A Classic Remade: “3:10 to Yuma” - A Western Showdown
The original “3:10 to Yuma,” a cinematic gem from 1957, was directed by the late Delmer Daves, based on a story by the still-active writer and screenwriter Elmore Leonard (whose “Rum Punch” served as the foundation for Quentin Tarantino’s brilliant “Jackie Brown”). It stands as one of the finest Westerns ever made, often mentioned in the same breath as Sergio Leone’s masterpieces and classics like “The Treasure of the Sierra Madre” and “The Wild Bunch.”
Like many great films, its strength lies in its intimacy. Gunfights are scarce, appearing only at the beginning and end. The majority of the story unfolds in the confines of a forgotten Arizona town. The central conflict plays out in a single, meager room, where the drought-stricken farmer Dan Evans (Van Heflin) faces off against the charismatic outlaw Ben Wade (Glenn Ford), whom he is tasked with guarding until the 3:10 train to Yuma arrives to deliver justice. Dan has every reason to abandon his post: the other lawmen have fled in fear of Wade’s gang, and Wade himself offers Dan double the money to simply walk away. Yet, Dan stays, driven by a sense of duty that outweighs his own life and the chance to save his family from ruin.
A Modern Take on a Timeless Tale
James Mangold (“Kate & Leopold,” “Girl, Interrupted,” “Walk the Line”) took on the challenge of reimagining “3:10 to Yuma.” After careful consideration (Tom Cruise was among those considered for a lead role), Mangold decided that no one could replace Glenn Ford as the villain better than Russell Crowe. This choice feels right; even when revisiting the original, imagining Crowe in Ford’s role evokes excitement. The role of the charming villain seems tailor-made for him. The casting of Christian Bale in the other lead role was less obvious. While Bale could easily embody a romantic outlaw, the role of an honest farmer seemed less suited to him. However, in “3:10 to Yuma,” Bale sheds his usual polish and transforms into an ordinary man who discovers he is far more complex than he believed.
A Western Renaissance
Originally slated for an October release, “3:10 to Yuma” (2007) was moved to September, positioning it as the first of several high-profile Western releases that fall. This resurgence of interest in the genre promised a thrilling competition, with “The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford,” starring Brad Pitt, and the Coen brothers’ “No Country for Old Men” following closely behind.