Review of Last Train from Gun Hill (1959) by Greg W — 25 Apr 2015

I'm not sure why, but this film and "The War Wagon" are two western that stuck with me as a kid. Keither are classics, but both are better than average westerns with quite a lot of action.

The film is essentially a tougher, more action packed, and lighter on metaphorical version of "High Noon" or "3:10 to Yuma." Kirk is a lawman determined to get a murderer on the last train from a town called Gun Hill in order to take him to trial.

Things are complicated when the accused's powerful father, Anthony Quinn, uses his guns and control of the local law to stop Douglas from leaving with his son. Director John Sturges certainly knows his way around an action scene and delivers some terrific action sequences.

Douglas is great as always and Quinn is a equally commanding screen presence and able to hold his own with the scene hogging Douglas. The film is nothing original but it's a solid piece of work.