Ich, Tom Horn

As a McQueen fan I was somewhat disappointed in the film, but at the same time McQueen was ill, but proved that he could stick with a project to the finish. At least this version was more realistic than the David Carradine version "Mr. Horn", which was released in 1979. McQueen's version had a little more historical integrity than the latter version, and was more committed to telling the truth.

McQueen was always a physical actor, and especially in private as one of Bruce Lee's favorite Jeet Kune Do students, the others being James Coburn and Kareem Abdul Jabar. During the scene when Tom Horn escapes and is running from the deputies, I felt that McQueen was giving it his all, and that he knew his time was short, "so why not show the fans I've still got it?" The way he was gasping for air, and just gave up running made me think he wasn't acting, and however he felt after that take hurt me just the same watching it.

So let's not totally ignore what McQueen was trying to do. Even in "The Hunter", which was to go out in a blaze of glory. At that time in 1980, and his condition maybe that was the best he could give us. Still he gave of himself as an actor, an artist, and a professional right when the average guy couldn't, but we all know he wasn't the average guy. So let's give credit to "Tom Horn" where it's due, to it's star, who didn't want to let us down; by simply showing us he could still get in front of the camera and grace us simply with his presence.

My wife thinks this movie is a dirty portrayal of the West. Historians will argue about Horn and the events that happen in this film, but I like it. Do not watch the edited tv version, to get the real brutal feel of this film rent it. It is a good portrayal of how dirty and nasty the frontier really was. The end suits this film very well, and if my wife can watch an entire Western the film is well done.

This was a very good movie. One of my favorites of the west. I think it gives a good account of the actual event. I was in Cheyenne shortly after I saw the movie,the first time, and was able to find out a bit about the actual event.

Really an under-rated film.

Although McQueen is tired (physically) from his cancer, he plays off his physical condition to portray a 19th Century western hero who is past his prime and society's 20th Century double-moral standards.

He is quite believable in this one and manages to avoid playing Steve McQueen "Vin"/Josh Randall.

Half-way through the film you have a pretty good idea how the story will end, but the characterizations are good enough to keep you in your seat or, now with videos, on your couch until the end. This is a well done, decent morality play.

It's interesting that Steve McQueen's last two movies reflect his early screen persona- a cowboy and a bounty hunter (who wore a flight jacket). It is a great tribute to McQueen that he is is still extremely popular with movie goers nearly 25 years after his death.

Directed by William Wiard and based on a true story, "Tom Horn" opens in 1901, in Wyoming, where McQueen meets John C. Coble (Richard Farnsworth) who offered him to ease up at his place for a while… Tom accepted, but he said I'd to earn my keep…

Seeing Horn with great ability with a rifle, and after speaking with the Association, John asks him to eliminate the rustlers who have completely wiped out their herd profits not to mention what the buzzards and the predators have done to their cash crops…

But after one incident has disturbed the Association in town, and the rustling has stopped, they determined to get rid of Horn forgetting he was only doing what they hired him to do… Mc Queen plays well the Indian tracker "scared to death of lobster, the man of the West "afraid to lose his freedom and not be able to get back up in those hills again."

Linda Evans is appealing as the school teacher from Hawaii who saw a man of the Old West trying to live in the New…

Richard Farnsworth is the loyal friend John C. Coble who was quite sure that Tom never killed that kid… John advices him not to try to break out of the jail… He knows he can do it, but it's just admitting his guilt if he tries…

Billy Green Bush is the U.S. Marshal Joe Belle who asks the newspaperman to sit behind the door and write lying down what he hears real good…

Slims Pickens is the old Sheriff Sam Creed who arrested Tom…

With a legendary hero, great photography and good direction "Tom Horn" is very good Western to watch