THE SUNDOWNERS
US, 1950, 83 minutes, Colour.
Robert Preston, Robert Sterling, Chill Wills, Cathy Downs, John Litel, Jack Elam, Don Haggerty, John Drew Barrymore.
Directed by George Templeton.
The Sundowners is a film about feuds. It takes place on the open range, with outlaw brother against law-abiding citizen brother.
Robert Preston is larger than life as Kid Wichita, an outlaw who comes to the aid of his brother when his cattle are stolen. There is a younger brother, played by John Drew Barrymore in his first role, who sides with the law-abiding brother but has an admiration for the outlaw.
The film also has the sheriff in the town, various landowners, various people who have grudges against the outlaw. There is a great deal of wheeler-dealing going on with the various owners including Jack Elam and John Litel, with Chill Wills playing an ally who eventually kills the outlaw.
The film is colourful, but standard – until there is a shootout in a hollow rock, seen from the top and from the bottom of a vertical shaft.
1. The title? Workers on the range? Cattle? Cattle-rustling?
2. The West, the colour photography, the landscapes, the rocks? The vertical shaft sequence? The musical score?
3. Tom Cloud, his situation, law-abiding? His taking care of his younger brother, Jeff? The animosity between himself and his brother James? His place in the society, the law, his having to accept James’s help? But not approving? The final confrontation and his decision-making?
4. Jeff, young, brash, cared for by Tom, admiring James? His involvement in the range war? His being taken, wounded? Trying to get the gun? His having to make decisions?
5. The cattle-rustling, the various property owners, their clashes, the hired guns? Leading up to the battles and shootouts?
6. Sam Beers, his role in the community, with Tom, with James, confrontations, the shooting?
7. Kathleen, her relationship with the Clouds? Her marriage to Earl? Earl and his double-dealings, his death?
8. The sheriff, trying to deal with the situations? With James?
9. James, his helping out, his coldblooded shootings on behalf of his brother, killing Earl Boyce? His daredevil manner? The final confrontation and his death?
10. Familiar ingredients – how well done?
