Last Train From Gun Hill (1959)

After his wife (Ziva Rodann) is raped and murdered, her husband (Kirk Douglas) seeks out her killers. His only clue is a saddle which he tracks down to an old friend (Anthony Quinn), a land baron who has control of the town. But when he discovers his friend's son (Earl Holliman) is his wife's murderer and his father won't turn him over, he realizes he is alone but nothing will deter him from bringing the son to justice. Based on the story SHOWDOWN by Les Crutchfield and directed by John Sturges (THE GREAT ESCAPE). Producer Hal Wallis had a big hit with GUNFIGHT AT THE O.K. CORRAL two years earlier and here he uses many of the same cast and crew from that film including stars Kirk Douglas and Earl Holliman, director John Sturges, cinematographer Charles B. Lang, composer Dimitri Tiomkin (but no Frankie Laine!) and costume designer Edith Head. This is a marvelous western and Sturges whips up a good deal of tension as circumstances pile up against Douglas and time is running out. The film has no padding and every moment counts. Douglas and Quinn have justifiable reputations as scenery chewers but here they give intense performances but without ever crossing over to overacting. With Carolyn Jones (very good as Quinn's embittered mistress), Brad Dexter and Brian G. Hutton (who would go on to be a film director).