Decision at Sundown
A grief-haunted gunfighter enters a corrupt western town to pursue revenge, forcing its frightened citizens to choose between silence and justice.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- Moderate
- brooding
- tense
- stoic
- classic western double bill
- rainy afternoon
What critics said
Critics broadly regard the film as a strong, compact Randolph Scott western, though somewhat less accomplished than the best Scott-Boetticher collaborations.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Bart Allison arrives to settle a personal grievance, but the town's corrupt sheriff and intimidated residents become central to the conflict.
The action unfolds around Sundown's livery stable, streets, and civic power structure rather than across a broad frontier journey.
After his gun hand is injured, Allison must face Kimbrough left-handed, reshaping the final confrontation.
Townsmen change sides and disarm the sheriff's men after Sam is shot despite being promised safe passage.
Films like Decision at Sundown, and why
High Noon
classic western centered on a lone outsider confronting entrenched local corruption and cowardice
The Tall T
budd boetticher western sharing lean storytelling, moral ambiguity, revenge, and randolph scott's stoic screen presence
Buchanan Rides Alone
randolph scott western built around a stranger entering a compromised town and exposing its power structure
Movie Details
- Director
- Budd Boetticher
- Release Date
- 1957-11-10
- Runtime
- 78 min
- Rating
- 6.3 / 10 (88)
Cast
- Randolph Scott
- John Carroll
- Karen Steele
- Valerie French
- Noah Beery Jr.
- John Archer
- Andrew Duggan
- James Westerfield
- John Litel
- Ray Teal
Common questions
- What is Decision at Sundown about?
- A grief-haunted gunfighter enters a corrupt western town to pursue revenge, forcing its frightened citizens to choose between silence and justice.
- What is Decision at Sundown like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Decision at Sundown as brisk, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is Decision at Sundown violent?
- Somewhat. Ember rates the violence in Decision at Sundown as moderate.
- What did critics think of Decision at Sundown?
- Critics broadly regard the film as a strong, compact Randolph Scott western, though somewhat less accomplished than the best Scott-Boetticher collaborations.
- Which films are like Decision at Sundown?
- Films with a similar feel include High Noon, The Tall T, and Buchanan Rides Alone.
- How long is Decision at Sundown?
- Decision at Sundown runs 78 minutes.
