The Tin Star (1957)

User Rating:

7.4/10   

Director:

Anthony Mann

Writers:

Joel Kane (story)
Dudley Nichols (writer)

Release Date:

31 January 1958 (Finland)

Genre:

Western

Plot:

A cynical ex-sheriff turned bounty hunter helps a young, recently appointed acting sheriff with his advice, his experience, and his gun.

Plot Keywords:

Sheriff | Bounty Hunter | Bounty | Wanted Poster | Pigeon Coop

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 1 nomination

Cast

Henry Fonda	...	Morgan 'Morg' Hickman
Anthony Perkins	...	Sheriff Ben Owens
Betsy Palmer	...	Nona Mayfield
Michel Ray	...	Kip Mayfield
Neville Brand	...	Bart Bogardus
John McIntire	...	Dr. Joseph Jefferson 'Doc' McCord
Mary Webster	...	Millie Parker
Peter Baldwin	...	Zeke McGaffey
Richard Shannon	...	Buck Henderson
Lee Van Cleef	...	Ed McGaffey
James Bell	...	Judge Thatcher
Howard Petrie	...	Mayor Harvey King
Russell Simpson	...	Clem Hall
Hal K. Dawson	...	Andy Miller
Jack Kenny	...	Sam Hodges (as Jack Kenney)

Runtime:

93 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Sound Recording)

Certification:

Canada:PG (Ontario) | Norway:12 (1958) | West Germany:12 (f) | USA:Approved (PCA #18468) | Australia:PG | Finland:K-12 | Sweden:15

Filming Locations:

Paramount Studios - 5555 Melrose Avenue, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Perlsea Company

Goofs:

Continuity: When the stagecoach driver rushes into town to report that they were robbed, there is a small trail of dust following each side of the stagecoach. When it comes to a full stop, the dust is almost completely settled down. Next they cut to a slightly closer view of the stage and surrounding areas, and the air is full of dust all over the scene, much more than the stagecoach ever caused to fly up.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Sheriff Ben Owens: Uh, ju-just getting the feel of these guns.
Morg Hickman: Where's the sheriff?

Excellent mix of character study and action

When commenting on The Tin Star, one need only mention one name: Henry Fonda. Unquestionably one of the finest screen actors this country has ever produced, he effortlessly weaves an enjoyable blend of wisdom, grit and compassion throughout this interesting and well-acted western. With an excellent supporting cast (including a very young Anthony Perkins), The Tin Star is a western the whole family can enjoy. Its appeal stems from two primary factors that are the basis of any quality film... acting talent at its best and an interesting storyline that is simple to follow yet captivating for its direct approach to the issues at hand. The DVD quality of this Paramount release is very good, although lacking in extra features. But after watching the movie, I found myself not wanting for anything extra... the feature presentation was left to stand on its own and, in my opinion, did just fine. It's amazing that, nearly fifty years after its release, The Tin Star can still speak to us, if we care to listen, of honest, simple values, the importance of loyalty, and how the difference between right and wrong doesn't always have to be as complicated as today's world leads us to believe. And, of course, having Henry Fonda and his incredible talent to present this package to us can only help to improve any film's chances for success. Highly recommended for any fan of Henry Fonda or westerns of the "High Noon" variety.