Hour of the Gun Synopsis & Review: Plot Summary

🎯 Quick Overview

😅 Plot Summary – Badly Explained

Local lawman gets mad after a shootout, so he and his consumptive gambling buddy basically just chase down and shoot everyone involved, law be darned.

🍿 Hour of the Gun: Detailed Plot Synopsis

The Aftermath of the OK Corral Gunfight

The film dramatically opens immediately following the famed gunfight at the O.K. Corral on October 26, 1881. Wyatt Earp, alongside his brothers Virgil and Morgan, and their friend Doc Holliday, emerge victorious but face immediate consequences. Ike Clanton, having survived the shootout, quickly seeks legal and illegal means of retribution. He accuses the Earps and Holliday of murder, setting the stage for a court hearing that will determine their fate and the legality of the gunfight.

Trial and Acquittal

Despite Ike Clanton’s efforts to manipulate the legal system, the Earps and Doc Holliday are brought before Judge Herman Spicer. The hearing examines the events of the gunfight, with conflicting testimonies presented. Ultimately, Judge Spicer rules that the gunfight was justifiable, and the Earps and Holliday are acquitted of murder charges. This legal victory, however, does little to quell the animosity between the factions.

Clanton’s Revenge and Earp Family Tragedy

Furious over the acquittal and seeking vengeance, Ike Clanton orchestrates attacks on the Earp brothers. Virgil Earp is ambushed and severely wounded, leaving him permanently crippled. Shortly thereafter, Morgan Earp is murdered in a cowardly attack while playing billiards. These acts of violence push Wyatt Earp to abandon his strict adherence to the law and pursue a path of personal retribution.

The Vendetta Ride Begins

With his brothers attacked and one killed, Wyatt Earp obtains warrants to pursue those responsible for the shootings. Appointed as a Deputy U.S. Marshal, he forms a posse, including Doc Holliday, Texas Jack Vermillion, and Turkey Creek Johnson, to hunt down the remaining members of the Clanton gang. This pursuit becomes known as the ‘Earp Vendetta Ride,’ transitioning Wyatt from a lawman upholding rules to a man driven by vengeance, raising questions about the nature of justice on the frontier.

⚠️ Spoilers and Ending Explained

🎬 Cast & Characters

• Wyatt Earp (James Garner): The resolute Marshal who embarks on a quest for vengeance against the Clanton gang after the murder of his brother.
• Doc Holliday (Jason Robards): Wyatt Earp’s loyal and morally complex friend, a gambler and gunman who accompanies him on his pursuit.
• Ike Clanton (Robert Ryan): The vengeful leader of the Clanton gang who seeks retribution against the Earps following the OK Corral gunfight.
• Morgan Earp (Sam Melville): Wyatt’s brother and fellow lawman whose assassination by the Clanton gang ignites Wyatt’s personal vendetta.
• Virgil Earp (Frank Converse): Wyatt’s elder brother and city Marshal who is severely wounded in an ambush by the Clanton gang.
• Curly Bill Brocius (Jon Voight): A prominent and violent member of the Clanton gang involved in the attacks on the Earp brothers.
• Andy Warshaw (Steve Ihnat): A member of the Clanton gang who participates in the ambushes against the Earp brothers.

💬 Memorable Quotes

• Doc Holliday: “I know you. You can’t live like me.” – Doc warns Wyatt that pursuing revenge outside the law goes against Wyatt’s fundamental character and will destroy him.
• Wyatt Earp: “I don’t care about the rules anymore. I’m not that much of a hypocrite.” – Wyatt grimly states his decision to abandon strictly legal methods in his relentless pursuit of Ike Clanton and his men after his brothers are attacked.
• Doc Holliday: “Those aren’t warrants you have there…those are hunting licenses.” – Doc cynically comments on Wyatt’s legal documents, recognizing they are being used as justification for a personal vendetta.
• Doc Holliday: “You don’t play very well. Besides that, you never cheat.” – Doc offers a brutally honest assessment of Dr. Goodfellow’s poor poker skills and lack of dishonesty.
• Wyatt Earp: “I’m gonna count one, two, three. You can draw on two – I’ll wait to three.” – Wyatt says this with cold determination to a man he is hunting, offering a final, fatal challenge before killing him.

💰Box Office

• Budget: $1,800,000
• Domestic Gross: N/A
• Worldwide Gross: N/A

💥 Hour of the Gun Reviews

Personal Review

Okay, I’ll admit it, I went into this thinking ‘Another Earp movie?’ but man, this one hit differently. Starting *after* the OK Corral shootout changes everything. It’s not about the lead-up; it’s about the fallout and the cold, hard revenge that follows. James Garner as Wyatt Earp is surprisingly intense – no Maverick charm here! He’s just stone-faced and driven, which felt really authentic to the ‘vendetta ride’ idea. And Jason Robards as Doc Holliday? Perfect casting. His dry wit and complicated loyalty to Wyatt stole every scene they were in together. Their conversations felt so real, like two old friends grappling with darkness. Yeah, there are practically no women, which is noticeable, and some historical liberties are taken, but the atmosphere is thick with tension. I loved the look of the film too, those wide-open Arizona (or Mexico!) landscapes are gorgeous but also feel isolating. It’s definitely a grim watch, not a feel-good western, but it pulls you in. Seeing Wyatt slowly lose sight of the law he supposedly represents, with Doc watching him, is the core of it for me. Really makes you think about justice and revenge.

• Who would enjoy:
  • “Fans of classic Westerns”
  • “Viewers interested in the Wyatt Earp and Doc Holliday story beyond the OK Corral gunfight”
  • “Those who appreciate character-driven Westerns with a darker tone”
  • “Fans of James Garner or Jason Robards”
• Content warnings ⚠:
  • “Violence (shootings, revenge killings)”
  • “Mature themes (vengeance, legal manipulation, moral ambiguity)”
  • “Absent of significant female characters or romantic subplots”

Professional Reviews

• Based on User Reviews: “Sturges delivers a stark, post-OK Corral western focusing on the grim aftermath. Garner sheds his lighthearted persona for a stoic, vengeful Earp, while Robards is brilliant as Doc Holliday, offering a cynical counterpoint. The film’s strength lies in their dynamic and the unflinching look at justice versus revenge, set against Lucien Ballard’s stunning Panavision cinematography and Jerry Goldsmith’s powerful score. It’s a thinking person’s western, perhaps too bleak for some, but a compelling character study.
• Based on User Reviews: “”Hour of the Gun” is an understated but potent western that explores the consequences of the famous shootout. While historical accuracy takes a backseat to drama, the film excels as a psychological character study, particularly of Earp’s descent into vigilantism. Garner and Robards anchor the film with layered performances, portraying a bond tested by violence and changing morals. Despite some structural issues and a lack of female characters, its intense mood and strong visuals make it a worthwhile, often underrated entry in the genre.

Audience Reactions

Audiences loved the intense dynamic between James Garner’s grim Wyatt Earp and Jason Robards’ cynical Doc Holliday.: Many viewers appreciated the film’s darker, more cynical take on the Earp legend, focusing on the aftermath of the shootout rather than just the event itself. The strong lead performances, particularly Jason Robards as Doc Holliday, and Jerry Goldsmith’s score were frequently praised.

The film’s focus on the emotional and moral consequences of the violence resonated with viewers.: Fans of the genre found it to be a solid, often underrated western, valuing its attempt to show a more realistic (though still fictionalized) account of the events following the OK Corral fight. The lack of romance and focus on the male relationships and themes of justice and revenge were seen as strengths by many.

Overall Consensus: A grim, character-driven western that stands out by focusing on the events *after* the Gunfight at the OK Corral, praised for its strong lead performances and dark tone, though some note its historical inaccuracies and lack of conventional western elements like romance.

Awards

🛠️ Behind the Scenes

• “Director John Sturges considered this film a quasi-sequel to his own 1957 film ‘Gunfight at the O.K. Corral’, aiming for a more historically accurate and darker portrayal of the events following the famous shootout.”
• “Despite being a follow-up by the same director, the studio (United Artists) insisted on casting entirely different actors for the main roles to distinguish it from the earlier Paramount film.”
• “The dialogue used in the courtroom scenes was reportedly taken verbatim from actual transcripts of the real Spicer hearing.”
• “In an effort to depict the changing landscape of the West and Earp’s pursuit, filming locations were primarily in northern Mexico, differing from the southern Arizona locations used in ‘Gunfight at the O.K. Corral’.”
• “The film notably omits virtually all significant female characters present in other adaptations of the Earp story, focusing exclusively on the male conflict and themes of law, justice, and revenge.”
• “Future acclaimed actor Jon Voight appears in one of his very early film roles as Curly Bill Brocius.”

🖥️ How to Watch Hour of the Gun?

You can watch ‘Hour of the Gun’ by searching for it on platforms like Prime Video, Apple TV, or other digital retailers. Check your preferred service for rental or purchase options.

🎥 Similar Movies

If you enjoyed Hour of the Gun, you might like these similar films:

• Gunfight at the O.K. Corral (1957): Directed by the same filmmaker (John Sturges) and covers the events leading up to the gunfight, serving as a thematic and narrative predecessor.
• Tombstone (1993): A highly popular modern film covering the same historical events, featuring notable performances and focusing on similar themes of brotherhood, justice, and revenge.
• The Wild Bunch (1969): Explores themes of aging outlaws, moral ambiguity, and the brutal consequences of violence in a changing West, reflecting the darker tone of ‘Hour of the Gun’.
• The Professionals (1966): A well-regarded Western from the same era featuring a strong ensemble cast (including Robert Ryan) and focusing on a daring adventure rather than a simple hero vs. villain narrative.
• Unforgiven (1992): A critical deconstruction of Western myths, focusing on the complex morality and lasting trauma associated with violence and revenge, resonating with ‘Hour of the Gun’s look at Earp’s moral cost.

🛒 Hour of the Gun Related Products

• Hour of the Gun (Blu-ray / DVD): Experience this classic western in high definition. Features stunning cinematography and the acclaimed Jerry Goldsmith score, often including bonus features like isolated scores or commentary.
• Tombstone: The Earp Brothers, Doc Holliday, and the Vendetta Ride from Hell: Dive deeper into the historical events and figures portrayed in the movie with a detailed non-fiction account. Available as a Kindle eBook or Audiobook.
• Wyatt Earp: A Life on the Frontier: A comprehensive biography exploring the life of Wyatt Earp, covering his law enforcement career, the events in Tombstone, and his later years. Available in paperback or hardcover.
• Red Dead Redemption 2 (PlayStation/Xbox/PC): Immerse yourself in a vast, detailed open-world western setting with complex characters, moral choices, and intense gunplay, capturing the spirit of the Old West.

🎧 Soundtrack

Hour of the Gun features a captivating soundtrack that enhances the movie’s atmosphere and emotional impact. Here are some notable tracks:

• “Main Title” – performed by Jerry Goldsmith
• “The Trial” – performed by Jerry Goldsmith
• “Morgan’s Death / The Regulator” – performed by Jerry Goldsmith
• “The River” – performed by Jerry Goldsmith
• “New O.K. Corral” – performed by Jerry Goldsmith

You can find the complete soundtrack on Amazon Music and Apple Music.

🤨 FAQ

🔥 Bonus Content

Jason Robards. James Garner. Hour of the Gun (1967). John Sturges 📽

Hey, want a quick look at Jason Robards and James Garner squaring off in ‘Hour of the Gun’? This short clip is perfect for seeing them in action, and honestly, it’s pretty neat to see these legendary actors together.

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