MovieChat Forums > Hour of the Gun (1967) Discussion > A Great Line Exchange

A Great Line Exchange

posted 18 years ago by ecarle
4 replies | jump to latest

Near the end of this sharp version of the Wyatt Earp-Doc Holliday buddy legend, Wyatt Earp (James Garner) and his old, dying friend Doc Holliday (Jason Robards) ride alone together south of the border into Mexico and a deserted village where Earp's arch-enemy Ike Clanton is believed to be hiding out.

Earp and Holliday exchange this dialogue:

Doc Holliday: You got some kind of plan?
Wyatt Earp : I have.
Doc Holliday: Want to tell me about it?
Wyatt Earp : We take whoever gets in our way.
Doc Holliday: You call that a plan?
Wyatt Earp: You got a better one?

Doc Holliday (after a pause): No.

What's great is how Jason Robards, as Doc Holliday, says "no." He says it in the tired voice of a man who could die at any moment. He says it with a certain resignation. He says it as if deciding that he'll stick by his friend Earp to the end.

It's one of the best readings of the word "no" I've ever heard in a movie.

[–] johnburrows51 18 years ago

I agree. I love Robards' portrayal as well as Garner's. They are right up there with Kevin Costner and Dennis Quaid in Wyatt Earp.

[–] jztzt 12 years ago

He doesn't portray Doc as merely a one dimensional caustic and bitter human being. He is not a pleasant man and even though his morality and conscience are corrupt due to being hardened by life and drinking, he is still loyal to Wyatt and wants to do some good before he dies. He seems to be troubled and plagued by inner demons. I don't think it's just acting. Some of the character may have come directly from Robards's personal life. It's an inspired performance. Robert Ryan also gives a good performance. He is able to deliver dialogue with utter conviction and looks levelheaded and calm all the time. He is cold and calculating without acting with a great deal of effort.

[–] nutsberryfarm 8 years ago

very good, indeed.

🌴"I'm not making art, I'm making sushi." Masaharu Morimoto🌴

[–] dt123 7 years ago

If you want to see how great an actor Robards is, get yourself a copy of any script of any movie he's been in, read the script, then see the movie. I did this years ago with Long Days's Journey Into Night, and was fascinated by his choices of how to deliver each of his lines. In fact, in that particular movie, every single actor displayed their genius. I'd love to find the script to this one.