92 Min • Western • USA • PG • Columbia • 08/07/1957
Classic Western
Light on Action
When I saw 3:10 to Yuma in the theaters a while back, I didn’t realize it was a remake. As soon as I found out, I popped it in my que, and eagerly waited. I wasn’t expecting too much from the original, I just figured it would be better then the Hollywood version, and it’s always interesting to compare.
The original 3:10 to Yuma is your standard late 50’s early 60’s western classic style movie - good story, good sequential script - good acting. I definitely enjoyed this original version more then the remake.
First off, maybe I’ve forgotten - but what happened to the original Yuma song in the remake?? That song was AWESOME… Not only did it have a perfect feel for the movie, but it totally explained the story!! Wow did those boys think back then…
I was really impressed on how many scenes the remake pulls right out of the original movie, and how closely the scripts parallel each other. Often in remakes, the director, writer or producer gets the idea to put his “stamp of creativity” on the piece, and they change up a lot - that wasn’t really the case here.
One thing I really did like more in the original then the remake - was Dan Evans character, played by Van Heflin here and Christian Bale in the remake. The original Evans came across to me as a typical strong willed, working class cattleman, his family was close and supportive although under the strain of financial hardship. In contrast, the remakes Evans has the character as a gimpy war veteran, he’s at odds with his son, has more friction with his wife, and overall to me came across as a scroungey desperate character… I guess what I’m trying to say, is that while facing the same circumstances, Van Heflins character wore his hardship with strength, whereas Bales character was falling apart at the seams.
Overall, 3:10 is light on gunfights and action as compared to others in the genre, and CERTAINLY as compared to the remake.
Although I like the ending in the original better, the ending in the remake is in fact more climatic, and certainly more action packed. I won’t talk about realisim - when a million bullets are whizzing around, everyones gonna get hit…
Kudos to Russel Crowe, who played Ben Wade a bit more calmly sinister then Glenn Ford in the original.
First off, maybe I’ve forgotten - but what happened to the original Yuma song in the remake?? That song was AWESOME… Not only did it have a perfect feel for the movie, but it totally explained the story!! Wow did those boys think back then…
I was really impressed on how many scenes the remake pulls right out of the original movie, and how closely the scripts parallel each other. Often in remakes, the director, writer or producer gets the idea to put his “stamp of creativity” on the piece, and they change up a lot - that wasn’t really the case here.
One thing I really did like more in the original then the remake - was Dan Evans character, played by Van Heflin here and Christian Bale in the remake. The original Evans came across to me as a typical strong willed, working class cattleman, his family was close and supportive although under the strain of financial hardship. In contrast, the remakes Evans has the character as a gimpy war veteran, he’s at odds with his son, has more friction with his wife, and overall to me came across as a scroungey desperate character… I guess what I’m trying to say, is that while facing the same circumstances, Van Heflins character wore his hardship with strength, whereas Bales character was falling apart at the seams.
Overall, 3:10 is light on gunfights and action as compared to others in the genre, and CERTAINLY as compared to the remake.
Although I like the ending in the original better, the ending in the remake is in fact more climatic, and certainly more action packed. I won’t talk about realisim - when a million bullets are whizzing around, everyones gonna get hit…
Kudos to Russel Crowe, who played Ben Wade a bit more calmly sinister then Glenn Ford in the original.
3:10 to Yuma has a simple plot.
A bunch of bandits, lead by the notorious Ben Wade, knock over a wagon carrying a shipment of gold. The wagons owner Mr. Butterfield if I remember correctly, survives the ordeal, and with the local towns police manage to capture the leader of the gang.
Dan Evans, a local rancher gets mixed up in the ordeal, and winds up being the sole person to deliver Mr. Wade to the 3:10 train to Yuma.
While Evans is originally one man out of a group, the rest of the men chicken out and abandon Evans to take care of Wade all by himself - a’la High Noon.
A bunch of bandits, lead by the notorious Ben Wade, knock over a wagon carrying a shipment of gold. The wagons owner Mr. Butterfield if I remember correctly, survives the ordeal, and with the local towns police manage to capture the leader of the gang.
Dan Evans, a local rancher gets mixed up in the ordeal, and winds up being the sole person to deliver Mr. Wade to the 3:10 train to Yuma.
While Evans is originally one man out of a group, the rest of the men chicken out and abandon Evans to take care of Wade all by himself - a’la High Noon.
