed?! Kill the jerk!! Later, when his gang does arrive and they start killing off the posse members, STILL Evans doesn't shoot Wade...and you wonder why!! To make matters worse, the final scene shows Evans hopelessly outnumbered and surrounded--and then Wade does something that makes sense only to a script writer!! No criminal in the history of mankind would ever have done what Wade then did...NONE! Highly illogical.