Three Hours to Kill (1954)

Dana Andrews plays Jim Guthrie, a man who returns to his hometown to find out who really killed the brother of the woman he intended to marry.

One night he was on the top of the world, ready to buy a ranch and marry Laurie (Donna Reed).

But her brother wasn’t thrilled about the idea. After all, Jim was only a shotgun guard, not nearly good enough for Laurie in his mind. So Jim Guthrie and the brother fought.

Next thing you know, the brother was dead and a dazed Jim was standing over his body, holding a gun. A lynch mob forms, convinced Jim committed the murder. He barely escapes hanging and has been on the run ever since.

Upon Jim’s return, Sheriff Ben East (Stephen Elliott) gives him three hours to find the murderer, then he’s to leave town.

One by one, Guthrie confronts his suspects — Niles, the banker who wanted Laurie for his own, a barber named Deke, a barkeep named Sam and a gambler named Marty.

He’s more determined than ever when he discovers Laurie has married Niles and together they’re raising a son he fathered.

Oh, and he’d like to reunite with Laurie, too. Only she still believes he was responsible for her brother’s death.

Dana Andrews as Jim Guthrie, a man looking for answers from old friends who nearly lynched him in Three Hours to Kill (1954)

Donna Reed as Laurie Hendricks, the woman whose life could be torn apart by Jim Guthrie’s return in Three Hours to Kill (1954)

Review:

Neat little who-dun-it that proves a Western doesn’t have to be chock full of gunplay or two hours long to be effective.

For one thing, the characters have more depth than usual for a B Western. For instance, Richard Coogan plays Niles, a man as eager to see Jim dead as vice versa. He’s tormented by the notion that Laurie’s memories of Jim stand between them and the happy life they could have.

One of the best performances is turned in by Dianne Foster as Chris Palmer. She’s a red-headed saloon girl who loves Jim, if only he could get Laurie out of his mind.

The film also offers up a neat — and not so predictable — ending.

Richard Coogan as Niles Hendricks, the banker and rancher who winds up marrying Laurie in Three Hours to Kill (1954)

Stephen Elliott as Sheriff Ben East, the man who gives Jim Guthrie three hours to find a killer in Three Hours to Kill (1954)

Directed by:
Alfred Werker

Cast:
Dana Andrews … Jim Guthrie
Donna Reed … Laurie Hendricks
Richard Coogan … Niles Hendricks
Dianne Foster … Chris Palmer
Stephen Elliott … Sheriff Ben East
Laurence Hugo … Marty Lasswell
James Westerfield … Sam Minor
Richard Webb … Carter Mastin
Carolyn Jones … Polly
Charlotte Fletcher … Betty
Whit Bissell … Deke

Runtime: 77 min.

Whit Bissell as Deke, coming face to face with a friend he once tried to lynch in Three Hours to Kill (1954)

James Westerfield as Sam Minor, trying to avoid blame for a murder and near lynching in Three Hours to Kill (1954)

Memorable lines:

Polly to gambler Marty Lasswell: “I’m glad you decided to go. I wouldn’t have mourned for you if you stayed. I don’t look so good in black.”

Chris Palmer to Jim Guthrie: “Anyone who fights the past ought to be told the facts. Can’t be done.”

Chris Palmer to Jim Guthrie: “We’re two of a kind, a pair of idiots. And you want to know why? You’re one because you won’t let yourself forget that night. And I’m one because I wouldn’t let myself forget you.”

Chris Palmer: “You’re the one who can stop Jim, just like that.”
Laurie Hendricks: “How?”
Chris: “By telling him you still love him. What are you afraid of?”
Laurie: “I can’t do that to Niles.”
Chris: “Why? You cheat your husband every day you live with him pretending you love him when all the time you’re sick with wanting another man.”

Dianne Foster as Chris Palmer, the saloon owner who can’t get over her feelings for Jim Guthrie in Three Hours to Kill (1954)

Dana Andrews as Jim Guthrie, showing off the scar he still bears from nearly being lynched in Three Hours to Kill (1954)

Laurence Hugo as gambler Mary Lasswell, making a play for Chris Palmer in Three Hours to Kill (1954)

Richard Webb as Carter Mastin, the protective older brother who refuses to bless a union between his sister Laurie and Jim Guthrie in Three Hours to Kill (1954)

Dana Andrews as Jim Guthrie, reunited with the woman he hoped to marry in Three Hours to Kill (1954)

Carolyn Jones as Polly and Charlotte Fletcher as Betty, trying to convince gambler Marty Lasswell (Laurence Hugo) to leave town with them in Three Hours to Kill (1954)

Donna Reed as Laurie Hendricks, concerned because Jim Guthrie has just learned her secret in Three Hours to Kill (1954)

Dianne Foster as Chris Palmer confronted with the return of Jim Guthrie (Dana Andrews) in Three Hours to Kill (1954)