Decision at Sundown (1957)
Bart Allison (Randolph Scott) rides into a sleepy town named Sundown with the intention of killing local boss Tate Kimbrough (John Carroll) by sundown.
Some years earlier Kimbrough had an affair with Allison’s wife who later committed suicide. Tensions build as sundown approaches, not just between Allison and Kimbrough, but among the townspeople as well.
Decision at Sundown is a strong film from director Budd Boetticher film once again teaming up with Randolph Scott. However it's a different beast altogether from the usual plain galloping mayhem the duo usually give us. Although not studio bound it's set solely in town following the opening scenes.
Scott, playing against type is a mainly unlikable character, more like Clint Eastwood's later High Plains Drifter than anything remotely heroic. His sole focus is killing Kimbrough and the tension rises during the first half hour.
If what follows isn't quite how you imagine it playing out then all the better, like i said Decision at Sundown isn't your typical Scott / Boetticher western.
|