Last Train from Gun Hill

The train that Morgan takes to Gun Hill is seen to go round the same corner twice, once at night and once during the day.

On its way to Gun Hill, the train has four cars.

By the time it reaches the station, there are only two, and the baggage car is a different one than before.

When Linda changes clothes, a white strap suddenly appears then disappears on her left shoulder.

A Sturgis masterpiece. The story and the soundtrack are somewhat contrived, But outstanding performances by Douglas, Quinn, and Jones.

In Arizona, a justice-minded marshal (Kirk Douglas) apprehends the criminal son (Earl Holliman) of a big time rancher (Anthony Quinn) and is determined to take him back to his town via the 9:00 PM train. But the rancher & his cronies mean to stop it, whatever the cost.

Kirk Douglas plays Marshal Matt Morgan, whose wife is attacked and murdered by Rick Belden(Earl Holliman) who turns out to be the son of an old friend(played by Anthony Quinn) Rick had left his distinctive saddle behind, and Matt goes to visit the senior Belden, who is happy to see him, until he learns the reason for the visit. Though sympathetic for his loss, and furious with his son, he outright refuses to allow his son Rick to be extradited.

Although I grew up in the 1950s loving Westerns...but at that time, who didn't...

Carolyn Jones' famous words to Kirk Douglas as he faces the mob that are about to do anything to kill him, and she knows what she is talking about, since she lived with Anthony Quinn (in this film) after a nightmare life in the hardcore western saloons. Well, that is perhaps a bit off the subject, which is really about justice at any price, as Kirk faces the dilemma of having his wife raped and killed by the only son of his best friend, which he just can't leave unsettled, so he goes out to Anthony Quinn to collect his son and bring him to justice, from a town where everyone (including the sheriff and justice) is owned by Quinn, and they all unanimously are set to kill Krik Douglas for this.

Last Train From Gun Hill announces its intentions early on as our hero Marshal Matt Morgan (Kirk Douglas) retells an embroidered tale about a showdown with trail criminals. His audience is a small group of young boys who have all heard the story before and know the story but enjoy the performance of the storyteller.

Watching this was a tour to the land of nostalgia and an enjoyable one at that. This movie is really one of the god old classical Westerns telling the story of two brave men confronting each other.

Anyone interested in seeing a battle of the energy levels between Kirk Douglas and Anthony Quinn? If so, rent Last Train from Gun Hill, a very dramatic western, and start keeping score.

If you consider the basic plot summary - murder, revenge, Marshall who is friends with cattle baron whose son is part of the problem, one man against them all - you might think that this would be a cookie cutter western.But it rises above the pack with the calibre of the acting, the subtle differences in the story and the quality of the production.