Seven Ways from Sundown (1960)

Just caught a couple Audie Murphy Westerns back to back that were pretty cool, this one and "Posse From Hell", both of which I rank in the upper tier of Murphy's pictures. Backing him up in this film are a couple of TV Western stalwarts, John McIntire from 'Wagon Train' and 'The Tall Man' Barry Sullivan. There's something interesting about TV good guys taking on bad guy roles, and Sullivan's portrayal of Jim Flood in this story is that of an affable outlaw with a unique brand of personal integrity. I thought he did a pretty good job.It's interesting too that Seven Jones (Murphy) never does find out the details behind the murder of his brother 'Two', all of that becomes known to the viewer but the hero is never let in on the secret. I won't give it away, you'll just have to catch the picture, but it's one of those things that wind up rare in movie Westerns.As for 'Seven's' name, I wound up thinking about that for a while and came to the conclusion that it was a colorful way of Jones's father to come up with his boys' names. Maybe it was a little lazy, but it certainly was a lot better than boxer George Foreman naming all of his six sons George, distinguished only as Jr., III, IV, V and VI. I don't believe they ever had descriptives attached to their names like 'Two for the Money' or 'Seven Ways From Sundown', so being born into that Jones family must have been pretty unique. Still a little confusing though.Say, how about that under the table, Han Solo-like shot by Jones against one of the bounty hunters coming after Flood in that saloon scene, almost two full decades before "Star Wars" came around? It looked pretty novel when I first saw the space fantasy, but I've seen the move more than once now in movie Westerns, so I guess you'd have to say George Lucas borrowed the idea when he wrote the scene. I think it comes off more surprising in "Star Wars", in a Western you almost expect it.Well, it's too bad it had to come to that kind of an ending for Jim Flood. He was actually a pretty decent guy for an outlaw, and we never did come to learn why he was such a bad guy, except for the cryptic reference I made earlier. You come away from the picture believing he let Jones get away with outdrawing him, a fatal career move that one only gets to make once.

Audie Murphy plays Seven Jones in his usual cool way, in this well constructed western. Seven Jones ( Audie Murphy ) is a clever but tenderfoot Texas Ranger who is in training by the skilled veteran Ranger Sergeant Hennessey ( John McIntire ). Jone's first assignment is a tough one, hunting down and bringing in the cunning and pretentious killer Jim Flood ( Barry Sullivan ). This very cleverly written story has some surprises from the sly murderer, that will push the new found skills of Jones to there limits. But in the end will these skills help Seven-Ways-From-Sundown-Jones get the job done or will Jim Flood get the upper hand?. All top notch performances from all the actors, and the beautiful Venetia Stevenson plays Murphy's love interest in this very entertaining and underrated western film. It's well worth having a look for Audie Murphy fans and also for those who enjoy a good western story.

When the movie begins,"Seven" looks like a clueless kid ,cmpletely immature;and it is all to the credit to Audie Murphy,the most decorated soldier in WW2,to give this kind of performance.The first meal with the girl's mother makes him look like the son of the house.His mission is actually an initiation :he is in need of a father /big brother ;first Sgt Hennessy ,then Jim Flood will play the role :the scene when they play poker with beans is revealing:and if you do not think it is,check out the last line .Flood is actually a complex man:not really a hero,for he committed a crime,but far from being a villain,who gives his knife to a kid (the key to his character is perhaps his absence of child .At the end of the movie,when Seven has grown into a man and is about to marry the girl,he lets himself killed for his mission of a father is over

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.