THREE HOURS TO KILL 1954
This 1954 western film is a Columbia Pictures production and stars Dana Andrews, Donna Reed, Stephen Elliot, Diane Foster and Richard Coogan.
Andrews and Miss Reed are an item, which annoys Reed's brother, Richard Webb. One evening, when a little too much whiskey has flowed, Webb ends up dead in an alley and Andrews is found standing over him with gun in hand. Andrews swears he did not do the killing. The town's folk quickly decide on some quick justice and a rope is soon produced. A lynching is going to be the highlight of the night. Andrews manages to escape into the dark though he does collect a rather severe rope burn on the neck.
Several years later, Andrews comes riding back into town looking for a bit of payback. Most of the locals feel bad about the attempted hanging but are still convinced Andrews killed Webb. Andrews though has a reputation as handy with a gun and no one tries to arrest him. Andrews looks up his old friend, Stephen Elliot. Elliot is now the town Sheriff. The two calmly discuss the matter of Andrews being a wanted man. Neither man wants gun-play between them.
Andrews asks for the three hours till sundown to find the real killer. Stephen gives him the time. The next few hours are spent "talking" with several of the people who tried to hang him. He figures that one of them had set him up. This solves nothing. Now Andrews wants to talk with Miss Reed who turns out to married and has a child. (The kid is actually Andrews' child)
Anyways, there is a string knockdown drag out fistfights and threats of killing before Andrews can eliminate most of the suspects. Needless to say it turns out that the real murderer is Sheriff Elliot. Elliot had owed a large amount in gambling debts and the dead man held the paper.
The look of the film is good with veteran director Albert Werker and cinematographer Charles Lawton Jr pushing all the right buttons.
The screen play by Richard Alan Simmons and Roy Huggins is based upon a story by Alex Gottlieb. The film is sort of a western mixed in with a bit of crime mystery. There are several female characters, Carolyn Jones and Charlotte Fletcher whose presence is not needed. They are simply red herrings and there are already enough fish of this variety in the film already. (And I am a fan of Miss Jones)
All in all, a watchable western that gets the job done for the genre fan.
This 1954 western film is a Columbia Pictures production and stars Dana Andrews, Donna Reed, Stephen Elliot, Diane Foster and Richard Coogan.
Andrews and Miss Reed are an item, which annoys Reed's brother, Richard Webb. One evening, when a little too much whiskey has flowed, Webb ends up dead in an alley and Andrews is found standing over him with gun in hand. Andrews swears he did not do the killing. The town's folk quickly decide on some quick justice and a rope is soon produced. A lynching is going to be the highlight of the night. Andrews manages to escape into the dark though he does collect a rather severe rope burn on the neck.
Several years later, Andrews comes riding back into town looking for a bit of payback. Most of the locals feel bad about the attempted hanging but are still convinced Andrews killed Webb. Andrews though has a reputation as handy with a gun and no one tries to arrest him. Andrews looks up his old friend, Stephen Elliot. Elliot is now the town Sheriff. The two calmly discuss the matter of Andrews being a wanted man. Neither man wants gun-play between them.
Andrews asks for the three hours till sundown to find the real killer. Stephen gives him the time. The next few hours are spent "talking" with several of the people who tried to hang him. He figures that one of them had set him up. This solves nothing. Now Andrews wants to talk with Miss Reed who turns out to married and has a child. (The kid is actually Andrews' child)
Anyways, there is a string knockdown drag out fistfights and threats of killing before Andrews can eliminate most of the suspects. Needless to say it turns out that the real murderer is Sheriff Elliot. Elliot had owed a large amount in gambling debts and the dead man held the paper.
The look of the film is good with veteran director Albert Werker and cinematographer Charles Lawton Jr pushing all the right buttons.
The screen play by Richard Alan Simmons and Roy Huggins is based upon a story by Alex Gottlieb. The film is sort of a western mixed in with a bit of crime mystery. There are several female characters, Carolyn Jones and Charlotte Fletcher whose presence is not needed. They are simply red herrings and there are already enough fish of this variety in the film already. (And I am a fan of Miss Jones)
All in all, a watchable western that gets the job done for the genre fan.