I would have given this older version of "3:10 To Yuma" a bit of a higher rating if I had not recently seen the Russell Crowe feature, released 50 years later. Oh, it's all there ... if you are in the neighborhood theater in 1957. All that's needed is the popcorn. However, Glen Ford just doesn't quite measure up to the same character as portrayed by Russell Crowe, in the 2007 epic. This reference to Mr. Ford may be a little unfair. He was one of our better actors, but was, to a point, restricted by the company that had him under contract during the 50s: Columbia Pictures. In 1957, Columbia was just beginning to get into the game of making motion pictures with bigger and better budgets, although it didn't see fit to present this film in color, which may have been a good loot-saving decision for Harry Cohn and his tight fist (Mr. Cohn was the head of the studio, at the time). The black-and-white format presents a perfect atmosphere, thanks to the good direction of the talented Delmer Daves.
Van Heflin, still under-rated today for the great performances he gave us during his relatively short film career, is top notch in this western. The beautiful Felica Farr (Mrs. Jack Lemmon,in real life)is also in grand form during the short amount of time she is on-screen.
All-in-all, this motion picture is a winner --- if you haven't seen the more recent release under the same title.
Van Heflin, still under-rated today for the great performances he gave us during his relatively short film career, is top notch in this western. The beautiful Felica Farr (Mrs. Jack Lemmon,in real life)is also in grand form during the short amount of time she is on-screen.
All-in-all, this motion picture is a winner --- if you haven't seen the more recent release under the same title.