ALFRED WERKER DIRECTS DANA ANDREWS IN 'THREE HOURS TO KILL'

Awesome Gun in Holser Western opening credit font for THREE HOURS TO KILL Year: 1954

In almost every Western with Dana Andrews, there's some kind of kangaroo court leading to a hanging or a possible one, beginning with Dana himself on the unlucky and doomed side of the rope in THE OX-BOW INCIDENT...

Then trying to defend best friend/gambling addict Brian Donlevy from an accusing barroom "jury" in CANYON PASSAGE; and decades later defending a falsely accused semi-outlaw in JOHNNY RENO and also, TOWN TAMER...

Dana Andrews and horse in THREE HOURS TO KILL Rates: ***1/2

In-between is a 1950's Western where Dana's got genuine proof of almost being hanged, as in, a permanent neck noose scar from being falsely accused of killing the bitter brother of girlfriend/fiance Donna Reed...

But the real beauty is flirtatious redhead Dianne Foster, who... when Dana's vengeful Jim Guthrie returns to town, given three titular hours to find the real killer among the spontaneous "court" that tried and almost convicted him... wants to run off to leave his troubles and her boredom behind...

Dianne Foster with Dana Andrews in THREE HOURS TO KILL

As gorgeous as Dianne Foster's Chris is, our man's not interested in anything but exactly what he's after... Or rather, who he's after. Making for a pretty involving Western Noir as he gathers clues while making like a slowburn barometer...

Testing each former friend ranging from a fat cowardly bartender, a skinny cowardly barber, a slick two-woman gambler, and the seemingly open-minded sheriff played by Stephen Elliott... The only real drawback being the first two are fairly weak, predictable and cliché characters...

Dana Andrews and Stephen Elliott in THREE HOURS TO KILL

All enveloped within what's really a Western programmer including a QUIET MAN style fist fight along a mountainside against the new husband of former lover Reed, who, to thicken the plot, has a baby that's not his, belonging to the guy who's been away.

With neat pulpy dialogue under the direction of Dana's SEALED CARGO director Alfred Werker, the story works both in the sullen/sober present time or the drunken party backstory — leading up to that inevitable noose. Like crash landings in disaster films, Dana just can't get away from 'em.

In front of any good man is a sexy redhead Dianne Foster w/ Dana Andrews in 3 Hrs 2 Kill

Dana Andrews and Dianne Foster in THREE HOURS TO KILL

Dana Andrews punched out before punching out in THREE HOURS TO KILL

Dana Andrews with future America's mom Donna Reed in 3 HOURS TO KILL

Awesome Western looking opening credit font for THREE HOURS TO KILL

James Westerfield with Dana Andrews in 3 Hours to Kill

Dana Andrews in 3 Hours to Kill