Today’s quick review: Hour of the Gun. In the aftermath of a bloody shootout with Ike Clanton’s (Robert Ryan) men, Wyatt Earp (James Garner), his friend Doc Holliday (Jason Robards), and his brothers Morgan (Sam Melville) and Virgil (Frank Converse) try to restore order to Tombstone, Arizona. But when Clanton sends a group of killers after the Earps, Wyatt and his brothers are pushed to the limit trying to take down Clanton within the law.
Hour of the Gun is a Western drama based on a true story. James Garner stars as Wyatt Earp, a former marshal forced to take action when his family comes under attack by a group of criminals. Hour of the Gun is a stark retelling of these events, focusing on the legal battle between Earp and Clanton, the bloodshed that ensues, and the thin line between justice and revenge. Solid storytelling makes Hour of the Gun a plain but effective drama.
Hour of the Gun’s direct style is a double-edged sword. On the one hand, it puts the most dramatic parts of the story front and center. Hour of the Gun has no unnecessary setup, no unimportant subplots, and no excess sentimentality. The events of the movie speak for themselves, and much of the movie’s dramatic power comes from the steely way that Wyatt Earp, Doc Holliday, and their posse go about rounding up Clanton’s men.
On the other hand, Hour of the Gun can be somewhat brusque. The large cast and lack of setup can make the movie hard to follow for viewers who are not already familiar with the story. The sheer number of pivotal moments means that none of them get much time to breathe. And while the impotant themes come through clearly, like Wyatt’s friendship with Doc or his use of the law for revenge, more emotional storytelling could have driven them home better.
The result is a dry but solidly constructed Western that succeeds on the back of its compelling subject matter. Hour of the Gun will appeal to fans of the historical, crime-oriented side of the genre. It has neither the idealism of lighter Westerns nor the stylistic flair of the genre’s more fictional dramas. But if you are in the mood for a story with strong twists and clear stakes, Hour of the Gun is a worthwhile pick.
For a more elaborate, emotionally rich Western based on the same events, try Tombstone. For a biographical crime drama with a similarly straightforward style, try Dillinger. For a Prohibition-era crime drama about a group of law enforcement officers who bend the law to stop a notorious criminal, try The Untouchables.
[6.7 out of 10 on IMDB](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0061787/). I give it a 7.0 for a dramatic story and solid craftsmanship.