Seven Ways from Sundown

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.

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.

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.

I will not take up space by reviewing what other Viewer's comments have already unanimously echoed -- this is a greatly overlooked and EXCELLENT Western 60's film (as are quite a few of AUDIE MURPHY's films). What I ask of UNIVERSAL DVD Productions is to .... PLEASE WAKE UP ... and to please release some of AUDIE MURPHY's films onto DVD! Did you know that almost NONE of his films have ever even been released onto VHS ... or ... DVD!! How absurd!! The ONLY times I have ever been able to even see these films were (recently) on TMC (a GREAT Channel!!) and several years ago on AMC (before they "sold out" to the Corporate conglomerates and SAVAGELY BUTCHERED their films with gross "commercialization" -- which is pretty SAD for a Company that boasted and prided itself in FILM RESTORATION and PRESERVATION!!). Here are a few of AUDIE's FINE Western titles which I offer to UNIVERSAL for consideration: SEVEN WAYS FROM SUNDOWN, HELL BENT FOR LEATHER, GUNS OF FORT PETTICOAT, COLUMN SOUTH, and RIDE CLEAR OF DIABLO. Thankfully, at least a few of his films ARE available on DVD ... and you should check them out or buy them -- you will NOT be disappointed: DUEL AT SILVER CREEK, NIGHT PASSAGE (with JAMES STEWART!), and NO NAME ON THE BULLET. These films can stand right up there and beside any of the other Classic Western Films!! Thanks for reading.

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.