Red Sundown

Red Sundown is a 1950's Western directed by Jack Arnold, who grownup kids will know from some of his 1950's films: Creature from the Black Lagoon (1954), It Came from Outer Space (1953), and The Incredible Shrinking Man (1957). I love the song at the end and start, "Red Sundown", it's one of those catchy Western title songs or ballads popular in 1950's Westerns, it also reminded me of the song in "5 Card Stud" (1968) sung by and staring Dean Martin. I liked the old color in this film. Rory Calhoun (who did all sorts of stuff including film noir and Westerns) is the main guy here, he's a bit weak as an actor, playing a gunfighter and the main protagonist. Some fight gets started in a bar over a table and then the guys hunt him and his friend. They find them at some shack, whereby his friend saves him by burying him in an absurd scene. The shack gets burnt but he survives. He goes to a small town, where he gets hired by the local sheriff as his deputy. The sheriff Jade Murphy is played by Dean Jagger who was a familiar face in 1950's films. The fight between squatters and some cattle baron ensues with the sheriff and his deputy trying to sort it all out. Throw in some young lady, who is the sheriff's daughter. I did notice Lee Van Cleef in a flashback, which was uncredited. Director Jack Arnold may have used stock footage of his many films. Also, look for a young, unrecognizable Grant Williams from the fun "The Incredible Shrinking Man" (1957). I think there's too much dialogue in this one, yet the film is a bit above average, just barely. That's because it has decent direction, good production values, and capable acting. It isn't great, but still something to watch for Western film lovers.

Rory Calhoun struggles to turn over a new leaf in Jack Arnold's sure-fire but formulaic western "Red Sundown," co-starring Martha Hyer, Robert Middleton, Dean Jagger, and Grant Williams. Hollywood westerns entered the post-war years and purveyed messages about the evils of gun-play, especially the influence of a six-gun over an individual's destiny. Earlier, the iconic Gregory Peck oater "The Gunfighter" (1951) depicted the disadvantages of toting a pistol. Similarly, "Red Sundown" deplores the way of the gun and lays it's ideology on with a trowel. For example, two hero-worshipping youngsters are obvious message bearers. Gunfighters are their role models. Our stalwart hero is a swift-shooting gunslinger himself who wants to hang up his hardware. For the record, Rory sports two six-guns; one worn on his right hip while another jockeys his left hip with the handle of the revolver facing forward. The casting in this horse opera is splendid, with Rory Calhoun living up to his usual standards. Grant Williams is particularly slimy as a paid pistolero with a leer. He has three effective scenes where he threatens a rancher and his wife, another where he turns tail and flees in the face of the protagonist's shotgun, and a scene in the hero's room. Hyer is cold, cruel ice; she doesn't believe that Ale Longmire has ridden a different trail. This is one of those lean, mean, low-budget westerns that Universal Pictures turned out like hot cakes during the 1950s. Arnold helms the action with an accomplished assurance. He never lets a scene wear out its welcome, and the production values look sturdy. The fistfight between Calhoun and Middleton is a brief but brutal knockdown drag-out affair. Middleton makes a thorough-going villain. Of course, Leo V. Gordon is the ultimate ruffian. Later, Williams starred in Arnold's iconic "The Incredible Shrinking Man."

Stoic Rory Calhoun sweeps into town with nightmares of his brother shooting it out with Lee Van Cleef in what must have been the latter's smallest role ever before being gunned down. Calhoun rescues drought-stricken Millican - in his final role - and is hunted down by a bunch of outlaws who then proceed to disappear from the story. Anyway, good old Millican convinces Calhoun to stay on one job and drop his gunslinging ways, Calhoun meets Sheriff Jagger, becomes his deputy and falls for his daughter while taking care of some dirty villains, namely Middleton and, especially, the rather suave Williams. Stiff upper lip direction from Jack Arnold. Rather disciplined B Western ends on an open note that is probably closer to reality but leaves the viewer somewhat unhinged, to put it mildly. That said, RED SUNDOWN is far from bad, with Calhoun's escape from a burning wooden hut one of the highlights. Worth watching. 7/10.

I will forever remind this western for the Grant Williams character, remember him also in another Jack Arnold's film- TARANTULA. So, here, he plays a gunman, a killer, but not the the stereotype one, as for instance Leo Gordon usually is. No, I love the way his character is introduced in the story. It is for me unique, so subtle. I won't describe it, not to spoil you the pleasure. And it doesn't happen at the beginning of the story. This is a damn good Universal western, a B picture, but well done, fast, tight, with no length and some inventiveness. But you can prefer NO NAME ON THE BULLET. Here, the scheme is not new, a big rancher, a ruthless cattle baron, wants to get rid of poor squatters. The usual stuff, as we saw in thousands of westerns.

Gunslinger decides he wants to go straight and join civilisation. Happens upon a range war between a cattleman and some dirt farmers. Local sheriff deputises him, and the standard Western unfolds. 88 minutes keep the action moving along briskly with minimal pauses for stone-faced reflection on the past, etc. Competently made genre fare to provide the B-movie on a double bill. Western fans will like it, if you're not a fan, you should probably skip this one.

A totally enjoyable Rory Calhoun western. Rory can come across like he's dialing it in sometimes but with Red Sundown he seems to be really connected to the character. Plenty of good action and an interesting story if nothing new. The supporting cast are teriffic particularly Dean Jagger as the aging sheriff looking for his replacement. Martha Hyer is also a nice addition to the movie adding some style and power to proceedings. It doesn't have the long sweeping panoramic shots or the brooding mystery man, but it does have plenty to like about it. A must for Rory Calhoun fans to enjoy :))

A gunman who was a paid killer who didn't love killing. A fellow gunman gave his life so his new friend can live and do good. Made the decision to fight land baron as a deputy along with the sheriff who believed in him. This was a film i never saw before with rorey in starring role. Good story, well written with goid supporting cast in a dusty, dry town somewhere in the south west. Worth watching for lover's of westerns especially of the 1950s golden era. The End

Alec Longmire (Rory Calhoun) is given a second chance to go straight when he escapes an ambush with the help of hardened gunfighter Bud Purvis (James Millican). After promising Purvis that he will hang up his guns, Longmire arrives in the town of Durango looking for ranch work but instead is offered the job of deputy for Sheriff Jade Murphy (Dean Jagger). Even though it's an honest job Longmire is reluctant to accept because of his promise to Purvis. With some encouragement from Murphy and his daughter (Martha Hyer) Longmire relents and pins on the badge but he quickly finds himself in the middle of a range war between land baron Rufus Henshaw (Robert Middleton) and a group of small ranchers who have staked claims on the land. This is another solid program western from the Universal International stable. No new ground is covered in this one but director Jack Arnold wisely doesn't try to re-invent the wheel, sticks with the tried and true and turns out an entertaining Oat Burner. Red Sundown is a straight up action Western with minimal romantic melodrama even though Calhoun's wife in real life (Lita Baron) shows up in a small part as a former old flame. Bad guys Grant Williams and Leo Gordon round out the cast. Filmed in Technicolor and based on the novel 'Back Trail', Red Sundown is a reasonably ambitious western that would have been better served by a more expansive production budget. There is a lot of story to try to pack in eighty one minutes considering the sub plots that were never able to be fully developed. Nevertheless Red Sundown still pretty good Western fare.

Director Jack Arnold made a Name with the B's. Sci-Fi Mostly but some Film-Noir and Westerns also. This is an Unremarkable Vehicle that is Watchable. But Not Much Happens after the First Act that Opened with a Good Shoot-Out and Resourceful Flourishes. Arnold Stages a Good Bar-Fight but the Climax is Woefully Dull and By-the-Numbers. Dean Jagger is Pedestrian as is Obligatory Blonde Female Martha Hyer. Grant Williams' Debut as a Baddie Gunslinger makes an Impression as a somewhat Cliched "Grinning" Psycho. Overall, a Professional Entertaining Effort from All Involved but when Rounded Up, it Corrals with the Slightly Above Average. Note...For better or worse, mostly worse, it's another Movie that insists on inserting that 1950's mainstay, "Kids" that flooded the decade's Films in an ever-presence.

In addition to being the classic Western and including the bar scenes, pouring a shot, love interest, gun-play and bad & good guys this movie also introduces a unique beginning to build the story on. A promise is made under strange events & circumstances that makes for a unforgettable binding of promise that when kept is what the West was all about. A man's word was gold and the lack of that word made a man useless and worthless. As usual, we are introduced to a town and while they are all similar they still have their own dynamics. We have a decent sheriff, townspeople and a fellow or two that are not content with abundance but want more than offered and will do anything to have it. Well offsetting that are the people who disagree. Throw in a love interest and we are off to some Western entertainment. This one has a nice flow to it and is not predictable right up to its ending in some parts. Gun-slinging or renting your gun out was a way of life but risky and without virtue but in demand. The opposite was making a decent living for yourself or working for others. This theme is explored here. Catchy song at the end so stay through the credits and I highly recommend singing along if you got words on the screen. Interesting point is made in this movie worth mentioning: Using a shotgun or scatter gun also known as a canon versus pistol to pistol or even rifle is looked down upon. Why? A shotgun is considered NOT fair play as it guarantees a quick death from a distance. I have never seen this disputed in a Western and in fact have seen movies where they are glad to have that splat gun! Enjoy this take on it. The West was truly a wild place! Have snack & drink handy and saddle up here