Tu vida por la mía

Red Sundown is directed by Jack Arnold and written by Martin Berkeley. It stars Rory Calhoun, Martha Hyer, Dean Jagger, Robert Middleton, James Millican, Lita Baron and Grant Williams. Music is by Hans J. Salter and cinematography by William Snyder.

Gunslinger Alec Longmire (Calhoun) decides to honour a promise and change his ways. Arriving in Durango he quickly gets the opportunity to put his skills to good use when he becomes deputy to Sheriff Jade Murphy (Jagger), the latter of which is struggling to control the despotic behaviour of cattle baron Rufus Henshaw (Middleton).

A promise made. A new life…

From the higher end of 1950s Western programmers, Red Sundown couples the action and character staples with smart writing. From the off the pic signals its intentions by pushing some machismo front and centre, only to then add some sombre tones and rueful dialogue smarts. The whole story has something worthwhile to say, some keen observations. Not all gunslingers are the same, some enjoy the killing, some do it by necessity, but the message is clear, don't tar all with the same brush. Another thread deals with impressionable youngsters, where again some smart dialogue is afforded the principal player. There's a code issue that I hadn't heard of before as regards the weapon of choice in a stand-off, and there's some nasty bite that comes by way of how Henshaw treats his mistress, Maria (Baron).

If a man wants to get away from guns then he should get away from them.

As the shoot-outs and stand-offs come and go, as Martha Hyer arrives in a bullet brassiere, story settles into the common good versus bad theme, with a little romance on the side. It's despot and his hired thug, Chet Swann (Williams), against the honest sheriff and his reformed deputy. Arnold keeps things fizzing along nicely and he's well served by his lead cast members, with Calhoun, Middleton and Jagger particularly impressing. Hyer does well with what is a thankless female role, while Williams, who would become The Incredible Shrinking Man a year later, is only just on the right side of lunatic caricature.

Bonus here, though with much sadness, is Millican, who puts in a heart aching performance as a gunman whose time is ebbing away. Millican was dying of cancer at the time and wouldn't see the film released. Poignancy added to what is a film; that while it's far from flawless, earns the right to be better known. 7.5/10

Alec Longmire (Rory Calhoun) is given a second chance to go straight when he escapes an ambush with the help of hardened gunfighter Bud Purvis (James Millican). After promising Purvis that he will hang up his guns, Longmire arrives in the town of Durango looking for ranch work but instead is offered the job of deputy for Sheriff Jade Murphy (Dean Jagger). Even though it's an honest job Longmire is reluctant to accept because of his promise to Purvis. With some encouragement from Murphy and his daughter (Martha Hyer) Longmire relents and pins on the badge but he quickly finds himself in the middle of a range war between land baron Rufus Henshaw (Robert Middleton) and a group of small ranchers who have staked claims on the land.

This is another solid program western from the Universal International stable. No new ground is covered in this one but director Jack Arnold wisely doesn't try to re-invent the wheel, sticks with the tried and true and turns out an entertaining Oat Burner. Red Sundown is a straight up action Western with minimal romantic melodrama even though Calhoun's wife in real life (Lita Baron) shows up in a small part as a former old flame. Bad guys Grant Williams and Leo Gordon round out the cast.

Filmed in Technicolor and based on the novel 'Back Trail', Red Sundown is a reasonably ambitious western that would have been better served by a more expansive production budget. There is a lot of story to try to pack in eighty one minutes considering the sub plots that were never able to be fully developed. Nevertheless Red Sundown still pretty good Western fare.

Rory Calhoun has had enough of being a gun man, so he goes into town, looking for a job punching cattle. Sheriff Dean Jagger wants him as a deputy. Jagger's daughter, Martha Hyer, thinks he'll be like all the others, addicted to the high-paying, thrills, and on his way soon. Robert Middleton thinks he's for sale. Sociopathic gun man Grant Williams is gigglingly upset at his lack of professional courtesy.

It's directed by Jack Arnold. He's best remembered for his 1950s scifi movies, monster fare with a tangy soupcon of subtext. It's here in this western programmer, pitched midway between the moribund B Western and the overblown A Western. There's a formality in the composition of the story, with its prologue in which Calhoun is saved by the wily smarts of longtime gunman James Millican. Millican plays his role with a dolorous mien, wishing he had a chance to do it all again, and take a real job. The actor had already received his own death sentence. This would be his last role, and he would be dead of cancer by the time it premiered. Perhaps that informs his performance.

More than that, there's a rigidity to the film's structure: here's a Western, it seems to say. We've been making them for more than half a century, and they all proceed this way: the good bad man, the bad bad man, the rich man trying to make a fortune by pitting one against the other, the sheriff, the pretty girl. How will it turn out? In many ways, it comments on the western itself. Where is it going? Television? Spaghetti westerns? What will become of Calhoun, the sheriff, the whole panoply? It won't mean what it meant to the audience that saw it in the theaters in 1956.

Grant Williams surprised me completely: He is simply magnificent as a Western bad guy. Even beyond his skill as a Western performer is his skill as a performer. In the one close-up scene with star Rory Calhoun, he steals it totally -- and Calhoun gives one of his own best performances.

Dean Jagger is the consummate professional, and proves that as a sheriff. Maybe he's never given a bad performance. Certainly I've never seen one. But he too surprised me.

James Millican is one of my favorites. Every time I see him, I get surprised anew at how perfect he seems in his role, whatever role it is.

Martha Hyer, though, is no surprise -- except to realize again just how perfectly beautiful she is, and how perfectly she fits her role, again, whatever role it is.

Veteran Trevor Bardette gives another of his classic performances, and we see the iconic John Doucette in a bit, but standing out, as always.

Equally iconic Leo Gordon has another small role, and just owns the screen whenever he is on it.

Robert Middleton is another surprise. He, too, is always perfect in whatever role, but as a Western bad guy? Yes! As I said, surprise. And he even has a fight scene! Extremely well done.

Even the music rates a 10, with the title song beautifully written and beautifully sung by Terry Gilkyson, of whom I had not heard, but obviously I should have: He has a long list of credits. The rest of the score is by the under-appreciated Hans J. Salter.

Directing and cinematography and editing are all top-notch, and the story, from a novel by the master, Lewis Patten, is therefore very well presented.

There is a good print at YouTube, unfortunately interrupted several times by commercials, something I ordinarily hate, but I guess it's the price to pay to see such a good movie.

I highly recommend "Red Sundown."

A totally enjoyable Rory Calhoun western.

Rory can come across like he's dialing it in sometimes but with Red Sundown he seems to be really connected to the character.

Plenty of good action and an interesting story if nothing new.

The supporting cast are teriffic particularly Dean Jagger as the aging sheriff looking for his replacement.

Martha Hyer is also a nice addition to the movie adding some style and power to proceedings.

It doesn't have the long sweeping panoramic shots or the brooding mystery man, but it does have plenty to like about it.

A must for Rory Calhoun fans to enjoy :))