Hour of the Gun

Hour of the Gun is a 1967 John Sturges western, starring James Garner, Jason Robards, Robert Ryan, Jon Voight (in an early role), Steve Ihnat (who has a Star Trek: TOS connection), William Windom (who also has a ST: TOS connection), William Schallert (yet another Star Trek connection, TOS and DS9), Monte Markham (who was in Star Trek: DS9) and Frank Converse (who was in a 13-episode TV series in this same year called Coronet Blue, which I dearly loved). A fun cast for me to watch.

The film is an attempt at a historical re-telling of the gunfight at the O.K. Corral story and focuses on the aftermath. I had never heard of it 'til I came across it on Youtube. This is a well-done traditional western. Everything in it is good, working together to make such a movie that I wonder why it's not one of those highly acclaimed westerns everybody has seen. Jerry Goldsmith did the music; it's perfect. The acting can't be beat. I can't find any fault with it at all.

DVD Talk says, "Hour of the Gun deserves to be pushed closer to the top of the list of great westerns." Riding the High Country says, "I think it’s a little hidden gem of a movie that deserves much more recognition." Great Western Movies says "it stands up pretty well more than 40 years later". Roger Ebert gives it 3 1/2 out of 4 stars and says, "Sturges has made some good ones ("Gunfight," "Bad Day at Black Rock," "The Magnificent Seven"), and "Hour of the Gun" belongs in the same company but slightly lower on the guest list." Rotten Tomatoes has a 100% critics score.