Starring Audie Murphy, Barry Sullivan, Venetia Stevenson, John McIntire,
Kenneth Tobey
Directed by Harry Keller

Print: color
Runtime: 96 min.
Genre: western
Print Quality: B

Audie Murphy is again the kid who puts on a badge to catch the bad guy,
skillfully played by Barry Sullivan. On the way back to town the two
develop a curiously close relationship - Sullivan passes up several
chances to get away - but in the end Sullivan "asks for it" and Murphy
obliges.

 

The movie Seven Ways from Sundown is the story of Jim Flood, a well-known outlaw and the newly appointed Texas Ranger, Seven Ways from Sundown. Seven meets Lt. Herly and Sgt. Hennessey who teaches him to use his new revolver. Hennessey introduces Seven to Mrs. Karrington and her daughter, Joy who serve food for the Rangers. Joy and Seven are attracted to each other and she invites him to a party that evening. Herly, however, orders Seven to watch the office while the others attend the party. He also informs that Hennessey and Seven have to be on Flood’s trail next morning. Joy visits Seven later that night and informs him that Flood is too tricky to be caught and Hennessey feels the same. He does not inform Seven that Flood also killed Seven’s Ranger brother, Two but he feels confident when he sees Seven using the revolver expertly. The next morning, both of them set out and he teaches Seven some sharpshooting tricks as well. While searching for Flood, they pretend to be outlaws and learn from dancing girl Lucinda that he has gone to the North, but they turn towards the west as Flood never reveals the truth to anyone. It seems that Hennessey admires Flood for his courage and he soon dies when Flood kills him. He also pleads with Seven not to fight with Flood alone. In an encounter, Seven wounds Flood and takes him to a cabin to nurse his wound. Soon, Seven comes to admire Flood for his courage and intelligence. Flood feels sorry that he has killed Hennessey as he informs that the sergeant had saved his life years earlier.

Seven is cautious with his prisoner as he is aware that he can escape at any time. Both of them set out for Buckley, and when they set up camp at night Flood tries to kill Seven but he quickly overpowers him. In the morning, they continue on their way to Buckley. Once, they are confronted by two sets of Apaches. Flood manages to free himself when they are attacked by the Indians and saves both Seven as well as himself from the Indians. He also asks Seven to join him as his partner and informs that his brother’s death was caused by fellow Ranger’s cowardice. At the next town, they are greeted by the townspeople who wish to kill Seven in order to free Flood, but the outlaw protects him. Since a reward is being offered for Flood, many people wish to kill Flood but seven saves his life. Flood hides a gun without the knowledge of seven and they travel on to Buckley. After they reach Buckley, Herly places Flood in jail and Flood reveals to seven that it was Herly’s fault that Seven’s brother was killed. The reason why Herly sent seven after Flood was that he could be killed by Flood, thus removing a potential rival. Herly plans to kill the outlaw legally as well, but he ends up killed by Flood. Meanwhile, Joy warns Seven that it is not wise to trust the outlaw as he is a killer. Seven cannot bring himself to wound Flood but accidentally, the outlaw wounds Joy and seven realizes that he cannot be fully trusted.

Finally, before leaving Flood asks Seven to be his partner, but he refuses. He tries to stop the outlaw from leaving town, and the two men end up dueling with each other. Flood dies and Seven realizes that he had let him win. Seven Ways from Sundown is a western film that was released in 1960. It is based on a novel of the same name by Clair Huffaker who also wrote the script. Audie Murphy stars as Seven Ways from Sundown. The movie, Seven Ways from Sundown was directed by George Sherman and Harry Keller.