The last train from Gun Hill

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Movie
German title The last train from Gun Hill
Original title Last train from Gun Hill
Country of production United States
original language English
Publishing year 1959
length 93 minutes
Age rating FSK 16
Rod
Director John Sturges
script James Poe
production Hal B. Wallis for Paramount
music Dimitri Tiomkin
camera Charles Lang
cut Warren Low
occupation

The Last Train from Gun Hill is a 1959 western directed by John Sturges, starring Kirk Douglas and Anthony Quinn . It is based on the story Showdown by Les Crutchfield . The classic film had its German premiere on February 19, 1960.

action

Matt Morgan is a US marshal in a peaceful small town and is married to an Indian with whom he has a son, nine-year-old Petey. One day, mother and son are ambushed by two cowboys trying to rape Mrs. Morgan. Petey escapes to his father on one of the men's horses. When he arrives at the scene, his wife is already dead. There are two clues: Petey has observed that one of the perpetrators was seriously injured by his mother with a whip in the face, and the horse that Petey took is carrying a rare, precious saddle the initials CB . Morgan knows who the saddle belongs to: his old friend Craig Belden, with whom he once worked.

Matt takes the train to Gun Hill, where Belden has become a wealthy and powerful rancher. He brings the saddle back to Belden and confronts him with what happened. The horrified Belden must realize that his son Rick was involved, because he has a deep scar on his face. The other suspect is his friend Lee Smithers.

Belden's friendship with Matt Morgan is over; because although he detests the deed and understands Morgan's actions, he does not want to allow the marshal to take his only son and heir with him and bring him to justice. Morgan, meanwhile, is determined to leave Gun Hill on the last train and with Rick. He returns to the city, is lucky enough to arrest Rick there and holed up with him in a hotel room. Belden and his men rode after Morgan to rescue Rick. There is an exchange of fire in which Morgan kills some of Belden's men.

Morgan cannot count on support at Gun Hill as everyone, including the sheriff, is under Belden's power. Only his former lover Linda, who arrived with Morgan on the train at Gun Hill and secretly admires him, is so disgusted by Rick's deed that she helps Morgan by smuggling a rifle into his hotel room.

Shortly before the train's departure date, the drunk Lee sets the hotel on fire to force Morgan out, but Morgan leaves the building unscathed with his prisoner. Morgan secures his way to the train station by using Rick as a hostage. Belden must therefore hold back his men. When the train pulls in, Lee tries to free his friend Rick. An exchange of fire ensues in which Lee accidentally shoots Rick and is then killed by Morgan. Belden then challenges Morgan to a duel and is fatally hit. With his last words, he urges Morgan to make a real man out of his son Petey.

Production notes

  • The film was shot in Vistavision and Technicolor and almost the same technical staff with whom Wallis and Sturges had produced the Western Zwei reckoning a year earlier .
  • The location for the exterior shots was Tucson , Arizona .
  • Screenwriter Poe won an Oscar for Around the World in Eighty Days in 1957 ; Cinematographer Lang had already received an award in 1934 for In Another Land , Art Director Hal Pereira in 1956 for The Tattooed Rose , and his colleague Walter H. Tyler in 1951 for Samson and Delilah . Set decorator Sam Comer even came to the set with four statuettes (1946, twice in 1951, 1956).
  • The composer Tiomkin had already appeared with three Oscars: in 1953 he was honored twice (for the best music and the best song), in 1955 once; another Oscar was added in 1959. Set decorator Ray Moyer won two Academy Awards in 1951 and another followed in 1964.
  • The eight-time Oscar-winning Edith Head was responsible for the costumes, while Farciot Edouart, who won two Oscars and was honored with seven special and honorary Oscars, was responsible for the special effects. Edouart's colleague John P. Fulton also won three Oscars.

Reviews

"An excellently played and staged star western with considerable tension, the effective staging of which is captivating."

- Lexicon of international film

"Exciting Edelwestern, worth seeing for adults."

- Protestant film observer

Awards

Anthony Quinn was nominated for a Golden Laurel for Top Action Performer in 1960 . He finished fourth.

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. Jump up ↑ The Last Train from Gun Hill. In: Lexicon of International Films . Film service , accessed March 2, 2017 .Template: LdiF / Maintenance / Access used 
  2. ↑ Munich, Review No. 161/1960