''Seven Ways from Sundown'' is a 1960 American

Western Western may refer to: Places *Western, Nebraska, a village in the US *Western, New York, a town in the US *Western Creek, Tasmania, a locality in Australia *Western Junction, Tasmania, a locality in Australia *Western world, countries that id ...

film directed by

Harry Keller Harry Keller (22 February 1913 – 19 January 1987) was an American film editor, producer and director, who made a number of westerns and worked for many years at Universal Pictures. In 1958, Keller was tasked by Universal Pictures with directing ...

and starring

Audie Murphy Audie Leon Murphy (20 June 1925 – 28 May 1971) was an American soldier, actor and songwriter. He was one of the most decorated American combat soldiers of World War II. He received every military combat award for valor available from t ...

and Barry Sullivan. It is based on the novel of the same name by

Clair Huffaker Clair Huffaker (September 26, 1926 – April 3, 1990) was an American screenwriter and author of westerns and other fiction, many of which were turned into films. Biography Born in Magna, Utah, Huffaker wrote of his childhood in ''One Time I ...

, who also wrote the script. Young cast member Teddy Rooney is the son of actors Mickey Rooney and Martha Vickers.

Plot

Seven Jones (Murphy) is a young Texas Ranger on his first assignment, following in the footsteps of his brother, Two Jones, who was also a Ranger. He initially comes across a town that try to attack him, who are angry at the lack of support from Texas Rangers. He learns that the town had just been attacked by outlaw Jim Flood (Sullivan), who had killed two men in a shoot out over a card game, and burnt down the saloon. Jones reports for duty at the Texas Rangers headquarters, and it is revealed Jones's brother, Two, was also a Ranger there. Here he meets a woman, Joy (

Venetia Stevenson Joanna Venetia Invicta Stevenson (10 March 1938 – 26 September 2022) was an English actress. Early life Born in 1938 in London, England, as Joanna Venetia Invicta Stevenson, she was the daughter of film director Robert Stevenson and actress ...

) who is the daughter of the lady who looks after the Rangers' meals, and he starts to fall for her. However, he is soon sent to capture Flood, who it is revealed is a legendary gunslinger and is something of a Western folk hero. He is dispatched on the mission with a more experienced Ranger, Sergeant Hennessy ( John McIntire) by the Lieutenant, Herly (

Kenneth Tobey Kenneth Jesse Tobey (March 23, 1917 – December 22, 2002) was an extremely prolific American actor who performed in hundreds of productions during a career that spanned more than half a century, including his role as the star of the 1957-1 ...

). Hennessey protests that it is unusual that a new recruit be sent on such a mission after such a dangerous man, but Herly insists. They track Flood for some days, however, as they get close to Flood, he ambushes them and shoots Hennessey from close range. Hennessy orders Jones to turn back, but he refuses, and Hennessey dies. Jones buries him, and he continues on. Despite his inexperience, Jones manages to capture the outlaw, but he soon finds that transporting him to prison will not be easy. Flood, though easygoing in his manner, warns Jones that he will never be locked up again, but Jones is determined to take him back to Texas, and to justice. Flood has opportunities to kill Jones, but instead continues on the journey, all the while insisting that he will never be put back in jail. Along the way, several people for various reasons want to either kill the young Ranger and Flood. Flood is extremely popular in some towns, who want to free him, while others want to kill him for his past deeds, or for the bounty. It is revealed that Flood has an extensive criminal history, having escaped jail multiple times and the noose twice. As the Ranger and his prisoner make their dangerous journey, they occasionally have to work together to survive. They form a grudging respect for each other, almost a friendship, but they know that in the end they are on opposite sides of the law.

Cast

as Seven Jones * Barry Sullivan as Jim Flood *

as Joy Karrington * John McIntire as Sergeant Henessey *

as Lieutenant Herly *

Mary Field Mary Field (born Olivia Rockefeller; June 10, 1909 – June 12, 1996) was an American film actress who primarily appeared in supporting roles. Early life She was born in New York City. As a child, she never knew her biological parents; ...

as Ma Karrington *

Ken Lynch Kenneth E. Lynch (July 15, 1910 – February 13, 1990) was an American radio, film, and television actor with more than 180 credits to his name. He was generally known for portraying law enforcement officers and detectives. He may have been bes ...

as Graves * Suzanne Lloyd as Lucinda * Ward Ramsey as Fogarty *

Don Collier Donald Mounger Collier (October 17, 1928 – September 13, 2021) was an American actor best known for Western films and NBC television shows such as ''The High Chaparral'', ''Bonanza,'' ''Gunsmoke'', and ''Outlaws'' as Marshal Will Foreman. E ...

as Duncan *

Jack Kruschen Jacob "Jack" Kruschen (March 20, 1922 – April 2, 2002) was a Canadian character actor who worked primarily in American film, television and radio. Kruschen was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his role as Dr. ...

as Beeker *

Claudia Barrett Claudia Barrett (born Imagene Williams; November 3, 1929 – April 30, 2021) was an American television and film actress. Early life Barrett was born in Los Angeles, California, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. I. J. Williams. She began takin ...

as Gilda * Teddy Rooney as Jody *

Don Haggerty Don Haggerty (July 3, 1914 – August 19, 1988) was an American actor of film and television. Early life and education Before he began appearing in films in 1947, Haggerty was a Brown University athlete and served in the United States Army ...

as Durton * Robert Burton as Eavens * Fred Graham as Chief Waggoner *

Dale Van Sickel Dale Harris Van Sickel (November 29, 1907 – January 25, 1977) was an American college football, basketball and baseball player during the 1920s, who later became a Hollywood motion picture actor and stunt performer for over forty years. ...

as 2nd Waggoner (as Dale Van Sickle)

Production

The film was originally directed by George Sherman. Parts of the film were shot in St. George, Utah. During filming in the studio, shortly after the unit had returned from location work outside Las Vegas, Sherman and Audie Murphy had an argument over a line reading, which resulted in Murphy pushing Sherman over and threatening to kill him. Sherman left the project and was replaced for the remainder of the shoot by

. Murphy started an affair with co-star Venetia Stevenson, which lasted for a year.

References

External links

* * * {{Harry Keller 1960 films Audie Murphy Films based on American novels 1960 Western (genre) films American Western (genre) films Films directed by Harry Keller Films scored by William Lava Films shot in Utah Universal Pictures films 1960s English-language films 1960s American films

Plot

Cast

Production

See also

References

External links