IMDb on iPhone and iPod touch Learn more Learn more Download from the App Store
IMDb > The Sons of Katie Elder (1965)
The Sons of Katie Elder
Quicklinks
Top Links
trailers and videosfull cast and crewtriviaofficial sitesmemorable quotes
Overview
main detailscombined detailsfull cast and crewcompany creditstv schedule
Awards & Reviews
user reviewsexternal reviewsnewsgroup reviewsawardsuser ratingsparents guiderecommendationsmessage board
Plot & Quotes
plot summarysynopsisplot keywordsAmazon.com summarymemorable quotes
Fun Stuff
triviagoofssoundtrack listingcrazy creditsalternate versionsmovie connectionsFAQ
Other Info
merchandising linksbox office/businessrelease datesfilming locationstechnical specslaserdisc detailsDVD detailsliterature listingsNewsDesk
Promotional
taglines trailers and videos posters photo gallery
External Links
showtimesofficial sitesmiscellaneousphotographssound clipsvideo clips

The Sons of Katie Elder (1965) More at IMDbPro »

Photos (see all 28 | slideshow) Videos
The Sons of Katie Elder (1965) -- Ranch owner Katie Elder's four sons determine to avenge the murder of their father and the swindling of their mother.

Overview

User Rating:
7.0/10   3,882 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Up 6% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Writers:
Talbot Jennings (story)
William H. Wright (screenplay) ...
(more)
Contact:
View company contact information for The Sons of Katie Elder on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
1 July 1965 (USA) more
Genre:
Tagline:
If Texas coundn't tame 'em ...could she? more
Plot:
Ranch owner Katie Elder's four sons determine to avenge the murder of their father and the swindling of their mother. full summary | add synopsis
Awards:
1 win more
User Reviews:
Entertaining Wayne Oater! more (37 total)

Cast

  (in credits order) (verified as complete)

John Wayne ... John Elder

Dean Martin ... Tom Elder
Martha Hyer ... Mary Gordon
Michael Anderson Jr. ... Bud Elder
Earl Holliman ... Matt Elder
Jeremy Slate ... Ben Latta
James Gregory ... Morgan Hastings
Paul Fix ... Sheriff Billy Wilson
George Kennedy ... Curley

Dennis Hopper ... Dave Hastings
Sheldon Allman ... Harry Evers
John Litel ... Minister

John Doucette ... Hyselman
James Westerfield ... Mr. Vennar

Rhys Williams ... Charlie Striker
John Qualen ... Charlie Biller
Rodolfo Acosta ... Bondie Adams
Strother Martin ... Jeb Ross
Percy Helton ... Mr. Peevey
Karl Swenson ... Doc Isdell
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Glen Anderson ... (uncredited)
Jerry Gatlin ... Amboy (uncredited)
Harvey Grant ... Jeb (uncredited)

Loren Janes ... Ned Reese (uncredited)
Boyd 'Red' Morgan ... Burr Sandeman (uncredited)
Chuck Roberson ... Townsman (uncredited)
Ralph Volkie ... Bit part (uncredited)
Paul Whitson ... (uncredited)
Jack Williams ... Andy Sharp (uncredited)
Henry Wills ... Gus Dolly (uncredited)
Joe Yrigoyen ... Buck Mason (uncredited)
Create a character page for: ?

Directed by
Henry Hathaway 
 
Writing credits
Talbot Jennings (story)

William H. Wright (screenplay) and
Allan Weiss (screenplay) and
Harry Essex (screenplay)

Produced by
Paul Nathan .... associate producer
Hal B. Wallis .... producer
Joseph H. Hazen .... executive producer (uncredited)
 
Original Music by
Elmer Bernstein 
 
Cinematography by
Lucien Ballard 
 
Art Direction by
Hal Pereira 
Walter H. Tyler  (as Walter Tyler)
 
Set Decoration by
Sam Comer 
Ray Moyer 
 
Costume Design by
Edith Head 
 
Makeup Department
Loren Cosand .... makeup artist (as Loren Cossand)
Web Overlander .... makeup artist (as Webb Overlander)
Dorothy White .... hair stylist
 
Production Management
William W. Gray .... unit production manager
 
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Michael D. Moore .... assistant director (as D. Michael Moore)
Joselito Rodríguez .... second unit director (uncredited)
 
Sound Department
Charles Grenzbach .... sound recordist
Harold Lewis .... sound recordist
Bill Wistrom .... sound editor (uncredited)
 
Stunts
Bill Babcock .... stunts (uncredited)
Jerry Gatlin .... stunts (uncredited)
Chuck Hayward .... stunts (uncredited)
Loren Janes .... stunts (uncredited)
Boyd 'Red' Morgan .... stunts (uncredited)
Chuck Roberson .... stunts (uncredited)
Jack Williams .... stunts (uncredited)
Henry Wills .... stunts (uncredited)
Joe Yrigoyen .... stunts (uncredited)
 
Costume and Wardrobe Department
Edith Head .... costumes
 
Editorial Department
Warren Low .... editorial supervisor
 
Other crew
'Chema' Hernandez .... head wrangler: Mexico (uncredited)
 
Crew believed to be complete


Production CompaniesDistributors
Create a character page for: ?

Additional Details

Runtime:
122 min
Country:
Language:
Color:
Color (Technicolor)
Aspect Ratio:
2.35 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Certification:
USA:Approved (PCA #20933) | USA:Not Rated (video release) | Australia:PG | West Germany:12 (re-rating) | West Germany:16 (f) (original rating) | Canada:G (Quebec) | Canada:PG (Ontario) | Finland:K-16 | Norway:16 | South Korea:12 | Sweden:15 | UK:U

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
In western history, there is a famous Katie Elder: "Big Nose" Kate Elder, a prostitute and girlfriend of legendary gunfighter John "Doc" Holliday. more
Goofs:
Revealing mistakes: If you slow motion the sequence where John Elder (Wayne) draws his pistol on the sheriff in the graveyard, you can see that there are two guns, one in his holster, and another in his hand, done (not very well) in an effort to make him look fast on the draw. more
Quotes:
Bud Elder: I'm going with you. I can draw pretty fast. We can be famous -- like the Dalton Brothers!
John Elder: They're famous -- but they're just a little bit dead. They were hung!
more
Movie Connections:
Remade as Four Brothers (2005) more

FAQ

This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.
10 out of 14 people found the following review useful.
Entertaining Wayne Oater!, 17 January 2006
7/10
Author: (bsmith5552@rogers.com) from Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

"The Sons of Katie Elder", though not one of John Wayne's best westerns, is very entertaining nonetheless. Director Henry Hathaway keeps the story moving providing us with breathtaking scenery and a rousing finale. We are also treated to another rousing score from composer Elmer Bernstien.

The story has the four Elder brothers, John (Wayne), Tom (Dean Martin), Matt (Earl Holliman) and Bud (Michael Anderson Jr.) returning home to Clearwater, Texas for their mother's funeral (the "Katie" of the title). It seems that Katie had been held in reverence by the townspeople while eking out a living to enable the youngest, Bud to attend college.

Their father had also died six months earlier and had apparently lost the family ranch in a poker game. Further investigation reveals that he had been murdered by being shot in the back.

Number one suspect is the town gunsmith Morgan Hastings (James Gregory). Hastings it seems, has acquired the Elder ranch and lives there with his spineless son Dave (Dennis Hopper). Hastings has also hired gunfighter Curley (George Kennedy) to help him get rid of the Elders.

When town sheriff Billy Watson (Paul Fix) is murdered Deputy Ben Latta (Jeremy Slate) immediately blames the Elders and arrests them. While transporting his prisoners to another venue they are ambushed and.......

This was the first film for Wayne following his surgery for cancer. You'll notice that he wears a large bandanna over his neck, presumably to hide the scars and/or the jowls. He was now beginning to show his age and the fact that at nearing age 60, he was still playing a character presumably much younger, kind of detracts a little from his credibility in the role. But hey its John Wayne. Who really cared?

As in most of Wayne's films, the cast includes a roster of recognizable faces. Martha Hyer provides window dressing as Wayne's potential love interest. Also in the cast are John Qualen as the jailer, John Litel as the minister, John Doucette as the undertaker, James Westerfield as the banker, Karl Swenson as the bartender, Rhys Williams as Striker the horse rancher, Strother Martin as the guy who "wins" Martin's glass eye, Percy Helton as the storekeeper and Rudolfo Acosta and Chuck Roberson as contends.

The two plus hour running time goes by quickly. Don't miss the scene where Wayne cold cocks Kennedy or the final shootout.

Was the above review useful to you?
more (37 total)

Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for The Sons of Katie Elder (1965)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
Compared to Four Brothers Arxon1339
What great music! iluvshirley
ages of the sons? celticknotz
Similar Plot briareos02
Favorite scene!!!!! richsass
george kennedy terry-392
more

Recommendations

If you enjoyed this title, our database also recommends:
- - - - -
Shane Rollin' Plains Blazing Six Shooters Duel in the Sun Alias: The Bad Man
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
Show more recommendations

Related Links

Full cast and crew Company credits External reviews
News articles IMDb Western section IMDb USA section
Add this title to MyMovies

You may report errors and omissions on this page to the IMDb database managers. They will be examined and if approved will be included in a future update. Clicking the 'Update' button will take you through a step-by-step process.