Western RoundUp: Hour of the Gun (1967)

Western RoundUp: Hour of the Gun (1967)

It’s been a few months since I devoted a Western RoundUp column to a single film, so this month I’ll focus on my first-ever viewing of Hour of the Gun (1967).

Hour of the Gun (1967) Movie Poster
Hour of the Gun (1967)

In doing so, I’m also returning to the topic of Wyatt Earp.  I previously wrote about Earp on film for Classic Movie Hub in 2018, focusing in that column on Frontier Marshal (1939), Tombstone: The Town Too Tough to Die (1942), and Wichita (1955).

In Hour of the Gun Earp is played by a taciturn James Garner, with Jason Robards as Doc Holliday.  I’ll note at the outset that in discussing the film I’ll be going into some detail, assuming many readers are familiar with the general outlines of the characters.  Those seeking to avoid spoilers may wish to watch the film prior to reading this review.

James Garner, Jason Robards and Robert Ryan in Hour of the Gun (1967)
James Garner, Jason Robards, and Robert Ryan in Hour of the Gun (1967)

Hour of the Gun was directed by John Sturges, who had previously directed another film on the Western legend, Gunfight at the O.K. Corral (1957).  That film starred Burt Lancaster as Earp and Kirk Douglas as Doc.  It’s still on my future Wyatt Earp viewing list along with Tombstone (1993) and Wyatt Earp (1994).

One of the unique things about Hour of the Gun is apparent as the opening credits begin: The movie begins, rather than ends, with the famed gunfight at the O.K. Corral.

I’ve only seen one other movie which “frontloads” the gunfight at or near the beginning, Dawn at Socorro (1954).  The Socorro characters are not named Earp, Holliday, or Clanton, but they are very clearly based on them.

Jason Robards, Frank Converse and James Garner in Hour of the Gun (1967)
Frank Converse, Jason Robards, and James Garner

As also depicted in Tombstone: The Town Too Tough to Die, shortly after the O.K. Corral Morgan Earp (Sam Melville) is gunned down while playing billiards.  The combined incidents of the O.K. Corral and Morgan’s death leave Earp and Ike Clanton (the great Robert Ryan) as mortal enemies, with Earp determined to hunt down Clanton and his gang by fair means or foul.

Earp is accompanied on his quest by the loyal Doc, whose ability with a gun belies the fact that he’s in failing health.  One by one they track down members of Clanton’s gang, leading to a climactic confrontation with Clanton himself.

James Garner Hour of the Gun (1967)
James Garner

The script by Edward Anhalt conceives Earp in far different terms than the gentlemanly Earp of a Fonda, Scott, or McCrea; this Wyatt mostly (but not completely) stays within the confines of the law, but he’s frankly a rather mean man.  Earp cares about his family and his friend Doc – though he and Doc try to hide it most of the time with brusque talk – but anger is the consuming emotion in his life.

It’s quite interesting to see Garner, so often identified with more lighthearted characters, in such a tightly wound role.  There’s a stunning scene in the last half hour of the film where Earp shoots someone over and over and over yet again, long past the point of necessity, as he unleashes his rage.

James Garner Hour of the Gun (1967)
James Garner

At the movie’s end, though Earp assures the dying Doc he’ll take a prestigious law enforcement job in Arizona, he tells their friend Dr. Goodfellow (Karl Swenson) that he has no intention of doing so.  As Earp rides away, a lonely future seems to stretch before him.

Although in some respects Garner’s performance is fairly one-note, at the same time he’s a good enough actor to be compelling.  The viewer watches him closely, trying to infer what’s going on in his mind from his actions and especially the look in his eyes.

James Garner Hour of the Gun (1967)
James Garner

Robards is quite good as Doc, managing to avoid pathos despite Doc’s alcoholism and poor health.  This Doc at times seems to be the voice of Earp’s conscience, particularly when Wyatt determines to follow Clanton into Mexico without a badge.  Doc also provides what levity exists in the film; it’s interesting that Robards and Garner flip expectations in this regard.

Ryan has relatively little screen time, but all eyes are on him whenever he appears.  He’s frankly terrifying, controlling a large gang of rough men with ease.  His performance caused me to remember Spencer Tracy‘s comment when working with Ryan on Bad Day at Black Rock (1955): “He scares the hell out of me.”  It’s remarkable acting from someone who offscreen was a quiet family man who co-founded a private elementary school.

Jason Robards, James Garner and Monte Markham in Hour of the Gun (1967)
Jason Robards, James Garner, and Monte Markham

Other pleasures of Hour of the Gun include William Windom in a small but entertaining role as a gambler who owes Doc money and is drafted to serve as a deputy, and a young Jon Voight as villainous Curly Bill Brocius, a role played in previous films by actors including Joe Sawyer and Edgar Buchanan.  

The supporting cast also includes Steve Ihnat, William Schallert, Albert Salmi, Charles Aidman, Lonny Chapman, Larry Gates, Monte Markham, and Richard Bull, who like Karl Swenson was later a longtime regular on TV’s Little House on the Prairie.

As befitting a John Sturges film, there are some excellent action scenes, beginning with the gunfight which opens the movie; another particularly good sequence is a gunfight at a train station, choreographed in an exciting fashion.

Robert Ryan in Hour of the Gun (1967)
Robert Ryan

While the depiction of gunfight deaths is relatively restrained in most of the movie, there are a couple of violent moments which tag the film as being made in the late ’60s, including a character taking a bullet in the forehead.  It wasn’t more violence than I could handle, but it was definitely more than I expected.

The film feels slightly padded at 110 minutes, and I think it could have been shaved down closer to 90 without viewers missing anything of significance.  A good example is a prolonged sequence of a woman, never seen again, waking up her husband in time for him to witness an attack on Virgil Earp (Frank Converse).  A full minute probably could have been excised right there.

James Garner, Jason Robards and Robert Ryan in Hour of the Gun (1967)
Hour of the Gun (1967)

I was somewhat amused by a title card over the gunfight telling viewers “This picture is based on fact.  This is the way it happened.”  That statement can be taken with the proverbial grain of salt, for too many reasons to detail here.

The fine cinematography was by Lucien Ballard, with much of the movie filmed on location in Arizona and Mexico.  The score was by the great Jerry Goldsmith.

Overall I felt Hour of the Gun, while not reaching greatness, was a solid, worthwhile entry in the cinematic history of Wyatt Earp.

– Laura Grieve for Classic Movie Hub

Laura can be found at her blog, Laura’s Miscellaneous Musings, where she’s been writing about movies since 2005, and on Twitter at @LaurasMiscMovie. A lifelong film fan, Laura loves the classics including Disney, Film Noir, Musicals, and Westerns.  She regularly covers Southern California classic film festivals.  Laura will scribe on all things western at the ‘Western RoundUp’ for CMH.

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8 Responses to Western RoundUp: Hour of the Gun (1967)

  1. Michael T Fisher says:

    This is my favorite Garner performance. Robards walks off with the picture, but then, the role of Doc always allows one to do so. On YouTube, Markham discusses this film on the wonderful series ‘A Word on Westerns’ with some wonderful anecdotes.

  2. Jerry Entract says:

    Good choice of film to review, Laura. Interesting to note the difference in depiction between the 1957 and 1967 Earps from the same director. That, I feel reflects the changing times.
    I think James Garner was terrific here, showing his remarkable versatility as an actor. I don’t think Robert Ryan was capable of giving a less-than-riveting performance.

    I have been following the well-researched write-ups recently over at Jeff Arnold’s West on all films depicting the Earp legend. It provoked me to buy a DVD of “TOMBSTONE” (1993) as I had mentioned I had preferred the Costner version, “WYATT EARP” (1994) which was contrary to others’ opinions. While at it, I picked up a BluRay of the Costner film so that I could watch both close together. Really like both films.
    You MUST make a point of catching the 1957 Sturges film, Laura. Deferential it may be but what a terrific western! I would love to read your thoughts on that film too.

  3. john k says:

    Hi Laura-
    Nice to see you change direction here and give a most interesting lengthy review of a single film. I like HOUR OF THE GUN very much,in fact only the other day I thought it is due for a re-visit.
    I’m afraid I cannot say the same for TOMBSTONE or the Costner film. While the former has some good action scenes Kurt Russell for me was a most unlikable Earp and Val Kilmer laughable as Doc Holliday. All I can say about the Costner version,yet again it proves,like SILVERADO Laurence Kasdan has no idea how to make a Western.
    There is.of course Frank Perry’s DOC with Harris Yulin who has the distinction of being the most unlikable of any Earp onscreen and the film mainly centres on Doc played by Stacey Keach. There are several good scenes but overall the whole thing leaves one feeling really, what was the point of all of this. I understand a lot of drugs were consumed on the set of DOC which certainly gives some guide of what to expect.
    Despite my gripes I really admire Stacey Keach and I’ve seen him live on the London stage in what was really a one man play-quiet an achievement I thought.
    I would close in saying Laura,up to now you have really seen the best of the Earps-with the classic GUNFIGHT AT OK CORALL a treat to be sure-and what a cast!
    For me at least the Costner,Russell and Keach films are just not in the same league.
    Please,Laura try to catch GUNFIGHT AT OK CORALL on Blu Ray Vista Vision films look wonderful in high definition and the transfer of that film is jaw-dropping
    While we are talking Sturges (and Kirk Douglas) Paramount’s recent Blu Ray of LAST TRAIN TO GUN HILL is equally impressive,for me it’s my second favourite Sturges Western after BAD DAY AT BLACK ROCK..

    • M.T. Fisher says:

      I agree with you re WYATT EARP, as I don’t care for it at all. In its defense, though, it was shot to be a mini-series.

  4. john k says:

    Whoops………….Typo Alert!
    The above of course should read LAST TRAIN FROM GUN HILL

  5. Laura says:

    Michael, thanks for sharing your thoughts on HOUR OF THE GUN. I always enjoy Rob Word’s interviews and will look for the one with Monte Markham.

    Jerry and John, it’s always wonderful to hear from you both! I very much enjoyed your varied opinions on WYATT EARP, TOMBSTONE, and GUNFIGHT AT THE OK CORRAL. I have DVDs of the first two films which I’ve not yet seen. I have the last film on VHS — sounds like I need to upgrade for best viewing! I’m not a fan of Kirk Douglas but I really like many of Sturges’ films so I definitely want to try it to add to my Wyatt Earp viewing.

    I love Costner but John, you do have a point about SILVERADO. I remember the music, Costner, and Scott Glenn positively and have gone back to it a few times because of those aspects — and every time I’ve been disappointed. I need to stop trying. LOL.

    John, believe it or not I also saw Stacy Keach on a theatrical stage — in my case in CYRANO DE BERGERAC. His Roxane was Stefanie Powers. I wasn’t familiar at all with DOC, thank you for making me aware of it.

    Thank you both very much for reading and the wonderful discussion!

    Best wishes,
    Laura

  6. Pingback: Western RoundUp: Tombstone (1993) | Classic Movie Hub Blog

  7. Pingback: Western RoundUp: Gunfight at the O.K. Corral (1957) | Classic Movie Hub Blog

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