3:10 to Yuma (1957)

So while Bronwen's in Orlando, I'm taking the opportunity to watch some movies. I do miss her, but one thing that makes it easier to live alone is a regular schedule. I get up, walk the dogs, eat breakfast, go to work, come home, walk the dogs, eat dinner, have a drink and watch a movie. I've done this two nights in a row and, I think, I could do it for years. The time would just slip by. It isn't ideal, and I am extremely glad that I have an interesting life, but if I had to live alone, this is how I would choose to spend my time.

The movie was interesting, but there was a lot of fluff to wade through. I would like to see the remake, in fact. It strikes me as the kind of movie that would really benefit from a modern retelling. There was a great deal of the pastoral family life that realy irks me about old westerns. In a way, they are harsh mirrors on the unintentional sexism of the time, sexism that is laid bare in Mad Men. In movies like 3:10 to Yuma the women are treated well enough; precious property, but property nonetheless. There is repeated reference to 'buying her pearls and nice dresses,' and one villain claims he treated his wife well enough because he 'never hit her too hard.' Obviously that was intended to draw the line between the good guys and the bad guys, but the characters don't really bear it out.

It didn't really matter though, because the women were only plot devices. They served solely to raise the stakes. The real movie was a psychological drama - but a drama only in 1957 terms. I like a happy ending as much as anyone, but there is something to be said for not knowing the ending an hour in advance. This is why I think the remake has promise. Even knowing how this film ends, I am not guaranteed the same outcome. If I see it, I'll let you know.

I give this film three stars. I do feel a little guilty though - old films are at a distinct disadvantage. They have to contend with more modern movies that have built on top of them. Modern movies are more complex, less predictable and can go further thanks to the trail blazed by older movies. I always try to rate an older movie by the virtue of its own time, but there were too many elements of this film that got in the way.