Clint Walker plays Dave Harmon, the new marshal sent to bring law to Yuma, a town where marshals don’t seem to last long.
At least that’s what he’s told by town boss Nels Decker (Barry Sullivan) shortly after gunning down the drunken son of a cattle baron (Morgan Woodward as Arch King).
But there are other problems Harmon will have to deal with, such as sorting out who’s cheating the Indians out of their promised rations.
And with Arch King heading to Yuma, he has to solve the mystery of who killed King’s other brother. He was gunned down from behind with Harmon’s shotgun during an attempted jailbreak.
Harmon’s also on a personal mission; his son and wife were killed, he holds a cavalry officer responsible.
So any job assignment near a cavalry post gives him an opportunity to look for clues about the identity of that man.
Clint Walker as Dave Harmon, the new lawman who arrives in Yuma (1971)
Barry Sullivan as Nels Decker, the man used to calling the shots in Yuma (1971)
Review:
A film pilot for a proposed TV series that was bypassed by ABC, this makes for decent entertainment as a stand-alone film.
It’s certainly filled with familiar faces, including Sullivan as a villain and Edgar Buchanan as a freighter who spends more time fishing than working.
As for Walker, he takes a bullied young Mexican boy under his wing and begins to cozy up to the pretty gal who runs the local hotel (Kathyrn Hays as Julie Williams).
One downside: The ridiculous dialogue put into the mouth of the Indian chief. “Star man?” Oh, my.
Kathryn Hays as Julie Williams, the hotel manager Harmon starts to fall for in Yuma (1971)
Miguel Alejandro as Andres, the Mexican boy Harmon takes under his wing in Yuma (1971)
Directed by:
Ted Post
Cast:
Clint Walker … Dave Harmon
Barry Sullivan … Nels Decker
Kathryn Hays … Julie Williams
Edgar Buchanan … Mules McNeil
Morgan Woodward … Arch King
Peter Mark Richman … Maj. Lucas
Robert Phillips … Sanders
Miguel Alejandro … Andres
John Kerr … Capt. White
Bing Russell … Rol King
Bruce Glover … Sam King
Runtime: 73 min.
Morgan Woodward as Arch King, the rancher who wants to avenge his brothers in Yuma (1971)
Edgar Buchanan as Mules McNeil, the freighter who can’t compete with Decker in Yuma (1971)
Memorable lines:
Julie Williams, as new Yuma Marshal Dave Harmon prepares to rent a room: “Ten dollars a week, marshal. In advance. The last officer of the law didn’t stay a week. And I didn’t collect either.”
Marshal Harmon, dropping a wad of bills on the hotel counter: “A month in advance.”
Julie: “Well, at least you’re an optimist.”
Maj. Lucas, as Marshal Harmon heads off in search of Capt. White: “If he’s guilty, he’ll face a court martial.:
Marshal Harmon: “If he’s guilty, he’ll face me.”
Indian chief: “Where our cattle, star man?”
Indian chief: “Hunger make anger. Anger make war. We come, get cattle.”
Robert Phillips as Sanders, the man who does Decker’s dirty work in Yuma (1971)
Peter Mark Richman as Maj. Lucas, the commander of the nearby fort in Yuma (1971)
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