The Last Sunset (1961)

Director:

Robert Aldrich

Writers:

Howard Rigsby (novel)
Dalton Trumbo (written by)

Release Date:

7 June 1961 (USA)

Genre:

Western

Plot:

Brendan O'Malley arrives at the Mexican home of old flame Belle Breckenridge to find her married to...

Plot Keywords:

Cattle Drive | Father Daughter Relationship | Civil War Veteran | Chase | Family Tragedy

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Rock Hudson	...	Dana Stribling
Kirk Douglas	...	Brendan 'Bren' O'Malley
Dorothy Malone	...	Belle Breckenridge
Joseph Cotten	...	John Breckenridge
Carol Lynley	...	Melissa 'Missy' Breckenridge
Neville Brand	...	Frank Hobbs
Regis Toomey	...	Milton Wing
James Westmoreland	...	Julesburg Kid (as Rad Fulton)
Adam Williams	...	Calverton
Jack Elam	...	Ed Hobbs
John Shay	...	Bowman

Also Known As:

Sundown at Crazy Horse (USA) (working title)
The Day of the Gun (USA) (working title)
The Hot Eye of Heaven (USA) (working title)

Runtime:

112 min

Country:

USA

Language:

Spanish | English

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Certification:

Norway:12 | West Germany:12 (f) | Australia:PG | Canada:PG (Ontario) | Finland:K-16 | Sweden:15

Filming Locations:

Aguascalientes, Aguascalientes, Mexico

Company:

Brynaprod S.A.

Goofs:

Errors in geography: This film takes place from Mexico to Texas. There are Joshua trees in the film and Joshua trees are indigenous to the Mohave Desert region of California, Arizona and Nevada only. There are none in Texas.

Quotes:

Dana Stribling: I got a warrant for your arrest. I'm taking you back to Frio County, Texas, to stand trial. Will you come voluntarily, or will I have to take you?
Brendan 'Bren' O'Malley: Say, it just happens that I'm headed for Texas right now... to Crazy Horse. Of course, it isn't Frio County, but you'll die alot closer to home than if I had to kill you here.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Tú y yo somos tres (1962)

Soundtrack:

Cu Cu Ru Cu Paloma

The Girl In the Yellow Dress

The one and only teaming of Kirk Douglas and Rock Hudson in The Last Sunset was a fortunate one. Kirk's production company Bryna put this film together and the wise Kirk knew what he was doing when he took the flashier and meatier part of the villain.

In that regard The Last Sunset is similar to Gunfight at the OK Corral where the straight arrow hero of Wyatt Earp played by Burt Lancaster took a definite second place to Douglas's Doc Holiday. As Brendan O'Malley, Douglas is one devilishly charming one with the ladies and fast on the draw as all get out.

In fact Douglas's libido seems to get him in a whole lot of trouble. It's the reason that sheriff Dana Stribling played by Rock Hudson is down and out of his jurisdiction in Mexico chasing O'Malley. It's more than a job with Stribling as you'll see in the film.

While in Mexico Douglas meets an old flame of his, Dorothy Malone there with her husband Joseph Cotten and daughter Carol Lynley. Both he and Hudson strike an unusual bargain with the family. They'll aid them in their cattle drive to the American side of the Rio Grande, but then Douglas and Hudson will have it out.

Sounds crazy, but all will be revealed to the viewer before the film is over, although I'm sure some will guess.

Hudson got the far less glamorous part of a straight law and order sheriff. He has his moments, but the film really turns on the personality and charm and considerable talent of Kirk Douglas. This is definitely one of his top ten performances on film. Sad it isn't shown more often.

Dorothy Malone was doing very well around this time as a portrayer of western women. Her career really took off after that Oscar in Written on the Wind. She's the epitome of a strong willed pioneer woman who had to bend a few conventions to survive.

The Last Sunset is a great western, the usual amount of traditional western activity with some very adult themes in this which I just can't reveal lest it ruin one's viewing.