The Last Sunset (1961)

A lot of fun.

It's fun, it's light, [but] it has a hard time when its tries to get heavy.

If the ambition is to provide two hours of instantly forgettable, popcorn-munching escapism, it succeeds.

It is an exhilarating, distressing, funny and profound film, with one of the more memorable film scores in years,

A tired man dressed black finds your old lover to redeem for left her in the past,this man is Bren o'Malley played by Kirk Douglas and the woman is Belle played by Dorothy Malone who already married and has a young girl named Missy and now lives in somewhere in Mexico with a drunk husband,now O'Malley is chased by Dana Stribling who seeks for revenge and he planned to bring back to be tried in Texas....a long journey back showing to O'Malley that Belle is another person and no longer loves him,so has something between Missy and him which he cann't explain,maybe for she looks like a young girl in yellow dress which he left behind...all this under the Santelmo's fire....Forggoten classic from Robert Aldrich!!!Resume: First watch: 2007 / How many: 2 / Source: Cable TV-DVD / Rating: 8

Kirk Douglas travels to Mexico on horseback to locate the woman he loved years ago. But a lawman (Rock Hudson) is on his trail, vowing to bring him back to Texas for hanging. Dorothy Malone plays the woman who is central to the story. Her husband, Joseph Cotton, plans to drive his cattle to Texas for sale, but he needs some cowhands. As a result, Douglas and Hudson become unlikely trailmates.Along the perilous journey, there are revelations, demonstrations of bravery, and conflict resolution. The plot is clever and it contains some surprises. "The Last Sunset" is directed by Robert Aldrich--a talented director, for sure. But the excellent script is the product of Dalton Trumbo, adapting from a novel.Though it contains the trappings of many western, this film goes beyond the usual caricatures. It is a rich story about complex characters.

The hunter and hunted plot has been used in many a Western movie. Some have been exceptional films – "The Searchers" with John Wayne, Jeffrey Hunter and Natalie Wood; Charles Bronson and Henry Fonda in "Once Upon a Time in West;" and James Stewart and others in "The Man from Laramie." Many such films become formulaic but still manage to entertain for their suspense, scenery and frequent action with gun play – if not for their acting. "The Last Sunset" isn't in the top tier of such Westerns, but it's not far off. Where this film excels is in its cast of notable roles and in the different twists from the usual plot of hunter-hunted films. There are just enough twists here to give it a refreshing feel. To say much more would be to give away the plot and enjoyment on first viewing. Suffice it in this review to draw attention to the difference in the usual theme, and to note something on the quality. The acting is very good all around. Joseph Cotton, Dorothy Malone and Carol Lynley give first rate performances. As Dana Stribling, Rock Hudson is an unusual character in his politeness and decency. He plays his role with a seeming ease and almost aloofness that seems to fit nicely in the plot. As Bren O'Malley, Kirk Douglas is also unusual as the bad guy. He doesn't fit the frequent mold of crude, dumb, or barbaric cowboy. He does a great job in the diverse emotions he portrays from one scene to the next. I agree with some other reviewers who note Douglas' performance as exceptional. While Douglas wasn't in the small group of handsome leading men of the Hollywood studios of his time, he was nevertheless a handsome, popular and very talented actor. In his movie prime, he played a variety of roles, with as many characterizations. Only later would he slip into a general characterization. He won one Golden Globe for acting ("Lust for Life," 1957), and received two more GG nominations and three Academy Award nominations. He's among a considerable list of outstanding actors who have never won an Oscar. "The Last Sunset" is an interesting and very good Western that I think most movie fans would enjoy a great deal.

A great movie, and a Dalton Trumbo script to boot. Hey, how'd that happen? Famed Commie lover DT gets real screen credit? Maybe that's why nobody's seen this film. The sets, settings, cinematography and acting are first-rate. This may even be the first of Joseph Cotten's long run of disreputable former Confederate officer (or is that redundant?) roles. Starring Kirk Douglas, the best action adventure actor in the history of Hollywood, Rock Hudson, one of Hollywood's greatest actors (he made you believe he was a macho hetero man, didn't he?), Dorothy Malone, perhaps not the best built but undeniably one of its most super hot and sexiest actresses and Carol Lynley, one of Hollywoods best but terribly underrated actresses, this film is a treat. Plot twists; personality realignments; changing loyalties; unexpected (and quite adult) plot changes; and an ending you can't see coming until the end.Add this to some cinematography that is totally wasted on a TV screen and really demands a VistaVision screen, and you've got a real Western.The opening scene includes a vista shot that CAN NOT be properly appreciated on a TV screen, be warned.I don't know why this film is so sparely known - but as a Western movie enthusiast, I didn't see it until 2008 myself. It is QUITE a movie - see it!