Les 7 chemins du couchant

A little western ,definitely off the beaten track ; a ranger/outlaw relationship you do not see every day;when one first meets the renegade ,he's taking with a brat,near the water ;theIr conversation deals with the sturgeons,that provide the European crowned heads with caviar .Later ,the prisoner and his escort does not really act as you expect ; "Seven Ways of Sundown " (youthful Murphy)has probably never got over his big brother 's loss and is looking for a replacement ;his prisoner is a bon vivant , who tries to strike up a friendship with the ranger :together,they would almost rule the world ,should one believe him .

Although we guess very soon who's responsible for the death of the brother, the ranger/prisoner relationship is not derivative ,it's really endearing.

Audie Murphy is a rookie Texas Ranger assigned by Ranger Lieutenant Ken Tobey to accompany John McIntire to track down and apprehend noted badman Barry Sullivan. McIntire is killed, but Murphy takes him and they have one interesting journey back.

The film is kind of The Comancheros in reverse with a younger Texas Ranger bringing back an older outlaw. Like Stuart Whiteman with John Wayne, Sullivan is full of tricks and charm, but Murphy is up to it.

The whole film like The Comancheros depends on the chemistry between Murphy and Sullivan and they do it have it. It makes watching Seven Ways from Sundown good fun and you don't think about some glaring plot holes and some rather specious character motivation for the main and supporting characters.

The title comes from the fact Murphy's dad numbered rather than named his children. And Murphy's mom embellished the numbers with some additions, One for the money, Two for the show, etc.

Hey it could happen. I was in Fort Polk, Louisiana back in 1971 with a guy named John Twenty Five in basic training. Having seen this film in the theater way back when it was always on my mind during that rather grueling period of my life with Mr. Twenty Five.

One source I regard as essential when it comes to Westerns is a book by Phil Hardy called " The Western " and forming volume 1 of the Aurem Encycopedia of the cinema .It lists genre movies by year with potted critical reviews .Except that it does not give this robust and unusual little movie its own review relegating it instead to an appendix where it is mentioned but not singled out for comment

Bad error from a normally reliable writer because this is a most enjoyable movie .Murphy plays a neophyte Texas Ranger with the somewhat cumbersome name of Seven Ways From Sundown Jones .He is sent in company with a grizzled veteran to track down Jim Flood a charismatic and freethinking outlaw .Jones captures Flood but not until his partner is killed and he begins the task of returning Flood to captivity .Flood turns out to be a likable man and a friendship develops between the two men whose journey is interrupted by bounty hunters and Indians before reaching its climax at Rangers headquarters

Sullivan is outstanding as Flood and Murphy is more than competent as the Ranger and there is a strong supporting cast

Check this out .Its well made ,well acted and well written .It should not be forgotten or overshadowed by other bigger movies

Highly enjoyable movie find our hero Seven in pursuit of famed super villain Flood (Barry Sullivan).

As usual Murphy delivers as he transitions from naive rookie to seasoned professional all the while being casually manoeuvred by Sullivan.

As good as Murphy is in the movie, its Sullivan who really owns the film. Playing the suave, charismatic and in an odd way loyal baddie moving from town to town almost as a Robin Hood type persona. He manages to swash buckle his way through the film without a cutlass or a parrot!

Have fun watching this one :)

Everyone should see at least one Audie Murphy western in his life. This one is as good as any. Audie's a lawman charged with bringing elegant bad guy Barry Sullivan back to town in order to have him hanged. The problem is that, for all their difference, these two men become friends; and in time good friends. Sullivan teaches Audie a thing or two about life, and Audie gives Sullivan a lesson or two in morality. These guy complement one another. The dialogue is, for a low-budget western, often quite good. Everything happens as it should. The ending, while not a shocker, truly resonates, and makes us think about what we have just seen.