3:10 Reprise (2007)
The remake stars Russell Crowe as Ben Wade and Christian Bale as Dan. The screen play credits Halsted Welles along with Michael Brandt and Derek Haas. The remake, directed by James Mangold, is based on the classic movie rather than Leonard’s story.
Changes to the screen play felt like they were made for the sake of making changes. The stage robbed in the opening is armored and heavily defended, including a Gatling gun. A Civil War legacy comes out that has no precedent in either Leonard’s story or the original Welles screen play. A chase scene through a railroad tunnel construction site with a Chinese labor force is historically, geographically, and logically obscure.
Much of the drama in the hotel scenes where Wade plays on Dan’s fears is squandered by introducing some of it into the trail ride to Contention. Spreading it out over an extended period of time dilutes the drama and intensity of the original film. Part of that is Crowe’s Wade versus Ford’s. Russell Crowe is the cool, cocky tough guy. Ford is more subtle, calculating and manipulative. Christian Bale lacked Van Heflin’s depth in dealing with his demons.
The showdown gun walk to the train is well done down to the climax. Wade and Dan forge the odd partnership that allows them to reach the train where Wade’s gang confronts them. All Wade has to do is step aside and Dan is a dead man. Instead Wade grabs a gun and kills his own men. (Really?) Dan’s fourteen-year-old son appears and gets the drop on Wade. (Really?). Good thing they started with Welles screen play. They should have stayed with it.
Comedic redemption comes in the last ten seconds. As the train pulls out for Yuma, Ben Wade can be heard to whistle. His horse bolts from the hitch rack and gallops after the train. Ben Wade has broken out of Yuma prison before. Best western sight gag since Lee Marvin’s drunk horse in Cat Ballou.
Next Week: The Alamo
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Ride easy,
Paul
Changes to the screen play felt like they were made for the sake of making changes. The stage robbed in the opening is armored and heavily defended, including a Gatling gun. A Civil War legacy comes out that has no precedent in either Leonard’s story or the original Welles screen play. A chase scene through a railroad tunnel construction site with a Chinese labor force is historically, geographically, and logically obscure.
Much of the drama in the hotel scenes where Wade plays on Dan’s fears is squandered by introducing some of it into the trail ride to Contention. Spreading it out over an extended period of time dilutes the drama and intensity of the original film. Part of that is Crowe’s Wade versus Ford’s. Russell Crowe is the cool, cocky tough guy. Ford is more subtle, calculating and manipulative. Christian Bale lacked Van Heflin’s depth in dealing with his demons.
The showdown gun walk to the train is well done down to the climax. Wade and Dan forge the odd partnership that allows them to reach the train where Wade’s gang confronts them. All Wade has to do is step aside and Dan is a dead man. Instead Wade grabs a gun and kills his own men. (Really?) Dan’s fourteen-year-old son appears and gets the drop on Wade. (Really?). Good thing they started with Welles screen play. They should have stayed with it.
Comedic redemption comes in the last ten seconds. As the train pulls out for Yuma, Ben Wade can be heard to whistle. His horse bolts from the hitch rack and gallops after the train. Ben Wade has broken out of Yuma prison before. Best western sight gag since Lee Marvin’s drunk horse in Cat Ballou.
Next Week: The Alamo
Return to Facebook to comment
Ride easy,
Paul
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Merry Christmas to you and Trish.