Hour of the Gun
1967  NR  WESTERN  1h 40min
CAST— James Garner, Jason Robards, Robert Ryan, Albert Salmi, Charles Aidman, Steve Ihnat, Michael Tolan, William Windom, William Schallert, Monte Markham, Frank Converse, Jon Voight
MUSIC— Jerry Goldsmith  DIRECTOR— John Sturges  BASED ON— Tombstone’s Epitaph (book), by Douglas D. Martin

     James Garner and Jason Robards are Wyatt Earp and Doc Holliday in this brooding, low key Western from the director who brought you Gunfight at the O. K. Corral (1957). This film starts out with the famed shootout, which prompts Garner to apprehend villainous mover and shaker Robert Ryan. But Ryan has a few men on his payroll who are more than willing to skirt the law in order to protect their benefactor. Garner spends a lot of time and resources to bring in the sly Ryan, who knows more than one way to circumvent the law. But enough is enough. Garner soon reaches his limits dealing with the law that he had once fought to enforce; his vendetta against Ryan becomes murderous, despite warnings from law-breaking pal Robards. An OK film that seems to drag, hampered by unenthusiastic performances and a sleepy pace. Considered a classic of the genre.
OUR RATING— **