Seven Ways from Sundown

source: Seven Ways from Sundown

It's very apparent from the moment that novice ranger Audie Murphy arrests wanted outlaw Barry Sullivan that the crook is going to be teaching the law enforcer a few tricks of the trade, in spite of liking each other, they'd kill each other if they had to. Murphy doesn't exactly get a welcome when he arrives to start his assignment, at least from veteran ranger John McIntyre, but when he's sent to the private home of Mary Field for some grub (a plate of beans, a western staple), sparks fly between Murphy and her daughter, the cute Venetia Stevenson who is obviously going to be the perfect wife. It's too bad that there's not more of the romantic element of the film as it provides some character for Murphy and isn't distracting from the main plot. Beautifully filmed in Technicolor with location footage that once again appears to be in three dimension, this is fast moving and tight, mixing comedy in the growing relationship between Murphy and sullivan. A scene where they are having a bite to eat is very funny because of how Murphy outwits the older Sullivan in a way that impresses him, and when Sullivan turns the tables, it's more to continue aiding that he likes in spite of being on the opposite side of the law. There are also threats from men after Sullivan for other reasons, adding a lot of conflict to the plot. Not your typical western, and truly above average.

An Audie Murphy Western from 1960. Murphy plays a Texas ranger tasked w/bringing in a charming desperado. Once caught & led back to justice, Murphy & Jim Flood, played by Barry Sullivan, soon become friends even though Sullivan may be a helluva guy, he's a clear cut sociopath (in the film's opening he races from a saloon w/guns a-blazing & for good measure he sets the establishment on fire). What is essentially the same plot for another Murphy oater, 1954's Ride Clear of Diablo, w/Dan Duryea playing the Sullivan part, the film is stacked in Sullivan's favor even though by no stretch of the imagination does he engender any audience sympathy. Look for John McIntire as Murphy's partner, Kenneth Tobey as a fellow ranger & Jack Kruschen who memorably played Dr. Dreyfus in The Apartment which he received an Oscar nomination for in the same year.

I've never been a fan of barry sullivan since he's always come across as too full of himself ..." forty guns " " a gathering of eagles " and " harbormaster " comes to mind ... he just isn't shrewd enough to overcome audie's down home appeal and common sense along with his duty to get the job done in spite of all obstacles

Audie Murphy stars as Texas Ranger who has a long and strange name, and Barry Sullivan plays Jim Flood, the outlaw Audie has to bring back to face justice, but it's isn't so easy. There's injuns, bounty hunters en route and, most dangerous of them all, Jim Flood's charm. Sullivan plays an outlaw with a lot of charm and he's quite cunning, but so is Audie. There's a nice little twist regarding Seven's late brother who been killed by Flood, good dialogue ( especially Sullivan's lines) and an engaging plot that keeps everything simmering. It's a bit slow in the beginning but it picks up later. However, the main attraction of this film is Murphy's and Sullivan's interplay; they are different as night and day and that makes it interesting.

Just caught a couple Audie Murphy Westerns back to back that were pretty cool, this one and "Posse From Hell", both of which I rank in the upper tier of Murphy's pictures. Backing him up in this film are a couple of TV Western stalwarts, John McIntire from 'Wagon Train' and 'The Tall Man' Barry Sullivan. There's something interesting about TV good guys taking on bad guy roles, and Sullivan's portrayal of Jim Flood in this story is that of an affable outlaw with a unique brand of personal integrity. I thought he did a pretty good job. It's interesting too that Seven Jones (Murphy) never does find out the details behind the murder of his brother 'Two', all of that becomes known to the viewer but the hero is never let in on the secret. I won't give it away, you'll just have to catch the picture, but it's one of those things that wind up rare in movie Westerns. As for 'Seven's' name, I wound up thinking about that for a while and came to the conclusion that it was a colorful way of Jones's father to come up with his boys' names. Maybe it was a little lazy, but it certainly was a lot better than boxer George Foreman naming all of his six sons George, distinguished only as Jr., III, IV, V and VI. I don't believe they ever had descriptives attached to their names like 'Two for the Money' or 'Seven Ways From Sundown', so being born into that Jones family must have been pretty unique. Still a little confusing though. Say, how about that under the table, Han Solo-like shot by Jones against one of the bounty hunters coming after Flood in that saloon scene, almost two full decades before "Star Wars" came around? It looked pretty novel when I first saw the space fantasy, but I've seen the move more than once now in movie Westerns, so I guess you'd have to say George Lucas borrowed the idea when he wrote the scene. I think it comes off more surprising in "Star Wars", in a Western you almost expect it. Well, it's too bad it had to come to that kind of an ending for Jim Flood. He was actually a pretty decent guy for an outlaw, and we never did come to learn why he was such a bad guy, except for the cryptic reference I made earlier. You come away from the picture believing he let Jones get away with outdrawing him, a fatal career move that one only gets to make once.

In this western starring the experienced and capable actor Audie Murphy and the veteran actor Barry Sullivan, Murphy is a somewhat green Texas ranger who is reluctantly sent to bring the outlaw Jim Ford to justice in New Mexico:the setting of New Mexico is, in truth, Utah. Jim Ford is a suave, intelligent man who is, nonetheless, dangerous. In the story the two cross a long, seemingly-never-ending desert, fighting off Ford's enemies, the enemies of Seven-Ways-From-Sundown(Murphy's character's name) and fighting the Indians, who are the enemies of both men. Though Seven-Ways-From-Sundown is, again, inexperienced, he is completely determined to bring Ford back. Though the movie seems somewhat long, no one is jaded from watching it. It is slow-moving but maintains the attention of the viewer(s). A great flick.

Clair Huffaker's novel and screenplay is put in the hands of director Harry Keller. Riding on Audie Murphy's popularity, how can you lose? Our hero was born into a large family and the sons were given numerical names; thus Seven Ways To Sundown Jones(Murphy). Adventure and drama as Jones, a young Texas Ranger, is teamed with veteran Ranger Sergeant Henessey (John McIntire)to capture and bring back a wanted man. Jim Flood(Barry Sullivan)is a charming criminal and very skillful, but his trail is picked up by the two Rangers. Flood manages to ambush the two and Henessey is killed. The young Jones carries on with the mission and finally apprehends Flood. On the way back, Jones seems to realize that Flood isn't that bad of a guy after all. Sharing steak and beans, the two ride on and encounter bounty hunters and Indians. Will this become a strong friendship? Will the Texas Ranger bring in his man dead or alive? It appears at times there was a short budget to work with. But acting is good and the dialogue keeps the movie interesting. Also in the cast: Venetia Stevenson, Kenneth Tobey, Suzanne Lloyd, Jack Krushen, Ward Ramsey and Mary Field. There are small roles for Don Haggerty and Teddy Rooney.

When the movie begins,"Seven" looks like a clueless kid ,cmpletely immature;and it is all to the credit to Audie Murphy,the most decorated soldier in WW2,to give this kind of performance.The first meal with the girl's mother makes him look like the son of the house. His mission is actually an initiation :he is in need of a father /big brother ;first Sgt Hennessy ,then Jim Flood will play the role :the scene when they play poker with beans is revealing:and if you do not think it is,check out the last line .Flood is actually a complex man:not really a hero,for he committed a crime,but far from being a villain,who gives his knife to a kid (the key to his character is perhaps his absence of child .At the end of the movie,when Seven has grown into a man and is about to marry the girl,he lets himself killed for his mission of a father is over

Audie Murphy plays Seven Jones in his usual cool way, in this well constructed western. Seven Jones ( Audie Murphy ) is a clever but tenderfoot Texas Ranger who is in training by the skilled veteran Ranger Sergeant Hennessey ( John McIntire ). Jone's first assignment is a tough one, hunting down and bringing in the cunning and pretentious killer Jim Flood ( Barry Sullivan ). This very cleverly written story has some surprises from the sly murderer, that will push the new found skills of Jones to there limits. But in the end will these skills help Seven-Ways-From-Sundown-Jones get the job done or will Jim Flood get the upper hand?. All top notch performances from all the actors, and the beautiful Venetia Stevenson plays Murphy's love interest in this very entertaining and underrated western film. It's well worth having a look for Audie Murphy fans and also for those who enjoy a good western story.