Aaron Spelling’s production of this made-for-television Western feels overly complicated for a film lasting seventy-three minutes; it resembles an unsuccessful pilot episode for what could have been a television series. Clint Walker portrays U.S. Marshal Dave Harmon, who arrives in Yuma, Arizona Territory just in time to kill one of the brothers of the town’s influential rancher while he's on a cattle drive. Harmon then arrests another brother and encounters Andres (Miguel Alejandro), a young homeless boy who sleeps at the jail. One night, while Andres is sleeping, a villain and someone posing as an Army soldier kidnap the remaining brother and murder him, framing Harmon for the crime. This isn’t exactly how one hopes to begin their first twenty-four hours on the job. Harmon goes to the nearby Army fort, which upsets the commander, and the rancher returns to town, also upset with the situation. The local Native American population, who feel cheated by the Army regarding payment for beef, are also frustrated. Amidst all this tension, Harmon finds time to pursue the affections of the hotel owner. One of the Army men involved in the murder dies, suspicion falls on the cattle buyer, the Native Americans deliver lengthy speeches, and the film culminates in an unexpected confrontation where Harmon must convince the town that the villainous cattle buyer was working for someone else—someone who had seemed too helpful all along. There’s a partial storyline concerning the deaths of Walker's family at the hands of Army raiders, which I suspect would have been the driving force behind a potential series. Instead, the film concludes abruptly, and I found myself anticipating scenes from the next episode. Due to the fade-outs intended for commercial breaks that never came, the pacing is uneven, and the story feels disjointed. Walker is undeniably handsome, rugged, and possesses a voice as deep as a well. The rest of the cast consists of familiar television actors. Much of the action lacks excitement, and the violence seems restrained. One of the brothers who dies receives a shotgun blast to the torso and falls without any visible injuries. While I didn’t expect a film like Tarantino's, this isn't appropriate for introducing children to the dangers of firearms. Regarding the child actor, he quickly transitions from being “cute” to becoming an irritating distraction. If you generally dislike Westerns, "Yuma" will likely reinforce that feeling; even if you enjoy the genre, it’s still unlikely to appeal to you. I cannot recommend this film.

Source on TMDB