Audie Murphy

Barry Sullivan

Venetia Stevenson

John McIntire

Kenneth Tobey

Mary Field

Ken Lynch

Suzanne Lloyd

Ward Ramsey

Don Collier

Jack Kruschen

Claudia Barrett

Teddy Rooney

Don Haggerty

Robert Burton

Fred Graham

Dale Van Sickel

Jason Johnson

Don Anderson

John Barton

Rudy Bowman

Noble 'Kid' Chissell

Rudy Doucette

Dave Dunlop

Jaye Durkus

Augie Gomez

Maralou Gray

Don Happy

Al Haskell

William Henry

Bob Herron

Tex Holden

Charles Horvath

Judy Howard

Johnny Kern

Walter Lawrence

Gregg Martell

Billy McCoy

Rod McGaughy

Paul McGuire

Clyde McLeod

William Meader

Hans Moebus

Al Roberts

Henry Rowland

Jeffrey Sayre

Jim Sheppard

Leslie Sketchley

Dean Smith

Rudy Sooter

Paul Sorensen

George Sowards

Robert Strong

Bob Terhune

Jack Tornek

George Tracy

Joe Walls

Guy Wilkerson

Joe Yrigoyen

Harry Keller

Connie Nichols

Vincent Romaine

E. Thomas Case

Frank Brendel

Clair Huffaker

Bud Westmore

Irving Gertz

Joseph Gershenson

Waldon O. Watson

Larry Germain

William Lava

William Russell

Bill Newberry

Tom Connors Jr.

George Milo

Ellis W. Carter

Alexander Golitzen

Gordon Kay

Tony Martinelli

Western

Seven Ways from Sundown

Universal International Pictures

United States of America

Well we all have our cross to bear.

Seven Ways from Sundown is directed by Harry Keller and adapted to screenplay by Clair Huffaker from his own novel of the same name. It stars Audie Murphy, Barry Sullivan, Venetia Stevenson, John McIntire and Kenneth Tobey. A UIP production in Eastman Color with music scored by William Lava & Irving Gertz (Joseph Gershenson supervising) and cinematography by Ellis Carter. Plot finds Murphy as Seven Ways from Sundown, a Texas Ranger who tracks and captures notorious outlaw Jim Flood (Sullivan). As the two men make their way back to Texas, a bond begins to form...

It's another Audie Murphy Western that rarely gets a mention when the talk turns to Murphy's best Oaters. On this occasion, though, it's not because it is operating suspiciously at the low end of the "B" Western scale, or that it is boorish in the formula department, this is actually a case of it being under seen by the last couple of generations of Western fans. A shame because it has much to recommend.

Film basically centres around the two (initial) polar opposite characters finding a mutual respect as they traverse the dusty land back to Texas. Along the way they encounter problems; Apache attack, bounty hunters et al, but they play cards, they fight, with both men getting ample opportunities to either escape or wound, but mostly they talk. Wonderful dialogue driven chat from the Huffaker (Rio Conchos/The Commancheros) pen. This isn't in the same league as the psychological smarts laden 3:10 to Yuma chatter between Heflin and Ford, no sir, but it's well scripted and boosted considerably by the chemistry between Murphy and Sullivan.

It's an odd couple physically, especially in the early parts as Seven has Greenhorn traits to overcome, but the guy's odd friendship does become believable. When Seven says late in the day that there's no man he trusts more than Flood, we understand why, because Keller (Day of the Bad Man/Quantez) and Huffaker have done great work in bringing the characters and actors to life. There's extra spice in the beans, too, with knowledge given to us of what Flood has done with his guns and what Seven is irked by in his past, he has a calling but is it a burden?

There's enough action in here to please the undemanding Western fan, with gun play, fist throws and show downs (look out for a nice stunt leap off of a wagon), while there's the odd smattering of heroism such as Audie saving a dog from a bird of prey! A potential romance angle (no not between the men) is very low key and not a hindrance, McIntire and Tobey impact nicely with their respective performances and Nevada's Red Rock Canyon forms a magnificent back drop (bravo Ellis Carter). But this is all about Murphy and Sullivan and the care and consideration afforded them by Messrs Keller and Huffaker. Far from perfect for sure, anyone will find holes in this sort of production, but forgiveness is not hard to come by when it plays out so damn well. Hey! The ending is a real beaut as well. 8/10

Footnote: I viewed the film from British TV, Dave Channel. A lovely print that only makes me lament there's no widespread DVD release for this film. There is a very expensive Region 2 French DVD available from certain outlets, the quality of which I can't vouch for.

English