Dan Evans (Van Heflin) was there. In 1880s Arizona, he and his two sons witnessed Ben Wade (Glenn Ford) and his gang rob a stagecoach and kill its occupants. They had no choice but to let it happen; they were three against twelve.
“You can’t just stand by and watch,” his wife Alice (Leora Dana) urged Dan when he and the kids returned home without the horses that Wade had stolen. But she wasn’t just referring to that; Evans had become increasingly pessimistic about the world around him. His ranch was in trouble, and the chance of improvement was slim.
Wade’s gang deceived the townspeople of Bisbee into believing they were witnesses to the crime rather than the perpetrators, and they made their escape. But Wade was too busy courting the barmaid to leave, and the sheriff eventually caught on and arrested him. Justice was served, yet there was something about Wade’s unwavering confidence and ego that suggested perhaps being arrested was all part of his plan.
Evans finally got his opportunity to take action against the men he had allowed to rob him. He was offered $200 (a staggering amount at the time) to help transport Wade from Bisbee to Contention City, where they would board the 3:10 to Yuma that would take Wade to jail. That is, if they could get him there before Wade’s gang came back to free their leader.
Delmer Daves’ 3: Ten to Yuma transforms a straightforward mission into a chilling cat-and-mouse game, and with a sparkling new something, it’s the perfect time to revisit — or discover anew — this stone-cold classic.
How was 3: Ten to Yuma Received Upon Release?
3: Ten to Yuma was well received upon its August 7, 1957 release. Bosley Crowther of the was impressed, highlighting its “merciless tension” and calling the movie a “first-rate action picture.” Variety was also positive, although it argued that the “climax fizzles.” Both reviews highlighted the film’s similarities to 1952’s High Noon, and both agreed that 3: Ten to Yuma was inferior. Fortunately, enough time has passed to see that both films have a lot to offer.
As for its box office performance, Daves’ film earned $1.8 million, making it the of 1957. Not great, but not bad either — and it’s better remembered than many of the films that finished ahead of it.
Why Is 3: Ten to Yuma Important to See Now?
3: Ten to Yuma is worth your time because it’s one heck of a Western. It replaces much of the vast outdoors you’d expect with tense bars and hotel rooms, and beneath the excellent brawls and growing tension is raw humanity. Prolific TV writer Halsted Welles only wrote a few screenplays, but his adaptation of Elmore Leonard’s short story is his sharpest, a thrilling western that’s a not-so-hidden exploration of masculinity in crisis. The stereotypical Western is full of ultra-masculine men, but Dan doesn’t possess such machismo.
This is a Western-cum-psychological thriller, a study of a troubled man. Evans doesn’t want to be the hero; he’s only doing this for the money, for a chance to help his ailing ranch and struggling family. He sees himself as a failure. His confidence is in tatters, and part of his anger towards Wade stems from how charming Wade is (especially with his own wife) and how uncharismatic Evans perceives himself to be.
Delmer Daves doesn’t get the same respect as his contemporaries, being regarded as a steady and reliable director rather than a great one. But his work in 3: Ten to Yuma is exceptional as he balances tense conversations with rapid, pulse-pounding shootouts. It’s a masterclass in control, and Daves brings every element of the film together in a way that seems effortless.
What New Features Does the 3: Ten to Yuma 4K Blu-ray Have?
Oddly, this is one of Criterion’s lighter releases, featuring only a couple of interviews with Elmore Leonard, and another with Peter Ford, Glenn Ford’s son and biographer. They’re both worthy watches with valuable information, although the package seems a bit thin. Still, the looks and sounds great, and 3: Ten to Yuma is a worthy addition to the Criterion Collection and your shelves. Here’s how Criterion describes its features:
- New 4K digital restoration, with uncompressed monaural soundtrack
- Alternate 5.1 surround soundtrack, presented in DTS-HD Master Audio
- One 4K UHD disc of the film presented in Dolby Vision HDR and one Blu-ray with the film and special features
- Interviews with author Elmore Leonard and actor Glenn Ford’s son and biographer, Peter Ford
- English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing