Last Train from Gun Hill

Last Train from Gun Hill

Year: 1959

Runtime: 98 mins

Language: English

Director: John Sturges

WesternWesternsWild west outlaws and gunfightsWestern frontier dramas with a touch of humorGripping intense violent crime

From the same star, director and producer behind “Gunfight at the O.K. Corral,” this Western follows a determined marshal who must confront the powerful son of an autocratic cattle baron. He seeks justice for the brutal rape and murder of the baron’s wife, battling both personal loyalties and the baron’s ruthless influence as he strives to uphold the law.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline & Setting – Last Train from Gun Hill (1959)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Last Train from Gun Hill (1959). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

Location

Gun Hill

Gun Hill is a rugged frontier town where power rests with wealthy cattle barons and the law struggles to maintain order. The town centers on the ranch, hotel, and train station, with a tense mood as locals pick sides in the pursuit of Rick Belden. The pursuit exposes the thin line between formal justice and mob mentality in a community ruled by influence and fear.

🏜 Western town 🧭 Frontier life

Last Updated: October 05, 2025 at 08:43

Main Characters – Last Train from Gun Hill (1959)

Meet the key characters of Last Train from Gun Hill (1959), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Matt Morgan (Kirk Douglas)

A seasoned U.S. Marshal who returns to Gun Hill to track down Rick Belden after his wife’s murder, driven by a rigid sense of justice and a desire to protect his son. He exudes calm, courage, and determination, facing hostility from a town that would shield powerful locals. His pursuit tests his resolve as he balances law with personal risk.

⚖️ Justice 🛡️ Duty 🧭 Resolve

Craig Belden (Anthony Quinn)

A wealthy cattle baron who effectively rules Gun Hill, he prioritizes his family’s safety over legal process. He resists handing over his son, underscoring the town’s reliance on power and loyalty. He arrives in town with his men and confronts Morgan in a final confrontation that ends his era of influence.

💎 Power 🏛️ Influence 🕊️ Loyalty

Linda (Carolyn Jones)

Belden’s former lover who knows the town’s secrets and acts as a conduit for information. She secretly helps Morgan by guiding him toward Rick’s likely location and eventually delivering a shotgun to him. Her choices reveal the complexities of loyalty amid danger and desire.

🤝 Alliance 🗝️ Secrets 🧭 Insight

Rick Belden (Earl Holliman)

Belden’s son and the killer whose rape and murder of Morgan’s wife sets the pursuit in motion. Captured by Morgan, his fate is sealed by misfortune when a shotgun is used in a tense confrontation; his death escalates the town’s already charged mood.

🔥 Aggression 🩸 Violence 🗡️ Reckoning

Lee Smithers (Brian G. Hutton)

Rick’s accomplice who helps with the crime and later uses violence against Morgan in the hotel confrontation. He sets fire to the hotel to flush out Morgan and is killed by Morgan’s shotgun in the ensuing chaos.

⚔️ Betrayal 🕰️ Fire 🧨 Chaos

Last Updated: October 05, 2025 at 08:43

Major Themes – Last Train from Gun Hill (1959)

Explore the central themes of Last Train from Gun Hill (1959), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

⚖️ Justice vs. Vigilantism

A U.S. Marshal pursues Rick Belden across Gun Hill, embodying formal law while facing a town reluctant to cooperate. The narrative tests whether justice can prevail when communal fear and power block the legal process. Morgan’s restraint contrasts with the town’s mob-like tension, highlighting the cost of pursuing the truth in a volatile setting.

🤝 Loyalty and Family

Belden’s unwavering protection of his son clashes with moral duty, illustrating how family ties can complicate the quest for justice. Linda’s conflicted loyalty adds layers to the town’s alliances and betrayals. The story explores how personal bonds influence choices in a dangerous, morally charged environment.

🔥 Courage, Conflict and Sacrifice

Morgan endures danger and even fire as he drives Rick toward the train, risking everything for justice and his family’s safety. The final showdown exposes the brutal costs of protecting loved ones in a world where violence is the currency of resolution. The film culminates in tragedy and sacrifice, underscoring the harsh reality of frontier justice.

Last Updated: October 05, 2025 at 08:43

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Last Train from Gun Hill Summary

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Last Train from Gun Hill Summary

Last Train from Gun Hill Timeline

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Last Train from Gun Hill Timeline

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