Is it worth watching *Sundown Trail* today? If you like old westerns where the horses look tired and the heroes look like they spend a lot of time on their hair, then yes. It’s perfect for a lazy Sunday when you don't want to think too hard. People who need big explosions or fast editing will probably hate it though.
Dorothy comes home to the ranch and she brings this lawyer boyfriend from the city. He wears a suit that looks like it cost more than the whole ranch. It’s one of those funny details where you just know he’s not going to last. He looks like he’s afraid of getting dust on his shoes the whole time.
Her dad’s will is the main thing that starts the trouble. She has to stay on the ranch for five years. Five years! That feels like a long time to commit to a place just to get an inheritance. If she leaves, Buck gets the place. Buck is the manager and he’s played by Tom Keene.
Buck has that very specific 1930s hero energy. He’s always standing perfectly straight. Even when he’s just leaning against a fence, he looks like he’s posing for a statue. Dorothy decides she hates him immediately. It’s that classic movie thing where they argue because they’re obviously going to fall in love later.
She decides to be independent and make a cattle deal. The problem is she picks the worst people to talk to. They look like outlaws from a mile away. They have those shifty eyes and they don't smile with their teeth. It reminds me of the shady characters you see in
Bad Sister, just with more cowboy hats.
The outlaws want $10,000. In 1934, that was a crazy amount of money. Dorothy just agrees to it like she’s buying a loaf of bread. You can tell she’s out of her league. The city lawyer isn't much help either.
The Small Things
- The way the dust kicks up during the chase scenes is actually pretty cool.
- The sound of the guns is very 'pop-pop' and not very scary.
- There is a dog in a few scenes that seems more interested in what's behind the camera.
- The lawyer's hat stays perfectly clean despite being in a desert.
I noticed the ranch house looks real. Like, it’s not a fancy set. It looks like a place where people actually lived and worked. The wood looks grainy and the porches look like they might collapse if you step too hard. It adds a bit of grit to a story that’s otherwise pretty simple.
There’s a scene where they talk about the cattle prices. It goes on for a bit too long. I found myself looking at the background actors instead. One guy in the back is just chewing on a piece of grass for like three minutes straight. He’s the most realistic part of the movie.
It’s not as artistic as something like
Strike. It doesn't try to be deep. It’s just a story about a girl, a ranch, and a guy who knows how to shoot. Sometimes that’s all you really need for an hour of entertainment.
Buck eventually has to step up when the outlaws get aggressive. The action is okay. It’s a lot of guys falling off horses and tumbling into the dirt. You can tell they are real stuntmen doing real falls. It looks like it hurt.
I felt bad for the lawyer guy by the end. He just seems so confused by everything happening. He’s like a fish out of water, or a lawyer out of the courtroom. If you want to see another movie where people feel out of place, maybe check out
West of Broadway.
"I'm staying on this ranch, Buck, whether you like it or not!"
That line is delivered with so much sass. Dorothy is played by Marion Shilling and she does a good job of being stubborn. She’s not just a damsel in distress, even if she does make some bad choices. She really wants to prove she can run the place.
The ending happens exactly how you think it will. There are no big twists. It’s a very comfortable kind of movie. You know the good guys will win and the bad guys will go to jail or get shot.
One thing that bugged me was the lighting in the indoor scenes. It’s very dark in the corners. It makes the ranch house feel a bit spooky, which I don't think they intended. Maybe they just didn't have enough lamps on set that day.
It reminded me a little of
Set Free in how the characters interact. There’s a certain rhythm to these old scripts. People say what they mean and they don't use a lot of fancy words. It’s refreshing compared to some of the stuff we get now.
I’d give it a watch if you’re a fan of the genre. It’s short, it’s dusty, and it has some good horse riding. Just don't expect it to be a masterpiece. It’s just a solid B-movie from a time when they made these every single week.
Final Random Notes
* The outlaws have very recognizable faces if you watch enough of these.
* The music is a bit loud during the quiet parts.
* I wonder if they actually used $10,000 in props or just paper.
* Tom Keene's smile is very bright. 🤠
