3:10 to Yuma (1957)

310 to Yuma / Frankie Laine

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“It really doesn’t matter whether it’s the villain or the hero.
Sometimes the villain is the most colorful.
But I prefer a part where you don’t know what he is until the end.“

– Glenn Ford

It’s 1957 and we come to Glenn Ford’s Western Classic:
310 to Yuma
Maybe Ford’s most important Western Ford made?
A definite Western Classic.

There is a lot to be said about 310 to Yuma, but I don’t want to get too ‘wordy’, so I hope that these pictures and the words of experts will convey the respect that is held for this movie.

Reviews

AllMovie by Rovi

http://www.allmovie.com/movie/310-to-yuma-v245/review

“The success of High Noon spawned numerous psychological Westerns, and one of the best of this crop was 3:10 to Yuma. Van Heflin as rancher Dan Evans andGlenn Ford as outlaw Ben Wade both give exceptional, multi-layered performances, among the best of their careers, with Ford going particularly against type and displaying that he was one of the more underrated actors of his generation. The script by Halsted Welles, based on a story by Elmore Leonard, is taut and insightful, … Equally important is the superb direction of Delmer Daves, … There are also strong supporting parts for Leora Dana as Heflin’s wife and a collection of scene-stealing character actors, including Richard Jaeckel, Henry Jones, and Robert Emhardt … “

DVD Verdict

http://www.dvdverdict.com/reviews/310toyumabluray.php

“I don’t say stuff like this very often, but 3:10 to Yuma is basically a perfect film. Unpretentious, deeply psychological, and gorgeously produced, it works on every level, making it one of the very best examples in the history of the genre. Smart and powerful while remaining completely unassuming, I can’t imagine how it could be any better than it is. If you’ve never seen it, or have only seen the modern remake, Criterion’s Blu-ray reaffirms just how brilliantly it still shines after all these decades.”

Complex Western a Cut Above the Competition: 3:10 to Yuma

by George Chabot:  http://www.epinions.com/review/mvie_mu-1000123/content_177178054276?sb=1

“The little-known 3:10 to Yuma contains similar elements to the renowned High Noon, but is a better film. Clocks play a big role in each film. But instead of focusing on the faceless evil of the coming bandits, as High Noon did, 3:10 has a continuous byplay between the ingratiating bandit and the upright cattleman. Both Glenn Ford and Van Heflin shine in their parts and the psychological maneuvering between the two is remarkable. The supporting cast is well chosen and professional.

The story is by Elmore Leonard. Delmar Daves (The Petrified Forest, Destination Tokyo) directed the film and used German Expressionist camera techiques like the fabled films noir of the 40s and 50s. Many interesting angles not usually seen in westerns, here. The photography and lighting, by Charles Lawton, Jr. (Lady From Shanghai), is dramatic and wonderfully preserved in the new Columbia DVD. The music, by George Dunning, is well matched to the visuals and contains a theme song sung by Frankie Laine, as was the custom in those days.

3:10 to Yuma is head and shoulders above the typical white hat/black hat western ground out during the era, and better than High Noon, demonstrating psychological depth and different layers of meaning.”

Rotten Tomatoes review

IMDB review

3:10 to Yuma / Part 4