SUNSET

US, 1988, 101 minutes, Colour.
Bruce Willis, James Garner, Mariel Hemingway, Jennifer Edwards, Darren Mc Gavin, Malcolm Mc Dowell, Patricia Hodge, Dermot Mulroney, M.Emmet Walsh, Richard Bradford, Joe Dallesandro.
Directed by Blake Edwards.

Sunset is a story of Hollywood in the '20s. It was written (from a story by Rod Amateau) by director Blake Edwards - who had something of a thing about Hollywood, especially with his satire S.O.B.

However, the film was not well received. Critics were very severe on it. However, it re-creates the old Hollywood, offers us a picture of a corrupt society, offers us a murder mystery. It also introduces screen actor Tom Mix and the legendary Wyatt Earp who, together, solve the mystery.

The film was designed as a star vehicle for Bruce Willis from Moonlighting. He had already appeared in Blake Edwards' Blind Date. However, he was to be a success on the big screen with the two Die Hard films and his voice-over of the baby in Look Who's Talking. James Garner is excellent and steals the show as Wyatt Earp. He had portrayed Earp in John Sturges' 1967 film of the O.K. Corral, Hour of the Gun. There is a very interesting supporting cast led by Malcolm McDowall? as a Chaplinesque film producer with a sadistic bent. Edwards' daughter Jennifer (That's Life) is the decadent sister. Mariel Hemingway and Kathleen Quinlan also appear to advantage.

The film presents the world of film-making of the '20s, the conventions of the western genre - and applies them with some fantasy and, as the script says, is true, give a lie or two.

1. Entertaining film of Hollywood, the blend of myths and reality?

2. The work of Blake Edwards, comedy and drama, his critique of Hollywood, presenting a parody and spoof, his westerns - and the use of western conventions? His ensemble cast?

3. The re-creation of the '20s, California, costumes and decor, studios and film-making - pies and Cleopatra etc? The affluent Hollywood lifestyle? Morality? The musical score?

4. The stars of the film, their roles and types?

5. The title, westerns and the riding of into the sunset - a variation on a theme?

6. The background of Tom Mix, the western hero, his career, silent films? Wyatt Earp and the OK Corral, Dodge City, law and order? Imagining the two together - plausible given the careers of both? Their work in the studios, film-making, technical advice, upstaging each other, re creating their legends?

7. Bruce Willis as Tom Mix - Willis's screen persona, his smile and continued smirk? The opening with the conventions of the western, Tom Mix as the hero, the filming? His relationship with Nancy? The discussions with Alperin and the bringing of Earp to Hollywood, Mix acting Earp's part? Their argument? The pressure by Alperin? The station, the grand parade, finding Earp, meeting him, the bond between the two, letting him live in his boarding house? The re-enactments of the OK Corral, the saloon fights etc? His interest in Earp, meeting the press? The visit to the candy store, the people there, the film characters, Mix helping Earp and the investigation of Michael? The discovery of the murder? Mix and his clash with the police? Defying Blackworth? Dutch and Alperin's sister? Cheryl, the cover-up, taking Nancy to the hideout? The fights, saving Earp, pretending the mop was a gun? Flying to rescue Nancy, the riding? The Oscar night, chasing Alfie, the fight on the wharf, Earp saving him? Earp upstaging him and vice versa? A real character, the film star, the legend?

8. The contrast with James Garner was Wyatt Earp (and his portraying Earp in The Hour of the Gun)? His age, experience, the strong silent loner, no fuss on arrival, wanting to board privately, the impression of Alperin and the film company? Meeting the press and his resistance? Friendship with Nancy? Watching the re-enactment, the realistic flashbacks to the Gunfight at the OK Corral? His commenting that everything was true - give a lie or two? Summoned by Christina, the discussion with her, the past relationship, the promise to her? The clash with Arthur and finding out about him and his role in the household? Going to the candy store, observing people, Cheryl, the film star prostitute types? Seeing Michael drunk? The friendship with Cheryl, discovering the murder, the cover-up? Spending the night with Cheryl? The clash with the chief and intimidating him? Blackworth and his threats, hostility? The suspicion of Dutch, trespassing, his being hit over the head, accosted, his pretending to be unconscious? The rescue by Mix? The clashes with Alperin, the second visit to Christina? Cheryl, the discovery of the book and the information? The flight to rescue Nancy - and his being air-sick? Riding, the shoot-out in the western tradition? At the Oscars, pursuing Alperin, saving Mix in the nick of time? The end and his going back west, leaving Cheryl? A genial picture of a lawman, the memories of the past, the legends?
9. Alperin and his Chaplin background, tough, sadistic, pressure on Mix for the film about Earp, his relationship with his sister and dependence on her, the marriage to Christina, his disdain of Michael, the pressure on Arthur and his threat to return him to prison, the links with the police, with Dutch, bashing his sister, hurting Christina, confronting her, her hospitalisation? The build-up to the confrontations, his performance at the Oscars, his running away, pressure on Arthur, the going into the harbour? The final fight, the confrontation with Mix, his death? The truth and the flashbacks to his murdering of his first wife? An embodiment of all that was ugly in the Hollywood lifestyle?

10. Alperin's sister, her dependence on her brother, lesbian, relationship with Dutch, protecting her brother, her attachment to Candy, murdering her, her social place, at the Oscars, getting the gun, her desperation, her death?

11. Dutch, the crime background, sexual perversion, relationship with Alperin's sister, pressure on Blackworth, the discussions with Alperin, bashing Earp?

12. The corrupt police, the chief and his being scared, the interrogation, brutality? Blackworth and his threats, putting Mix in jail, the bashings, threatened by the mob? The finale and his death?

13. Cheryl, her story, in the club, dressed as a man to indicate lesbian tendencies and to protect her from the customers? Candy and their friendship, her death? Cheryl's grief, undercover? With Earp, the relationship? The black book and the information? Receiving the box at Candy's funeral, the money, the information about Alperin, the farewell to Earp?

14. Nancy, in publicity, dizzy style, relationship with Mix, press conferences and arrangements, being scared, hiding, the exhilaration of being rescued and saved?

15. Christina and her English background, the marriage to Alperin, Michael and Alperin looking after her? Michael's paternity - Earp's? Her seeking Earp, asking him to help, intimidation by her husband, overhearing the discussion, the phone call, the hospital sequence and her death?

16. Michael and his weakness, drinking, passive, allegedly bashing the prostitutes, in prison, the truth?

17. The Hollywood personalities - the studios, the extras (and their brawling and attacking Earp)? The police?

18. The film's use of western conventions - and applying them to the situation in Hollywood?