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Connianatu How wonderful it is to see this fine actress carry a film and carry it so beautifully.

Lidia Draper Great example of an old-fashioned, pure-at-heart escapist event movie that doesn't pretend to be anything that it's not and has boat loads of fun being its own ludicrous self.

Sanjeev Waters A movie that not only functions as a solid scarefest but a razor-sharp satire.

benbrae76 The producers of "Hour of the Gun" proudly portray after the credits that "THIS PICTURE IS BASED ON FACTS. THIS IS THE WAY IT HAPPENED." But it's very far from being how things happened.Sheriff Johan Behan's name was changed to Jimmy Bryan for some reason unknown to me. The dialogue in Wyatt's hearing (Judge Wells W. Spicer) was pure nonsense (I have the transcript of the Spicer hearing). There was no reference of the deal Wyatt Earp made to Ike Clanton to betray the Cowboys. The transcript is online for anyone to read.The shootout wasn't at the OK Corral as shown, but in a side street on the other side of the block. (Doc Holliday was still in Freemont St.) The bodies in the coffin window were placed wrongly.Doc Holliday played by a far too old Jason Robards (Doc was only 36 when he died) wasn't a killer either by reputation or profession as inferred, he was a dentist. The shootout wasn't even made famous until 1913.Morgan Earp didn't die on a pool table, he hit the ground as soon as he was shot.Pete Spence wasn't shot dead by Earp at a desert railroad stop, but died in 1914 and is buried in the Globe, Arizona cemetery, in an unmarked plot next to Phin Clanton. (In June 1883, Spence was working as a deputy sheriff in Georgetown, New Mexico, when he severely pistol-whipped Rodney O'Hara, killing him. He was convicted of manslaughter and sentenced to a 5-year term in the Yuma Arizona Territorial Penitentiary'. Less than 18 months later he was granted a full pardon by the territorial governor. He operated a goat ranch south of Globe, Arizona near the Galiuro Mountains with his old friend, Phin Clanton, and ran mule teams that were used to bring supplies into the Globe area. Phin Clanton died in 1906, and Spence married Phin's widow four years later on April 2, 1910, using his real name of Elliot Larkin Ferguson.) Curly Bill Brocious was not shot outside a saloon but at a Cowboy encampment way out of town. The Earps were surprised when they came across it.After the killing of Brocious, the "vendetta ride" was over, and Earp killed no more. Billy Claiborne was killed in an argument by "Buckskin" Frank Leslie who was tending bar at the Oriental Saloon on November 14, 1882 when Claiborne, who was very drunk, began using insulting and abusive language. Claiborne left the bar. A short time later Leslie also left the saloon at which time Claiborne raised his rifle and fired, missing Leslie. Leslie returned fire and hit Claiborne in the chest. Ike Clanton and his brother Phineas were charged with cattle-rustling and pursued by detective Jonas V. Brighton. On June 1, 1887, at Jim Wilson's Ranch on Eagle Creek, south of Springerville, Arizona, Phin Clanton surrendered, but Ike resisted and was shot dead. But certainly not by Wyatt Earp. There are many other errors in the movie, but the above should be enough to suggest that this movie was most definitely NOT the way it happened.But then by using the magic words "based on", the movie-makers can get away with anything.

FightingWesterner Starting with the gunfight at the OK corral, this traces Wyatt Earp's life from the resulting trial, the maiming and murder of his brothers, the reprisal killings and the final showdown with Ike Clanton.Being that this is a pseudo-sequel to director John Sturges' own Gunfight At The OK Corral, this has the feeling of being dropped into the middle of a four-hour mini-series, jettisoning all the get-to-know- you stuff and romantic subplots of all the other Wyatt Earp movies and instead focusing on fast-moving action and tough dialog.James Garner and Jason Robards step into the well-worn worn shoes of Earp and Doc Holliday, with Robard's performance easily upstaging that of Garner. Robert Ryan is okay and John Voight makes his almost debut, beating his long delayed first feature by a whisker!Though not one of the all-time best, it's exciting and highly watchable. I have to say though, my favorite Wyatt Earp movie is still the one starring Captain Kirk, Mr. Spock, and Dr. McCoy.

spelvini Reportedly the John Sturges-directed, ponderous Hour of the Gun that came some ten years after the high-profile flourished Gunfight at the OK Corral, was a much more appreciated film. Mostly the admiration came form the director who was dismayed at the bending of historical facts to fit into a palpable Hollywood vehicle.Writing kudos to Edward Anhalt who takes the gnarly legal situations of the film and makes them gripping as scenes are set up to examine the way in which Wyatt Earp uses the instruments of the law-enforcement system to bring the Clanton Brothers to trial for their wide-ranging activity of robbery and assassinations. Moreover the film highlights well how the character of Wyatt Earp disintegrates to the level of avenger in order to force justice.It's a thinking man's film. These gunslingers talk a lot about their reasons for doing what they do. The deadly gunfight at the OK Corral happens very early in the movie, and the nullifying affect it has on the balance of power between law-abiding citizens and the outlaws becomes a social pivot point in how the film defines success. This is a period of change in the West, a time in which laws were supposed to supersede gun violence, and the script makes note to repeat the efforts of Earp to utilize this new rule of the land.The performances of James Garner as Wyatt Earp, Jason Robards as Doc Holliday, and Robert Ryan as Ike Clanton anchor the film one three distinct personas. Each represents a defined viewpoint of how civilization is proceeding, and each argues as well with words as he shoots his gun.There is some slight bending of historical accuracy as when Garner's Earp finally tracks down Ryan's Ike Clanton and the confrontation is one of those classical Hollywood standoffs. This only seems slightly self-indulgent for the filmmakers. This is still a classically-structured movie and we already know the story, but seeing how Hour of the Gun reaffirms the myth of the West will have you thinking more about how America developed such a respectful admiration of guns.

lee1888 Most people know about the GUN fight at the O. K. Corral, but very few knew what happen after the gunfight before this movie was made. That is where this movie begins.James Garner plays Wyatt much like Burt Lancaster did in Gunfight at the O. K. Corral, tight lipped and straight faced. Garner is a great actor but in my opinion he play this just a little to grim. I think I counted Garner smiling twice in the entire movie.Jason Robards plays Doc Holliday in a very cynical way. Reminding Wyatt and hoping that he wont throw all his principles of being a upstanding lawman away. He stays with Wyatt on his vengeful task at getting even with the men responsible for killing Morgan and shooting Virgil.The movie is filled with plenty of action and gun play, what is missing, is a female lead and just a touch of humor, two things that every great movie has and needs. Why these two important ingredients were left out is anyone's guess. I enjoyed this movie, but I do must westerns. The acting was very good and so was the script. But this is not a date movie or one the kids now days would like. It is however a great kick back good old boys shoot um up. So grab a pizza and a beer and set back and enjoy.