Seven Ways from Sundown (1960)

Absolutely brilliant

It's the kind of movie you'll want to see a second time with someone who hasn't seen it yet, to remember what it was like to watch it for the first time.

True to its essence, the characters remain on the same line and manage to entertain the viewer, each highlighting their own distinctive qualities or touches.

The film never slows down or bores, plunging from one harrowing sequence to the next.

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.

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.

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.

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. 8/10Footnote: 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.