On this day March 28 1980 the western drama Tom Horn premiered in theaters. Directed by William Wiard the film starred Steve McQueen in one of his final roles alongside Linda Evans and Richard Farnsworth.
Set in the early 1900s the movie was based on the real life of Tom Horn a former Army scout turned range detective who was hired to deal with cattle rustlers in Wyoming. As the cattle wars faded and public opinion shifted Horn found himself framed for murder and caught in a legal system that no longer had a place for his old west justice. Tom Horn brought in $9 million at the box office and was praised for McQueen’s strong performance in a serious and reflective role that stood apart from his earlier action driven films.
80s insight: This was the second to last film released before Steve McQueen’s death and many critics saw his portrayal of Horn as one of the most intense and personal performances of his career.
Set in the early 1900s the movie was based on the real life of Tom Horn a former Army scout turned range detective who was hired to deal with cattle rustlers in Wyoming. As the cattle wars faded and public opinion shifted Horn found himself framed for murder and caught in a legal system that no longer had a place for his old west justice. Tom Horn brought in $9 million at the box office and was praised for McQueen’s strong performance in a serious and reflective role that stood apart from his earlier action driven films.
80s insight: This was the second to last film released before Steve McQueen’s death and many critics saw his portrayal of Horn as one of the most intense and personal performances of his career.
