Tom Horn (1980) User Reviews

Odd, Haunting, Noir-Like Western

[ccthemovieman-1 · 8/10 · 28 December 2007]

This is an odd movie. It's a western, but also is like a film noir where few people, if any, do the right things and the usual Hollywood happy ending is non-existent. It almost leaves you depressed. In fact, it does. Yet, I was glad to have finally seen this movie, however, even if it was so long overdue, and think that many of the poor reviews (not here) are unjustified.

This movie is SO Steve McQueen: a tough guy with few words, a likeble man ("Tom Horn,"the title character) who gets the job done no matter how tough the assignment; a guy the prettiest woman in town goes for and a man who gets respect of the other (good) men in town. However, unlike many of his roles, the last 20-30 minutes reveals a totally unique character, and one that is puzzling.

Viewers of this would not be blamed for yelling at the screen, imploring "Tom" to "say something in your defense! Speak up!! Tell everyone you are innocent!"

McQueen's "Horn" either is resigned to leaving the world perhaps the way he thought he should, with a shrug of his shoulders as if saying "that's the way it goes" or he's imitating Jesus Christ, who did similar when he spent his last day in kangaroo courts. He, too, wouldn't answer questions and state the obvious. To paraphrase McQueen in this story, it's like, "Hey, if you don't know who I am and what I'm all about I am by now, well....do what you gotta do."

Anyway, much of the film is a good western, nicely photographed and uniquely low-key with McQueen hired by a bunch of ranchers (an "Association") to put a stop to all the rustling that has been going on in the area recently. He does just that. In fact, he apparently does his job TOO well.

Depsite this being a quiet movie, the action scenes are quick and very violent. Yet, McQueen and many of his friends in here are so low-key it makes for a strange western....and oddly fascinating, I thought. A pity this isn't better known, especially since it was McQueen's second-to-last film before dying of cancer. He looks different, too. He doesn't look well and it must have taken some courage to make this film feeling as he did. Despite the haggard looks, underneath, it's the same old Steve.

"I am afraid of losing my ability to be able to come and go as I please."

[Nazi_Fighter_David · 7/10 · 17 November 2007]

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

Someday, you're going to have to pay for your way of life, Tom.

[hitchcockthelegend · 7/10 · 22 September 2019]

Tom Horn is directed by William Wiard and adapted to screenplay by Thomas McGuane and Bud Schrake from Horn's own autobiography. It stars Steve McQueen, Linda Evans, Richard Farnsworth, Billy Green Bush and Slim Pickens. Music is by Ernest Gold and cinematography by John A. Alonzo.

Plot finds McQueen as legendary army tracker - turned hired gun - Tom Horn, who is hired by Wyoming ranchers to see off cattle rustlers, only to see them turn against him when his methods threaten their reputation.

As a big fan of both Westerns as a genre and McQueen (in the process of getting the cancer that would kill him) the actor, it's tricky trying to review Tom Horn (and his final film "The Hunter") without the heart ruling the head. Fact is, is that Tom Horn is not the glorious hard hitting Tom Horn picture that the character demands. It looks fabulous, is very melancholic, and McQueen is genuinely affecting in his performance, but the production problems (various attached directors, rewrites etc) are evident and give us a film of what might have been.

Nonetheless, this is no stinker, in fact, it's a very reflective piece dealing with a man out of his time - and he knows it. The narrative is strong on the end of the so called Wild West, a changing of the times, where law and order is about to finally become the dominant force. Horn was the man who helped bring in the mighty Geronimo, which gives the makers a chance to not only nod towards respect for the great Apache chief as a plot device, but to also let Horn, in McQueen's hands, show us a resignation of time being up for his kind.

One dodgy "special effect" aside, when the violence is required for the story it is an adrenaline jolt, this is because the tone of the piece is ultimately sombre. The hazy romantic thread between Horn and Glendolene Kimmel (Evans is fine in a thankless role) is suffering from flashback overkill, but the tender feel to it sits comfortably within the pic's earnest intention. The political aspects strike the required chord for narrative worth, and the key aspect of Horn's ultimate fate being based on fact or otherwise? is deftly handled.

Poor editing and a number of "time filling shots" grate a little, and if not prepared for a sombre pic then this will disappoint. Yet there's a lot of beauty here and if you be a fan of McQueen or not, his turn is brave, committed and very engaging. 7/10

Actually a better film than advertised

[Virgil_Hilts_1964 · 14 January 2004]

I often wonder how pre video audiences were able to take in the full effect and minor nuances of films as we can today. Watching a film again and again allows one to really study the work and pick up the director's deep intent for character and plot.

Watching Tom Horn a few times allows one to see that it really is a good movie. And after more than 20 years in motion pictures, McQueen finally just fits into his role, and does not "act" or play Steve McQueen.

The first scenes are excellent. McQueen establishes his character as a man who knows, and has seen most of, what the west is about. He knows who he is, and what he's accomplished, so he doesn't need to brag. The way he virtually walks into a fight in the bar with the pompous British fighter and his manager is superb. "Well, if he ain't won the fight yet, then he ain't the champ yet" is delivered with believable aplomb. When he says the guy's mother would have to stand on his shoulders just to kiss Geronimo's ass it is priceless. Especially good is his question "OK, if I win this fight, then does that make ME champion of the world?" He knows he is going to get his butt kicked but does all this for principle's sake. His running out the door and yelling oh s***, then throwing the plate of food at the fighter is one of the better acting sequences done anywhere.

His work as the stock detective is classic McQueen without his earlier years of mugging and panning. Good stuff.

The open spaces of this film, and Horn's subsequent incarceration gave me a feeling of freedom and claustrophobia. It worked well

Old McQueen is as bad ass like young McQueen

[Maziun · 7/10 · 23 February 2014]

This is unfairly forgotten western from the decade were western were slowly dying until the 1985. " Tom Horn" deserves more praise , since this is a good western and one of last movies of Steve McQueen. It's his last good movie.

The movie is full of brilliant dialogues. I don't remember when was the last time I have seen a movie where almost every exchange is intelligent and funny. The movie is worth watching for the dialogues alone.

The story is a little predictable , but the movie is well directed by William Wiard and grips you from start to finish. I felt sad at the end and that was the whole point.

The movie made me sad , because it was not only the goodbye to Tom Horn, but also to Steve McQueen ("Papillon") . Both were heroes from the past that were slowly dying in a changing world that didn't need them. McQueen did make one more movie after this one , but for me this is his good bye. A good movie and a great farewell to wonderful actor.

I give it 7/10.

Good western

[mm-39 · 7/10 · 26 July 2000]

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.

McQueen's last film as famous gunfighter who takes the justice on his own hands

[ma-cortes · 6/10 · 21 May 2011]

Interesting but boring Western about the last days of a real-life Wyoming gunslinger named Tom Horn with Steve McQueen in the title role. The movie has its moments here and there but results to be a little bit tiring and slow-moving . It's a melancholy chronicle and near bittersweet dealing with the last exploits of Horn who is shown as hired hand to eliminate some rustlers . Good support cast who provides the best moments as Richard Farnsworth as old-timer who hires Horn , Slim Pickens and Billy Green Bush , both of them as Sheriffs , furthermore a beautiful Linda Evans and brief performance by the eternal secondary Elisha Cook Jr . Marvelously filmed by the classic cameraman John A Alonzo and good musical score by Ernest Gold . The motion picture produced by McQueen and Fred Weintraub is professionally -though with no originality- directed by William Wiard.

The picture is based on true events , the deeds are the following : Although his official title was always "Range Detective", he actually functioned as a killer for hire. In 1900 he was implicated in the murder of two known rustlers and robbery suspects in northwest Colorado. During his involvement in the Wilcox Train Robbery investigation, Horn obtained information from Bill Speck that revealed which of the robbers had killed Sheriff Josiah Hazen, who had been shot and killed during the pursuit of the robbers. He passed this information on to Charlie Siringo, who was working the case by that time for the Pinkerton's. He left that line of work briefly to serve a stint in the Army during the Spanish American War. Before he could steam from Tampa for Cuba, he contracted malaria. When his health recovered he returned to Wyoming. Shortly after his return, in 1901, Horn began working for wealthy cattle baron John C. Coble .Willie Nickell murder, Horn's arrest and trial. On July 18, 1901, Horn was once again working near Iron Mountain when Willie Nickell, the 14-year-old son of a sheepherding rancher, was murdered. Horn was arrested for the murder after a questionable confession to Joe Lefors, an office deputy in the US Marshal's office, in 1902. Horn was convicted and hanged in Cheyenne in 1903 .During Horn's trial, the prosecution introduced a vague confession by Horn to Lefors, taken while he was intoxicated. Only certain parts of Horn's statement were introduced, distorting the significance of the statement. Additionally, testimony by at least two witnesses, including lawman Lefors, was presented by the prosecution, as well as circumstantial evidence that only placed him in the general vicinity of the crime scene.Glendolene M. Kimmell, a school teacher who knew the Miller family, testified on the Millers behalf during the Inquest.It is still debated whether Horn committed the murder. Some historians believe he did not, while others believe that he did, but that he did not realize he was shooting a boy. Whatever the case, the consensus is that regardless of whether he committed that particular murder, he had certainly committed many others. Chip Carlson, who extensively researched the Wyoming v. Tom Horn prosecution, concluded that although Horn could have committed the murder of Willie Nickell, he probably did not. According to Carlson's book Tom Horn: Blood on the Moon, there was no actual evidence that Horn had committed the murder, he was last seen in the area the day before the murder, his alleged confession was valueless as evidence, and no efforts were made to investigate involvement by other possible suspects. In essence, Horn's reputation and history made him an easy target for the prosecution. Execution Tom Horn has the distinction of being one of the few people in the "Wild West" to have been hanged by an automated process. A Cheyenne architect named James P. Julian designed the contraption in 1892, earning the name "The Julian Gallows", which made the condemned man hang himself. The trap door was connected to a lever which pulled the plug out of a barrel of water. This would cause a lever with a counterweight to rise, pulling on the support beam under the gallows. When enough pressure was applied, this would cause the beam to break free, opening the trap and hanging the condemned man. Tom Horn was buried in the Columbia Cemetery in Boulder, Colorado.

Off-beat McQueen Film

[angelsunchained · 7/10 · 13 March 2022]

Tom Horn is a slow moving, off-beat film for "The King of Cool," Steve McQueen. With that said, Mcqueen gives a creditable performance as Western Gunfighter "Legend", Tom Horn. McQueen looks worn-out, listless and preoccupied. Of course we now know he was suffering from terminal lung cancer. I always liked Steve McQueen and liked this film, but not one of his best. Like the real Tom Horn; both men did their thing and both died way before their time.

A morally-acute western

[paul2001sw-1 · 6/10 · 18 February 2005]

The growth of social organisation brings with it rights for individuals, but also restrictions, and a concomitant institutionalisation of imbalances of power and wealth. It's therefore not surprising that so many westerns have been set in the dying days of the "old west", when a world of lawless freedom was succumbing to the extension of the formal power of the state. The tone is usually romantic and nostalgic for a dying era, but frequently, such films are marred by a tendency to associate the ability to shoot straight (a typically defining characteristic of their heroes) with moral virtue. The hero is the hero because he can kill the bad guys; the fact that lawlessness most often means the bad guys kill the heroes is conveniently ignored, while the law is stigmatised as corrupt.

'Tom Horn', Steve MacQueen's penultimate film, is an uncommonly strong western, even though Horn is both a sharp shooter and morally virtuous. But the film never suggests that these two qualities are causally linked; rather, the connection is incidental, and spells potential tragedy for the man. The difference in emphasis between this film and, say, Clint Eastwood's 'Unforgiven' is subtle but crucial: whereas in that film, Eastwood's character was presented as morally compelled to kill, Horn is simply the victim of living through times where the boundaries of individual licence are coming under strain. MacQueen was a strange actor, he hardly seems to act as such and in this film already looks ill, but he carries the role quietly and unpretentiously. Although there are films that look deeper into the human psyche, and as an action film 'Tom Horn' is no certainly no 'Bullitt', it's a thoughtful effort that stands above most of its genre.

Brilliant Performance By McQueen

[jhclues · 10/10 · 13 September 2000]

**Contains Possible Spoilers** A dramatization based on the true story of a legendary frontiersman, `Tom Horn' depicts the final years in the life of this tracker, interpreter and hero of the Apache Wars. Steve McQueen portrays Horn, who drifts into Wyoming Territory in 1901. There he makes the acquaintance of cattle rancher John Coble (Richard Farnsworth), who brings Horn's presence to the attention of the `Cattlemen's Association.' There's been an ongoing problem with rustlers, not to mention the encroachment of sheep ranchers, and the association has been endeavoring to find a solution. In Horn, whose reputation precedes him, they see the answer to their problems, much to the consternation of Marshall Joe Belle (Billy Green Bush), who feels slighted in the matter; his ego, it seems, is even more pronounced than his own reputation. They hire Horn as a `Stock Detective,' and give him free rein as to how he must deal with cattle rustlers; whether to shoot, or bring them in, is entirely up to him. In little more than a year's time, the rustling has stopped; Horn has done his job well. Too well, in fact. It seems that he's become a bit too `high profile,' and after an incident in town, during which Horn kills a man in self defense, the members of the association, as well as Joe Belle, conclude that Horn is now their biggest problem. The last thing they want is to have their names appearing in newspapers, connecting them in any way with Horn or any of the recent killings. They want to be rid of him, and for good, but they don't know how to go about it. Soon thereafter, on one of the nearby sheep ranches, a fifteen-year-old boy is shot and killed in cold blood, by a rifle shot from a distance of two hundred and thirteen yards. Though an obvious set-up, Horn is subsequently arrested, and put on trial, for the murder of the boy. McQueen gives a performance here that is nothing less than remarkable. He deftly captures the essence of the rugged, loner cowboy, with a subtle, somewhat subdued approach that gives total credibility to his character. Horn is a cowboy, a product of the old west who has spent a lifetime killing and avoiding being killed, and like so many others of his time, is merely trying to adapt to a new century, a new era. Just another guy looking for work; and this is the Tom Horn that McQueen delivers to the screen, perceptively avoiding any feigned heroics or superfluous contrivances that would have given him that sense of being larger-than-life. His Tom Horn is a proud man, without being steeped in ego; and it's that down-to-earth attitude that makes him real, and gives distinction to this film. Director William Wiard does an exceptional job of formulating an appropriate atmosphere, and maintaining it throughout the film, which underscores the stoic nature of the story. He's made a pensive, penetrating western, realistically integrating the necessary violence into the natural fabric of the story. There's nothing gratuitous here; another aspect for which Wiard should be commended, because it adds even more to the impact of the climax. With an excellent supporting cast which includes Linda Evans (Glendolene), Slim Pickens (Sam), Roy Jenson (Mendenhour) and Geoffrey Lewis (Walter Stoll), `Tom Horn' is an honest study of life during an era of change; of the politics and prevailing attitudes that contributed to the shaping of a new century. And of the individuals, who in the final analysis, made a difference. I rate this one 10/10.

Flawed, but worth it for the star

[gsygsy · 7/10 · 25 August 2015]

Steve McQueen's credentials as an action man are not in doubt, but he's under-rated as an actor. If you're unfamiliar with the quality of his work, this movie is an excellent place to start. He gives one of his very best performances as Tom Horn, personification of the Old West with all its strengths, flaws and contradictions. He's well supported by Richard Farnsworth, Billy Green Bush, Linda Evans and Slim Pickens.

The screenplay is somehow awry. Linda Evans' character articulates a moral judgement about Tom Horn that seems to come out of nowhere. This is because her world-view is not sufficiently set out by the script. Things like this litter the film, weakening its impact. Similarly, shots of poetic sunrises and sunsets are thrown in without any sense of appropriateness: they just seem arbitrary. And the estimable Ernest Gold was not a good choice to compose the score: his symphonic approach is, to no good purpose, at odds with the acting style. The director, William Wiard, was an experienced TV hand who feels out of his depth handling the bigger picture, although individual scenes are controlled pretty well.

All in all, McQueen is the reason to see this movie, although its fundamental theme - the duplicity of vested interests - is unfortunately as current as ever

Underrated classic

[david_blakemore · 10/10 · 26 January 2004]

Such a shame that the last two films Steve McQueen made didn't do very well, although it was probably a lot fairer on The Hunter which had the potential to be a great film, but the plot lost it way a bit. Tom Horn is considered to be one of the last great westerns, which Unforgiven was influenced by and got the recognition that Tom Horn didn't.

The scenery is amazing especially the shot of the court with the sunset as the verdict is been given. This is such a great film, nothing more, nothing less.

"Well you're talking about the high side of shootin' and the low side of the law."

[classicsoncall · 7/10 · 30 January 2013]

I'd been waiting for some time to finally catch this on the Encore Western Channel and now that I've seen it I'm sadly underwhelmed. The real Tom Horn was one of the most tragic gunfighters of the Old West, but the story here only deals with the last couple years of his life, just as it's star was sadly winding down his. Steve McQueen has always been one of my favorite TV cowboy and movie action heroes, and it was discomfiting to see him trudge through this role knowing that his end was near from the ravages of mesothelioma.

A better film would have had a young McQueen portray the former Army chief of scouts who left home at fourteen to escape an abusive father, live with the Apaches, and later track Geronimo to his eventual capture. As a Pinkerton agent, Horn grew dissatisfied with the legal bureaucracy and became a 'stock detective' capturing rustlers, only to become disillusioned by the corruption of the legal system. As his own man, Tom Horn became judge, jury and executioner, crossing the line from soldier to assassin, placing a rock under his dispatched victims as a personal signature.

The events leading to the eventual incarceration and execution of Horn are depicted accurately enough, though I don't know why it was necessary to change the names of the characters. The young boy Jimmy Nolt is a stand-in for William Nickles, the murdered son of a Wyoming sheep rancher. Fans of "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid" will probably recognize the name of lawman Joe Lafors; it was Lafors who tricked Horn into confessing to the murder of Nickles.

Sad as it is to see McQueen go through the motions, I had the sense that he was giving it his all in one of his final pictures. The look on his face as he prepares his character for the gallows seems to presage his own passing in a few short months and you have to wonder how much of that weighed on his mind during the filming of that scene. Personally, I prefer to go with my youthful memories of McQueen as one of my all time favorite characters, that of bounty hunter Josh Randall.

Disappointing western

[Vartiainen · 1/10 · 29 December 2013]

What makes this movie at least partially interesting is the fact that it's based on the writings of actual Tom Horn, an Old West lawman, outlaw and gunfighter. Keeping that in mind helps as you watch this movie, because it doesn't really follow a typical western or even movie plot. There's something of a story arc present, but there are certain scenes that can only be explained if you remember that they tried to represent a real life, which rarely follows storytelling conventions.

That still leaves us with the problem that this movie doesn't really follow those conventions. This is a problem, because you cannot squeeze decades of life into a few hours if don't know how to tell a story, how to artfully skip over details and allude to other things and consequences. Tom Horn does some of that, but it's still the most boring and confusing western I've ever seen. Character motivations are poorly established or they seem to change between scenes - I theorize this is because the real life events probably took place over significant amount of time, which the movie doesn't establish at all. Likewise the setting is just your typical western setting, which is a huge missed opportunity. When you're using a real life character, use a real life town and give it an identity. And then there's the ending, which I thought a total cop-out, but it is explained somewhat by the "based on real events" thing, so in retrospect it wasn't THAT bad.

Still, Steve McQueen is rather good as Tom Horn, the rest of the actors are passable, the film looks fine given its age and if you like westerns, you should get your fix of cattle ranches, big open plains, gunfights and blue skies from this film.

Not a good film in my opinion, mostly because they didn't seem to know how to adapt the original writings to a working film. Shame, because the actual story is interesting. Western fans might find some enjoyment from this, but the rest of us are left feeling cold.

Give Credit Where It's Due!

[norm1972_8 · 26 January 2005]

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.

Worthy of some respect.

[Hey_Sweden · 7/10 · 5 February 2020]

The next-to-last movie vehicle for the "King of Cool" stars Steve McQueen as the title character. Tom Horn is a veteran enforcer of the Old West who drifts into turn-of-the-20th-century Wyoming. He goes to work for rancher John C. Coble (Richard Farnsworth), tracking down cattle rustlers. Much of the running time is devoted to showing Horn in action, and watching him romance a pretty schoolteacher played by Linda Evans. Eventually, he is believed to have killed a kid, and is put on trial for the murder.

This viewer would not consider "Tom Horn" a 'deadly' film. It's a perfectly serviceable, reasonably entertaining story about an interesting, enigmatic character. He's one of those Western personages who was out of step with changing times, and it didn't seem as if some people really knew what to do with him, or make of him. Directed by William Wiard, a TV veteran making his only theatrical filmmaking venture, this is beautifully shot (by John A. Alonzo) and nicely scored (by Ernest Gold). It also features an exemplary cast of familiar faces: Billy Green Bush, Slim Pickens, Elisha Cook Jr., Roy Jenson, Geoffrey Lewis, Harry Northup, Bill Thurman, Mickey Jones, etc.

One has to admire McQueen for throwing himself completely into these projects, despite being sick with cancer. He once again shows us what screen presence is all about.

Although largely played straight, this is not without humorous touches. The scene with Horn learning how to eat lobster is a highlight. Although Evans' character doesn't really advance the plot in any way, she is appealing and her character does help to bring out the sensitive side of the Horn character.

There is also a later TV movie called 'Mr. Horn', starring David Carradine, but apparently this version is the more factual and realistic of the two.

Atmospheric and fairly somber, this is definitely worth watching for McQueen fans.

Seven out of 10.

According to the movie, he was just too good at his job.

[planktonrules · 7/10 · 3 February 2015]

"Tom Horn" is Steve McQueen's second to last film. I saw some folks call it his penultimate movie--which is true, but how many people know that penultimate means the same as second to last?! In the movie, he plays a real life character--a gunman in the west that was a hired gun and reportedly killed a lot of people. However, when he's hired by a cattlemen's association to stop rustling and chase sheep herders of the land, he's way too good at it and kills quite a few folks. Because of this, it caused bad publicity and a desire to hang him as a scapegoat--at least that's what you see in the film. In reality, there's quite a bit of debate as to whether or not Horn was guilty, though there did seem to be a bit of a rush to judgment considering that the evidence against him was minimal.

This is a rather straight-forward sort of film. It is pretty violent at times and has some slow moments, but otherwise it's well made and interesting. Not a great film but a very good one.

Interesting, and different, western. Moving, and thought-provoking.

[grantss · 7/10 · 11 October 2020]

Steve McQueen, in his penultimate movie, plays Tom Horn, and was perfectly cast. McQueen was dying of cancer when he made the movie, and his character is a man out of time, at the end of his life. Supporting cast includes Linda Evans and Slim Pickens.

Realistic Modern Western

[michaelarmer · 7/10 · 12 February 2020]

Steve McQueen is not as cool here as his usual roles, but he is cool in a different way, he is showing his age and illness, looking a bit rough, but the sparkle in his eyes was still there. His acting is still good.

Linda Evans looks good in her small role, and the supporting actors are good, especially Richard Farnsworth.

It is set in Wyoming but filmed in Arizona, I'm not sure why, but it looks very realistic, a bit bleak as it is set in Winter, but that's reality, the scenery is ok, photography is good, the music matches the bleakness, the direction and editing is a bit off though, you notice the gaps between scenes, the film is a bit boring, because it is so realistic, but most of the scenes are great, filled with period atmosphere, the story is great as well, although partially ruined, about the last period of a real cowboy's life, Tom Horn, where he is hired by a group of ranchers to rid themselves of cattle rustlers, but after he kills a few, they want rid of him, killing a boy and framing him for it, then fix it so he gets hung, a bit sad and despairing.

But despite editing and not being made too well, it is still a good film, if it were made better we would be talking about one of the best, but it was not to be, McQueen was on his way out so I suppose he couldn't give it his all, shame.

disappointing

[greenforest56 · 6/10 · 2 October 2005]

I'm a fan of both Westerns and Steve McQueen, but I found this film disappointing. I think the script was there, the material was good. The casting and directing were decidedly poor as were the performances of the cast.

The only exception was Slim Pickens who played Slim Pickens quite well. McQueen's performance rose only to average. This is the next to last picture McQueen made before his death. His son said that he had lost his passion or interest in acting as he aged and I think this performance shows that.

This film succeeds on the strength of the story alone. The only minor success is the authentic costuming.

It is a film worth watching, just don't have high expectations. It's no Papillion or Bullit.

Hanging Scene

[gverdin-1 · 9/10 · 8 December 2006]

This film removes any doubt that at this stage of his career Steve McQueen had moved beyond his King of Cool persona and had become a great actor. The hanging scene is especially moving in light of the fact McQueen was dying of cancer. When he looks at his real-life good buddy Slim Pickens and tells him "Keep your nerve Sam, 'cause I'm gonna keep mine", it's one of the most poignant farewells in movie history. It's a shame that this was not Mc Queen's final moment on film, or that "Tom Horn" was not his final movie.

Instead, that distinction went to the "The Hunter," an earnest but flawed action movie. Yet, even here, McQueen manages to impress with his self-deprecating humor: his inept driving and his "I'm too old for this s**t" facial expressions.

Pretty Good Final Western From McQueen

[sixshootersonny · 7/10 · 25 June 2019]

Here Steve McQueen plays real-life Tom Horn who was involved with assisting in the capture of Geronimo. That is not what this film is about though, it is about the final days of Tom Horn and putting into question his murder of 14 year-old Willie Nickell.

Steve McQueen's coolness just bleeds out onto the screen. But, its not just him that makes this film so watchable as there is a great supporting cast as well. There is a fabulous opening shot of McQueen with his horse by the fire. He is perfectly silent as he is introduced.

Tom Horn is hired by some ranchers including John C. Coble (Richard Farnsworth) to get some cattle back that had been stolen from them. It is through this job that you learn that Horn doesn't mess around and gets into some trouble in being thought to have shot a 14 year-old boy. Horn also meets and falls in love with Glendolene Kimmel (Linda Evans) and I can feel a wonderful chemistry that the two characters shared.

Like any other real good western there is some beautiful scenery and more than capably directed by William Wiard. Also some what I feel is some good old school music by Ernest Gold.

McQueen also acted as executive producer, also starring Billy Green Bush who is really good as U.S. Marshal Joe Belle, Slim Pickens as Sheriff Sam Creedmore, Elisha Cook as the stablehand and Geoffrey Lewis as Walter Stoll.

Even Legends Outlive Their Time

[bkoganbing · 9/10 · 6 October 2007]

Steve McQueen's next to last film was a study of western legend Tom Horn and the last job he took in Wyoming as an enforcer for the big ranchers in 1903.

McQueen's real life Tom Horn is in the same dilemma as the fictional John Bernard Books that John Wayne created for The Shootist. He's outlived his time. Still when prosperous rancher Richard Farnsworth for the Cattleman's Association persuades the members to hire Horn to deal with rustlers in Brokeback Mountain country, Horn takes the job because it's what he does.

That includes dispensing justice from the barrel of a gun with no regard for due process which was slowly taking hold even in such remote and unsettled places that Wyoming had and still has. He can't do things the way The Virginian did them and get away with it. The Cattlemen's Association with the exception of Farnsworth puts plenty of distance between themselves and Horn.

When a 15 year old boy turns up dead, shot with the same kind of rifle Horn uses, on some very flimsy evidence he's arrested. What I found ironic was at the trial apparently judge and lawyers on both sides never heard of the Fifth Amendment and compel Horn's testimony. They didn't offer nor did Horn take the legal provisions against self incrimination.

In the end unlike Books in relatively civilized Carson City choosing the manner of his demise, Horn gets hung probably for a crime he didn't commit, but mostly because he was an anachronism in the 20th Century.

Steve McQueen turns in a good performance as the aging Horn and such fine players as Linda Evans, Billy Green Bush, Slim Pickens, the aforementioned Richard Farnsworth ably support McQueen.

Tom Horn is a fascinating of the man of the frontier who had no place to go and no place to practice his trade, even if that trade was hired gunslinger.

The passing of the Old West with Steve McQueen

[Wuchakk · 6/10 · 17 November 2020]

The legendary Tom Horn was a cowboy, a scout, a stage coach worker, a soldier assisting with the capture of Geronimo, a Pinkerton, a range detective and he fought at The Battle of San Juan Hill with Teddy Roosevelt's Rough Riders. In 1901 we rides into the Wyoming Territory at 40 years of age where he is hired to kill rustlers, but is eventually accused of shooting a 14 year-old shepherd boy, a crime for which most authorities believe he was framed.

"Tom Horn" (1980) was reportedly a troubled production. Steve McQueen in the title role had a passion for the project, which took three years to bring to the screen. He did much research, but was diagnosed with fatal mesothelioma in late 1979. McQueen wasn't able to work with several directors, including Clint Eastwood's mentor Don Siegel and "A Man Called Horse" director Elliot Silverstein; he ended up unofficially taking the reins, although William Wiard is credited in the position.

While some critics say the movie comes across as a mess and base this on the fact that McQueen was working from two different scripts, I never felt lost watching it. The story's pretty simple, really, with a few flashbacks to Tom's relationship with a love interest (Linda Evans). The film's fittingly funereal with flashes of great violence and a bit o' low-key humor. It has authenticity in its favor, no doubt due to McQueen's research. It just FEELS like the way it really was in the Old West at the turn of the century. Unfortunately, it wasn't shot in Wyoming, but rather about 800 miles southwest of the real-life locations.

In Jail, Horn wrote his autobiography "Life of Tom Horn: Government Scout and Interpreter," which was published after his death in 1904. Horn was one the few people in the Old West to have been executed by a water-powered gallows, known as the "Julian Gallows," which is depicted in the movie.

The film runs 1 hour, 37 minutes, and was shot entirely in Arizona (Patagonia, Sonoita, Portal, San Raphael Valley, etc.). The cast includes Western notables like Slim Pickens, Richard Farnsworth, Geoffrey Lewis, Roy Jenson and Elisha Cook Jr.

GRADE: B-/B

Rather bland and disappointing

[p-jonsson · 4/10 · 13 February 2013]

This is another one of those movies that I have vague memories of having seen when I was a kid. I probably did since my father always watched any western that was shown on TV. My vague memories also include not being too thrilled about this movie at the time and this is maybe not so surprising. After all this movie is quite sad and contains several plot elements that I really dislike: our hero is downright stupid, he is betrayed, journalist falsifies reality, lawyer with political ambitions gets hero sentenced, hero dies. All of it certainly not really my cup of tea.

Now I could appreciate a movie like that if it was really well done but I do not think it was. The acting is pretty much standard Hollywood fare. That is, nothing to write home about. Sometimes the scenery in these Western movies can be really breathtaking but not really in this movie. The fights and shootouts are generally quite silly and not very well done. The story just plows on in a simple linear fashion towards the inevitable sad ending.

What bugs me the most, apart from the crooked journalists and lawyers of course, are the fact that Tom Horn is downright stupid. He walks around in some country boy fog with a silly look on his face for most of the movie. He doesn't understand the fix he is in and he certainly do not cooperate in any way to get out of it. When he finally manages to escape jail, for a very short period of time, he barely walks out of town before he drops the jacket he stole, displaying a white shirt so that he can be spotted as easily as possible, and proceeds to run straight out onto the grassland without a hiding place in sight. That was just so stupid! No, this movie is definitely not my cup of tea.