The Sundowners (1950)

Brother is pitted against brother in this tale of fueding ranchers in the old west.

Director:

George Templeton

Writers:

Alan Le May (as Alan LeMay), Alan Le May (story serialized by Collier's as "Thunder in the Dust") (as Alan LeMay)

Stars:

Robert Preston, Robert Sterling, Chill Wills

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Robert Preston	...	James Cloud - aka Kid Wichita
Robert Sterling	...	Tom Cloud
Chill Wills	...	Sam Beers
Cathy Downs	...	Kathleen Boyce
John Litel	...	John Gall
Jack Elam	...	Earl Boyce
Don Haggerty	...	Sheriff Elmer Gall
Stanley Price	...	Steve Fletcher
Clem Fuller	...	Turkey
Frank Cordell	...	Jim Strake
Dave Kashner	...	Gill Bassen - aka The Whip
John Drew Barrymore	...	Jeff Cloud - The Younger Brother (as John Barrymore Jr.)

Storyline

A story of a range-war in the Texas Panhandle in which the 'bad' brother villain fights for what is right...and commits murder in its name, and the 'good' brother hero sanctions wholesale cattle rusting and, reluctantly in the end, comes to the realization that maybe he isn't doing the right thing.

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Plot Keywords:

texas | murder | threat to kill | husband wife relationship | brother brother relationship | 

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Taglines:

He was a target for every man's bullet ... and every woman's kiss !

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Genres:

Western

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

2 February 1950 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Sundowners

Filming Locations:

Universal Studios - 100 Universal City Plaza, Universal City, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Le May-Templeton Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

83 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The film was financed by N. Peter Rathvon's Motion Picture Capital Corporation.

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Quotes

Tom Cloud: When I get finish with the kid, I am comming for you.
James Cloud: You are?... Now how can I help you.
Tom Cloud: I don't care where you go, or what you do, but I'll find you.
James Cloud: Good luck.

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Connections

Featured in Frances Farmer Presents: The Sundowners (1958)

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Soundtracks

O'Riley Song
. . . Alberto Colombo (as Al Colombo)

User Reviews

Western that needs a re-make.

This was an exceptional western in it's day. Filmed on location, in Technicolor no less, with top B-list stars Robert Sterling, the bland good-guy type and Robert Preston, the evil bad-man brother with good support by Cathy Downs, John Barrymore Jr., Chill Wills, John Litel among others including Jack Elam. After viewing this again after a long while, it's obvious that the more "adult" aspects of the story were eliminated or toned down so drastically that the drama was just too tame by todays' standards, but they had the "Code" in those days. It also appears as if the studio (Eagle-Lion)may have also edited some scenes down to fit a particular running time (approx. 83 minutes). It makes no sense to spend the money they did on this film and then cut it to it's running time. If this film had a couple of the Alan Bates, Susannha York, John Hurt scenes from "The Shout" written into this "re-make" it would be more explosive and make more sense. I would also explore and expand the strong-willed father, weak son sheriff sub-plot a little more. Yes it's watchable still as is, but when we bring back the Western some day, let's re-make this one early on.