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SundownRating:
Release Date: 03 July, 2001 Retail Price: $9.99 OUR Price: $9.99 You SAVE: $0.00! Cast: Complete Cast (9 total) |
Sundown Reviews
An Obscure Little Movie, but Interesting
If not for the ravishing Gene Tierney, this movie would of, no doubt, been left on a dusty shelf to rot. The story leaves much to be desired--it is difficult to follow at best. Then along comes Gene Tierney and you lose track of what you were watching to drool over her beauty. By the time you turn your attentions back to the story itself, you're totally lost. At least, a lesser being like myself, will have that problem.
As one previous reviewer mentioned, there is a short gap in the movie leaving you wondering where the "Dutchman" came from (he just seems to have appeared from thin air, actually). You spend a few minutes trying to figure out what happened and the plot becomes even more jumbled. But, fear not--Miss Tierney returns and you are even more hopelessly lost, while "appreciating" her appearance.
I actually enjoyed this movie, and if I ever find time to see it again, I am sure the plot will be crystal clear, even to me. If you are a true "war movie" fan, like I am, you'll find this more akin to a "Flash Gordon" or "Captain Midnight" episode than real war. For the younger folks, those were very early (50's), cheaply made, TV "thriller" serials, rather corny, but nevertheless popular action adventure shows of the time. I had the feeling the whole time I watched "Sundown" that it was a weekly chapter from some series like one of those. "Tune in next week to see the next thrilling episode of Suuuuuundowwwwwwn." I kept expecting an Ovaltine commercial at any moment.
In all seriousness, the movie is entertaining and the transfer to DVD is very good considering the age of the film. A bit of background noise, but nothing serious. For the price, it is a great addition to any collection, if just for the novelty--and Gene Tierney, of course.
Try it!
A Solid Programer, Efficiently Directed
It's 1940 in East Africa at a small, isolated British outpost. There are rumors that the Germans are sending in rifles and machine guns, but this must be verified. If true, action must be taken to stop it, even though the outpost can only rely on its own resources. Bruce Cabot (as a Canadian) plays Crawford, the resident in charge. He's a man who loves Africa and sees many changes happening when Britain wins the war. George Sanders plays Coombes, a British officer flown in to take charge. He's by the book, but not beyond learning a few things from Crawford. Gene Tierney plays Zia, daughter of an Arab trader who owns a vast trading network throughout East Africa.
This is an efficient, better than average programer which is directed in a professional way and keeps the action going. There are no great surprises and many things typical of a movie of this type: The good natives are all handsome and child-like, all seem grateful for the wisdom and guidance given them by the Brits. The bad natives all look like they came from a gene pool where good looks weren't dominate. And the movie is careful to point out, first, that Zia is the daughter of an Arab and a European, so no black blood in her. Then when the romance between Zia and Crawford is confirmed, we learn that she's actually British so there's not even Arab blood (or French) to worry about.
The acting is fair, with Gene Tierney acceptable and gorgeous, Cabot stolid and brave, and Sanders condescending but trying to do the right thing. He has a great death scene, and I mean it; not a hint of the usual Sanders curled lip.
What a strange career George Sanders had. I really don't think he was a particularly good actor. He did a good job, in my view, only when he had a first-rate script and/or a sense of challenge. He was charmingly amoral in Rebecca, funny and even a little romantic in Foreign Correspondent, and very good as a single-minded, obsessed artist in The Moon and Sixpence. And that's about it, for me. His turn in All About Eve was funny to watch, but I often felt he was waiting for his next cue to sneer out his lines.
Dorothy Dandridge has a bit, uncredited, part that lasts all told probably less than five minutes at the start. She has no dialogue, and plays a shy young girl happy to wed a poor native soldier, then plays a heart-broken young widow. She was good, and I couldn't take my eyes off her.
This is a solid programer with the faults of its time, but is professionally put together, moves at a brisk pace, and is a reasonable way to spend an hour and a half if you like 40's movies.
The DVD transfer is far better than I expected.
More Customer Reviews (5 total)
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