Is the empty chamber necessary?
Doesn't the hammer on a Colt SAA rest between the chambers? If so why leave one of the chambers empty?
Just for the record I love this film!
Yes, the hammer of a Colt single action, both cap and ball models and cartridge models, can be rested between two chambers. Notches are milled into the cylinders for just that purpose. However, if you close the loading gate and then rotate the cylinder until it locks, or in the case of a cap and ball model you pull the hammer to full cock and then lower it, a chamber will be directly below the hammer, so extra steps are needed to rest the hammer between chambers.
Thanks, that makes sense.