3:10 to Yuma is one of my favorite films. I have always enjoyed western films and the remake of the original film has a bit of everything that interests me. After watching the original I find many differences between the two films. The newer version has much more of a revisionist feel with the scenes it adds and changes. Something also noticed between the two films is the difference between Dan.
The biggest difference between the two films is the added scenes in the newer film as Dan takes Wade from his home to Yuma. In the newer film we see a deeper story line with Dan and his son Will and the relationship with Dan and Wade. Also in the newer film Dan volunteers to take Wade to Yuma because his family needs the money badly. Dan is not one to go asking for money he likes to do things on his own. He along with Butterfield, Tucker, Doc, and Byron go on an extreme journey to transfer Wade. On the journey Wade kills Tucker and Byron two men who he really does not like and does not respect. Joining the remaining men on the journey is Will after Wade saves everyone’s lives one night from Indians and then tries to escape. Wade does end up escaping and gets captured by rail road developers who touchier him. Dan, Will, Doc, and Butterfield come and rescue him and Wade even helps the men battle to escape the rail road men. Unfortunately Doc gets killed making the numbers get even lower. Wade tries to make himself look like a good guy to Dan and Will and tries to convince Dan to get Will home.
When the group arrives to town Butterfield gets a hotel room they can sneak in and wait for the train. Butterfield calls upon the town sheriff and his men to protect them and get them to the train safely. Dan knows he needs to get Wade to the train to impress Will and have him look up to him. Will looks at Wade as a hero even though he is a criminal. Charlie comes with the gang and tells the town he will pay them for whoever kills Wade’s captors. The sheriff and his men surrender because now they are outnumbered, but are killed anyways. Butterfield tells Dan to leave and that he will pay him the $200 for his troubles. Butterfield does not want part of this anymore. As Dan waits for the train Wade offers Dan a lot of money just to let him go and save his own life. Dan does not because of pride. Wade then tries to escape and tries to choke Dan, but once Dan tells him about his reasoning for why he had to do this Wade lets him go. Wade agrees to go on the train to Yuma. Butterfield promises to keep Will in a safe room and pay $1000 and allow water to run through his property. Wade and Dan take off to the train amid gun fire. Wade helps Dan pick out his men and where they are shooting from so Dan can kill them and they can keep going. Will escapes the room and lets cattle loose to help his dad and Wade get to the train. The train arrives and Wade gets right into the cell and tells Dan he did it. Charlie appears and shoots Dan killing him as Wade yells not to. Wade gets out of the cell and kills Charlie and then gets back aboard the train to go to Yuma. Will comes to his father’s side and makes it be known that he is proud of him.
Dan is a different man in the newer film compared to the original. Dan is all about impressing his son who he feels like he has disappointed and let down his entire life. Dan is too proud to not complete a mission and tell people his true feelings. It takes dealing with Wade for him to speak the truth. Wade grows respect for Dan and everything he has done since meeting him. Dan is strong man and does things on his own after getting a handicapped after the war. He lives a lie to his family and ashamed he has to do it. He just wants to be loved by his family and not see disappointment in his kid’s eyes. In this film we see Dan slowly have a relationship with Wade. Wade would never kill Dan and Dan understands this fact. Wade however does not want to think Dan has the upper hand, though at points he tries to negotiate with Dan. In my opinion it is not because Wade wants to escape and not go to Yuma, it is because he does not want Dan to be killed. He wants Dan and Will to be safe because they have gotten themselves into a situation they cannot get out of. In the eyes of his gang they are trying to put Wade away and no matter what he tells his men they will not listen because of anger.
Dan is a different man in the newer film compared to the original. Dan is all about impressing his son who he feels like he has disappointed and let down his entire life. This revisionist change represents the the rebellous teens and parents feeling like let downs. Dan is too proud to not complete a mission and tell people his true feelings. It takes dealing with Wade for him to speak the truth. Wade grows respect for Dan and everything he has done since meeting him. Dan is strong man and does things on his own after getting a handicapped after the war. He lives a lie to his family and ashamed he has to do it. He just wants to be loved by his family and not see disappointment in his kid’s eyes. In this film we see Dan slowly have a relationship with Wade. Wade would never kill Dan and Dan understands this fact. Wade however does not want to think Dan has the upper hand, though at points he tries to negotiate with Dan. In my opinion it is not because Wade wants to escape and not go to Yuma, it is because he does not want Dan to be killed. He wants Dan and Will to be safe because they have gotten themselves into a situation they cannot get out of. In the eyes of his gang they are trying to put Wade away and no matter what he tells his men they will not listen because of anger.
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