DECISION AT SUNDOWN

US, 1957, 77 minutes, Colour.
Randolph Scott, John Carroll, Karen Steele, Valerie French, Noah Beery, John Archer, Andrew Duggan, John Litel.
Directed by Bud Boetticher.

Sundown is a town rather than a time of day.

This is one of five collaborations with Bud Boetticher and Randolph Scott in the late 1950s (Seven Men from Now, Buchanan Rides Alone, The Tall T, Comanche Station, Ride Lonesome). John Carroll, former musical and comedy star, is the villain. Noah Beery is the sidekick.

The film is different insofar as it is not an action drama. Rather, Scott portrays an embittered Texan after the civil war who comes to a town in the north to avenge the death of his wife. The film takes place over the day. John Carroll is Tait Kimbrough who has taken over the town of Sundown and has people in his power including the sheriff.

Scott plays an embittered man right throughout the film – he leaves the town embittered. While vengeful, his does not understand the true nature of his dead wife while his sidekick and the local doctor try to explain it to him.

The English actress Valerie French is Kimbrough’s girlfriend. Karen Steele is his intended wife.

The film is a variation on the High Noon theme – with the villain this time looking for help throughout the town and eventually the town turning on him. The shootout is limited – the film rather non-violent. While the sidekick is murdered by the sheriff, the villain is shot by his government, only wounding him, so that they will be allowed to leave the town and begin a new life.

1.A different western? The variation on the High Noon theme? Vengeance?

2.The locations, colour photography, the landscapes, the town? The musical score?

3.The opening, Bart Allison on the stagecoach, his gun, getting off, Sam coming to get him? Their riding through the countryside, going into the town? Sam as always hungry? Bart as relentless?

4.The purpose of the journey, Bart and his memories of his wife, Mary? Sam trying to tell him about Mary’s true nature and Bart’s bad reaction? The doctor later telling him the truth? Ruby telling him the truth?

5.The civil war, post-civil war period? Bart and the vengeance eating him up? His vow to destroy Kimbrough? Coming into the town, having the shave, learning about the wedding, going to the church, intervening to protest? Drawing his gun? His escaping to the stables? Holed up there?

6.Kimbrough, power, attitude towards women, Ruby’s support, marrying Lucy? Somerton in his power? The deals? The church, not wanting Ruby to go, her sitting in the front seat? The confrontation with Allison? The postponed wedding, trying to have it in the hotel? His trying to rally people, sending Somerton to deal with Allison and give him money? Delaying the confrontation? The townspeople turning against him? The sneers of the barber? The comments of the bartender? The justice of the peace and his not wanting to have a gun? Morley and his influencing the people?

7.Bart, in the stable, allowing Sam to go out, Sam being shot, Bart and his vengeance? The discussions with the doctor? Allowing him in to tend the shooter? His going out, the street confrontation? His disappointment in Kimbrough being shot? Drinking in the bar, leaving the town embittered?

8.The solution, Ruby and her intervention? Going off with the wounded Kimbrough? Lucy and her befriending the doctor?

9.The supporting characters in the town, the sheriff in the pay of Kimbrough, shooting Sam? The bartender and the doctor and their stances against Kimbrough? Somerton, Morley Chase and his influence on the people? The Reverend Zaron and the ceremony, his fear of drink and guns? The drunken barber?

10.A satisfying western with a difference?