SHOOT THE SUN DOWN
US, 1978, 100 minutes, Colour.
Margot Kidder, Christopher Walken, Geoffrey Lewis.
Directed by David Leeds.
Shoot the Sun Down is an unusual western written and directed by David Leeds. It has the touches of the eccentric and the oddball. Set in the southern states in the 19th century, it focuses on an English sea captain and an English serving maid searching for fortune. They come across a despicable Indian-killer as well as a rather gallant bounty hunter. There is a search for gold, greed amongst the members of the expedition and their workers, two groups of Indians clashing as well as Mexican soldiers.
Some of the visuals of the film are quite striking, especially the use of dresses and parasols out in the desert sands and the Indians rolling a huge golden wheel for their exploiters.
There also seems to be some symbolism in several of the characters not having names but merely being described in the cast by titles. Margot Kidder is persuasive enough as the English serving maid. Geoffrey Lewis is ugly as the killer. Christopher Walken is amiably gallant as the bounty hunter.
1. Interesting western? Variation on western themes?
2. Colour photography, the desert, the town, the mines? Stunt work and special effects for the clash with the Indians? The mines? Visual compositions and tableaux? The motif of the sunset for the changing of scenes and passing of time? Musical score?
3. The title and its significance for the West, themes, characters? Visual motif?,
4. A film of adventure, greed, violence and clash? The plausibility of the plot?
5. The English captain and the maid, seen going through the desert, the map and their quest, her dancing in the firelight? The relationship between the two? Her ambitions, lies and stories? Meeting the killer, travelling with him, the town? The encounter with Rainbow? Trying to get him to help? Going out into the desert, the search for gold, the captain and his trading with the Indians? Confronting the killer and his henchmen? The discovery of the treasure, the taking of the wheel, the Indians carrying it? The confrontation with the other Indians, the battle? The confrontation with the Mexican soldiers? His death? The death of the maid in the desert? How well delineated their characters?
6. The Indian-killer, his violence, vengeance? Smooth talk, the haircut, self-confidence? Getting his henchmen? His violence towards them, betrayal? Clashes with Rainbow? Out in the mine, the violent clashes, through the desert, his death?
7. Rainbow and his presence in the town, charm, relationship with the woman, the deals, going with them on the mine? The betrayal, his being tied up and left to die, his being freed by the Indian? His pursuit of the group, the killing of the soldiers, the rescue, the death of the woman?
8. The Indians, the overtones of Mexicans and Aztecs in the wearing of armour and tribal dress? The groups of Indians, their clashes? The finding of the wheel, the Indians subjugated to take it? The old man freeing Rainbow and asking for vengeance and freedom? Themes of race clashes?
8. A portrait of the American West, the Mexican border, summer and winter, Indian clashes, Mexicans? Greed and its futility?
