3:10 to Yuma
Director: Delmer Daves
Year Released: 1957
Rating: 3.5
Psychological Western about a simple man (Van Heflin) who volunteers to escort a wanted criminal (Glenn Ford) to the train station and catch the 3:10; Ford, however, realizes Heflin isn't your ordinary rough-and-tumble type and tries to intimidate him and outwit him along the way (with the help of a sizeable posse). I saw this because philosopher/film theorist Slavoj Zizek included it on his Sight and Sound ballot for the greatest films ever made - while I wouldn't go that far, it is very well-written and photographed, and Ford, playing against type, does a memorable job as the sly, intellectual antagonist. Must have been revolutionary at the time - especially when compared to the Westerns John Ford and company were putting out.
