Frank Patch - Your hours are numbered

Cottonwood Springs around 1900: For 20 years, Marshal Frank Patch has maintained law and order here. However, his citizens long for progress and change. Business-minded investors are expected to come to the town and boost its economy. But Patch stands in the way of progress. When the residents vote him out, Frank has no intention of resigning and confronts the entire village.

The film allows its story to unfold naturally. It never preaches and never lingers on the obvious. Its characters do what they must. Patch gradually delves deeper into the situation. Another murder occurs. The county sheriff is called in. The town council feels its self-respect threatened by this man who refuses to bend. The film culminates in an inevitable escalation of violence and a final sequence that develops with chilling understatement. This is one of Richard Widmark's best and most complete performances. It is truly his film. Lena Horne is considered as a co-star, but we see little of her. She is part of a series of excellent character actors who create a stir alongside Widmark.

Director Totten and lead actor Widmark had a falling out, and Totten was replaced by Don Siegel. Siegel did not want to be named publicly, as Totten had done more work. Since Widmark did not want Totten's name in the credits, a compromise was reached to use the pseudonym Alan Smithee. Thus, the film is the first theatrical production to use this name as a director's pseudonym.