3:10 to Yuma MR

There are many differences between Delmer Daves’ (1957) and James Mangold’s (2007) versions of 3:10 to Yuma. First is the way that the 2007 version of the film distinguishes itself from the one from 50 years earlier. While the 1957 film has a pretty calm tone until the end, the 2007 is pretty action packed with explosions and color, which is something that has become a part of American film culture. The only real similarity between the two films is the plotline. Sure, there are scenes that pay homage to the 1957 film like the hotel room, the dinner table, and the bar scene, but other than that, it really seems like the crew went out to make a movie that was its own being that would not be mistaken for the original. The next difference is between the spectrum of good and evil between the two movies. While the original has just the good rancher in Dan Evans and the murderous, yet seemingly good hearted Ben Wade, the 2007 has both of those plus the completely insane Charlie Prince. This way is a character all the way on the good side of the spectrum, a character in the middle, and a character that is pure evil. It makes for very good contrast. Another difference is the region of the world the actors in the film originated from. While Van Heflin and Glenn Ford who play Dan Evans and Ben Wade respectively in the 1957 film were both from North America, Russell Crowe, who plays Ben Wade in the 2007 film, is Australian, and Christian Bale, who plays Dan Evans in the 2007 film, is a Welshman. This is perhaps a throwback to the days of the Spaghetti Western with a foreign view of America. One final difference between the two films is the expanded role of William Evans. This is something completely new to the movie that was planned and executed perfectly. It really is a coming of age story for him as he starts out as an immature punk with absolutely no respect for his father, but eventually grows to be like him after he “walks in (his father’s) shoes.” Instead of shooting Wade as he wanted his father to do all along, he drops his gun and lets him step back onto the train.