"Hurry Sundown" was, without a doubt, an embarrassment for Otto Preminger. After movies like "Anatomy of a Murder," it seems like he could have come up with more than this litany of hackneyed-ness. Exaggerating every stereotype imaginable, the only memorable part is the cast.
Now, let's talk about the cast. Michael Caine, Jane Fonda, Faye Dunaway, John Philip Law, Robert Hooks and Burgess Meredith. That sounds good enough, but it's not. Maybe it's just that the years since have associated these people with other roles, but the courtroom scene is almost laughable. Michael Caine (aka Alfie) and Jane Fonda (aka Barbarella) are represented by Robert Reed (aka the "Brady Bunch" dad), while John Philip Law (aka the "Barbarella" angel) and Faye Dunaway (aka Bonnie Parker) are represented by Jim Backus (aka Mr. Howell on "Gilligan's Island"). Meanwhile, Burgess Meredith (aka Penguin on "Batman") is the judge, and Madeleine Sherwood (aka Mother Superior on "The Flying Nun") is his wife. I sort of wished that Batman and Robin would enter the courtroom and tackle the "Penguin" and start a Battle Royale, while the Bradys would escort out "Mike," the Castaways would escort out "Mr. Howell" and Bertrille would escort out "Mother Superior." Maybe the casts of "I Dream of Jeannie," "Bewitched," "Get Smart," "All in the Family," "Sanford and Son" and "Happy Days" could also appear, just to jazz things up a bit. Meanwhile, "Barbarella" and "the angel" would return to outer space, while "Bonnie" disappears with Clyde and "Alfie" continues womanizing.
Anyway, the movie's not outright swill, but given all the people involved in it, they should have done better.
Now, let's talk about the cast. Michael Caine, Jane Fonda, Faye Dunaway, John Philip Law, Robert Hooks and Burgess Meredith. That sounds good enough, but it's not. Maybe it's just that the years since have associated these people with other roles, but the courtroom scene is almost laughable. Michael Caine (aka Alfie) and Jane Fonda (aka Barbarella) are represented by Robert Reed (aka the "Brady Bunch" dad), while John Philip Law (aka the "Barbarella" angel) and Faye Dunaway (aka Bonnie Parker) are represented by Jim Backus (aka Mr. Howell on "Gilligan's Island"). Meanwhile, Burgess Meredith (aka Penguin on "Batman") is the judge, and Madeleine Sherwood (aka Mother Superior on "The Flying Nun") is his wife. I sort of wished that Batman and Robin would enter the courtroom and tackle the "Penguin" and start a Battle Royale, while the Bradys would escort out "Mike," the Castaways would escort out "Mr. Howell" and Bertrille would escort out "Mother Superior." Maybe the casts of "I Dream of Jeannie," "Bewitched," "Get Smart," "All in the Family," "Sanford and Son" and "Happy Days" could also appear, just to jazz things up a bit. Meanwhile, "Barbarella" and "the angel" would return to outer space, while "Bonnie" disappears with Clyde and "Alfie" continues womanizing.
Anyway, the movie's not outright swill, but given all the people involved in it, they should have done better.