Travis Simpkins

Last Train from Gun Hill (1959): Kirk Douglas and Anthony Quinn

Directed by John Sturges, Last Train from Gun Hill (1959) is a solid Western with elements of High Noon and 3:10 to Yuma mixed with some original twists. The story concerns a lawman whose squaw wife is raped and murdered, and the confrontation that happens when he finds out that the guilty culprit is the son of his best friend. Limited sets work well and create great atmosphere. Kirk Douglas and Anthony Quinn are superb in the lead roles. The supporting cast is good as well, including Carolyn Jones and Earl Holliman.

Last Train from Gun Hill. 1959: Kirk Douglas

Last Train from Gun Hill. 1959

Last Train from Gun Hill. 1959: Anthony Quinn and Kirk Douglas

Last Train from Gun Hill. 1959: Anthony Quinn

Last Train from Gun Hill. 1959: Kirk Douglas

Last Train from Gun Hill. 1959

Last Train from Gun Hill. 1959: Kirk Douglas

Last Train from Gun Hill. 1959

Last Train from Gun Hill. 1959: Anthony Quinn

Warlock (1959): Henry Fonda, Anthony Quinn, Richard Widmark

Directed by Edward Dmytryk, Warlock (1959) is an underrated Western Classic that is worthy of more attention. The story concerns the 1880's western town of Warlock, plagued by outlaw cowboys, that hire a vigilante gunman to clean things up. Shot in DeLuxe Color and CinemaScope, the cinematography is striking and vibrant. The whole cast does a fine job, including Henry Fonda, Anthony Quinn, Richard Widmark, Dorothy Malone and Delores Michaels.

Warlock. 1959

Warlock. 1959: Richard Widmark

Warlock. 1959

Warlock. 1959: Henry Fonda and Anthony Quinn

Warlock. 1959: Anthony Quinn

Warlock. 1959: Anthony Quinn and Henry Fonda

Warlock. 1959: Richard Widmark

Warlock. 1959: Anthony Quinn and Henry Fonda

Warlock. 1959: Richard Widmark

Warlock. 1959: Richard Widmark and Henry Fonda

Spartacus (1960): Stanley Kubrick, Kirk Douglas, Laurence Olivier and Tony Curtis

Although Anthony Mann was initially hired to direct Spartacus (1960), producer and star Kirk Douglas fired him after only one week of filming, and replaced him with Stanley Kubrick. Kubrick reluctantly accepted the job, and Spartacus is the only film to his credit in which he did not have complete creative control. This is evident in the lack of signature camera tricks associated with a Kubrick film. The film, however, is Epic and powerful... focusing on a slave turned Gladiator who rises up to challenge the forces of Ancient Rome. The cinematography is great, Dalton Trumbo's screenplay is tight and the all-star cast does a fine job, including Kirk Douglas, Laurence Olivier, Jean Simmons, Tony Curtis, Charles Laughton, Woody Strode, John Gavin and Peter Ustinov (in an Oscar-winning supporting role).