HOUR OF THE GUN

US, 1967, 101 minutes, Colour.
James Garner, Jason Robards Jnr, Robert Ryan, Steve Ihnat, Michael Tolan. Frank Converse, Sam Melville,
Monte Markham, Albert Salmi, Jon Voight, William Windom.
Directed by John Sturges.

Hour of the Gun is a well-made and interesting western. It is yet another focus on Wyatt Earp and Doc Holliday. They had been seen in a range of films from My Darling Clementine, Wichita, The Gunfight at O.K. Corral and the debunking of their mythical status in Doc). The director is John Sturges who made The Gunfight at the O.K. Corral. In fact, this film begins where the latter ended.

The western was in decline during the '60s and this film is one of the relatively few made. John Sturges had made a name for himself with small films like Bad Day at Black Rock and then moved into spectacles as The Magnificent Seven, Last Train from Gun Hill, The Hallelujah Trail. This film has excellent credentials including a strong script by Edwin Anhalt (who appears as a doctor), photography by veteran Lucien Ballard and music by Jerry Goldsmith.

James Garner is a strong Wyatt Earp and Jason Robards an eccentric tubercular Doc Holliday. Robert Ryan is excellent as the leader of the Clantons. There is a very strong supporting cast including a number of actors who were to emerge in major roles including Monte Markham, William Windom and Jon Voight.

The film focuses on the old West of the 1880s,the hour and the code of the gun and the transition to more law-abiding ways and moral codes of the 20th century.

1. The popularity of the western? The interest in Wyatt Earp and the gunfight at the O.K. Corral? The mythical status of Wyatt Earp and Doc Holliday? The many interpretations of the characters and events? This film within the conventions of the western, the explorations of the O.K. Corral and its characters?

2. Panavision photography, locations, the atmosphere of the West? The pacing of the gunfight at the O.K. Corral, the law court sequences, the outdoor action sequences, the vengeance confrontations with the Clantons and their men? The atmospheric musical score? 3. The title and the focus on the O.K. Corral and its consequences? Law and order in the West? The role of the gun? Men using their guns for power, vengeance, the enforcement of law? The individual and the use of the gun for maintaining order? The exploitation of the gun? Wyatt Earp and his vengeance as the end of an era? The transition to codes of morality and law and justice in the 20th century?

4. The focus on the gunfight at the O.K. Corral - audience familiarity? The choreographing of the gunfight, the characters, the violence? The town watching? The consequences for the Clantons, the for the Earps, for Doc Holliday? The family feud as the hour of the gun?

5. Audience knowledge of Wyatt Earp? His place amongst the American heroes of the 19th. century? Mythical status? Efforts at debunking? James Garner's presence and style? At the gunfight? The attitude towards the Clantons? The death of the Earps? The arrest and the subsequent court-case? The defence? The elections? The injuring of Wyatt's brother Virgil? The death of Morgan? The confrontation with the Clanton gunfighters, Earp's killing them - with a licence to kill because of his being Marshal, his own personal vengeance? His responsibility? Morality? The support of Doc Holliday? His friendship with Doc, Doc as his conscience? The pursuit of Clanton to Mexico, the help of Holliday? Doc Holliday's going to the sanatorium? Wyatt's visit? The end of an era?

6. The portrait of Doc Holliday - as a gunfighter, ageing, drinking, illness? Cynical touches? Jason Robards' style in the part? In the gunfight, in the court, the stand against the Clantons, participating in the vengeance, his advice to Wyatt? His going to Mexico? The rounding up of the posse? His retirement to the sanatorium, his continued drinking, the connivance of the nursing aide? A character of the 19th. century West? The passing of this West?

7. Robert Ryan as Ike Clanton? The confrontation at the gunfight? His hold over his family and his men? The arrest? His attempt to have a hold over the law? The elections and the death of Morgan Earp? His self-confidence, his background of cattle-rustling? His wealth? The killing of his men? His retreat to Mexico? Wyatt Earp searching him out, confrontation and death?

8. The sketch of the Earps, the family loyalty, on the side of law and justice, the elections, Morgan's death, Virgil's being crippled? The family background?

9. The gunfighters of the West, their being hired, their moral codes, living by the gun, their ability at shooting, ambushing, their drinking, their lack of a moral sense? The lies in the law court? Wyatt Earp tracking each of them down? The film sketching in various characters amongst the gunfighters to make the film more interesting?

10. Pete Spence and his standing for election? His trying to be rid of the Clantons? His being caught by Earp - and his double-dealing and death?

11. The quality of the action sequences - interest and excitement? The contrast with the more serious sequences of the courtroom and the discussions about morality, order in the West? The heritage of 20th century America?