THE LAST TRAIN FROM GUN HILL

US, 1959, 98 minutes, Colour.
Kirk Douglas, Anthony Quinn, Earl Holliman, Carolyn Jones, Brian Hutton.
Directed by John Sturges.

The Last Train From Gun Hill is an interesting and satisfying western. It came at the end of the '50s and is reminiscent of such films as High Noon, Shane, 3.10 to Yuma. This emphasis on the lone hero was to continue (for instance Kirk Douglas in Lonely Are The Brave), but the trend in westerns was to move to big-budget films and a focus on groups. Director John Sturges, who made this western and The Gunfight at the O.K.Corral, was soon to make The Magnificent Seven.

The film is well and tightly made. It focuses on the law of the gun, the administration of justice through the law and focuses on racial themes - especially sympathetic to Indians and highly critical of those who treated the Indians with scorn and contempt.

The film suits Kirk Douglas very well, tightly grim as the Marshall whose wife was raped and killed and who must seek out an old friend and take in his son. Anthony Quinn has a good role as the friend. Earl Holliman is effective as the weak son with a vicious streak. Carolyn Jones has an attractive role as someone sympathetic to the sheriff and willing to help him.

The film is colourful, has some action moments and builds up some tension as everybody in the town turns against the Marshall who has to take his prisoner on the last train from Gun Hill. There is a rousing score by veteran Dmitri Tiomkin.

1. An interesting and satisfying western? The use of western conventions? The law and its administration? Vengeance? The final confrontation? Action and themes?

2. Colour photography, the use of western locations? The action sequences, editing and pace? The rousing score?

3. The title and the focus on Gun Hill, the mission of Matt Morgan? The focus on themes of racial equality, the scorn of many Americans for the Indians? Themes of justice and the administration of the law? Themes of friendship, family loyalty? Themes of courage, cowardice? The law of the gun? These themes interestingly and entertainingly presented and explored?

4 The opening sequence and the creation of audience interest in the details of the attack, the rape and the murder?

5. The son riding into the town? The discovery that the Marshall was his father? The bond between Matt Morgan and his wife? His wife's father and the call for vengeance? The highlighting of family themes - and the focus on the saddle?

6. The portrait of Matt Morgan: his background outside the law, friendship, friendship and partnership with Craig Belden? His telling the kids the stories of his heroic past? His response to his son, the discovery of his wife and the murder? His determination to return the saddle? The train trip and the encounter with Linda? His hiring the gig and confronting Belden? Their friendship, memories? The realisation that Belden's son was the murderer? His standing his ground? His realisation of parallel family bonds? His return to the town, the lack of co-operation, Linda's help, his capturing Rick easily, holding hi in the room, the gun shots, Linda's visit and support, getting him the shotgun? Craig's visit and the attempt to shoot him? The setting on fire of the hotel, Smithers and his attempt to save Rick? The ploy with the shotgun, the carriage and the going to the train? The final shots? The mission ended? The confrontation with Belden - and the final shoot-out? Themes of anger, anguish, vengeance - and Morgan describing the trial, imprisonment and hanging to Rick? The futility of vengeance?

7. The portrait of Craig Belden, the self-made man, his wealth, his wife's death, bringing up his son, making him fight back, expectations of strength for him? Spoiling him? His son lying to him and his anger? The friendship with Matt, the reunion? Discovering the truth? Standing by his son, confronting Matt? Going to town, the support of the town, the clashes with his brutality towards her? Trying to persuade Matt to give up? The visit to the room? Allowing the horse and cart to go down the street? His grief at his son's death, the challenge to Matt? His final words about bringing up his son?

8. Rick as weak, spoilt, vicious? The despising of the Indians? Rick and Smithers' scornful comments on Indians and squaws? The rape, the killing? The lies to his father? His being forced to punch back? His being taken, taunting Morgan, taunting Linda? His attempts to escape? Morgan's description of hanging? His death?

9. Linda and her presence on the train, being brutally treated by Belden? Her fearfulness and not supporting Morgan? The bet in the bar? Her talking with him, getting the shotgun, support? Grief at the end?

10. Smithers and his friendship with Rick, backing him up, the lies, the drinking, telling the story to Linda, the final shooting?

11. The people in the town, their being in the power of Belden, their fears, the gunfighters, self-protection and protection?

12 . A portrait of law and order in the west, the administration of justice, the law of the gun, vengeance? Racial difficulties? The integrity of the lone hero? The cowardice of the town? Popular themes of 1950s westerns?