Brimstone (1949)

Most undeservingly overhyped movie of all time??

It’s not bad or unwatchable but despite the amplitude of the spectacle, the end result is underwhelming.

It is neither dumb nor smart enough to be fun, and spends way too much time with its boring human characters.

Strong acting helps the film overcome an uncertain premise and create characters that hold our attention absolutely.

This film has quite a lot going for it. First, we have Walter Brennan as the title character, a crooked father who leads his sons in various cattle rustling schemes. Sort of reminiscent of Brennan's turn in MY DARLING CLEMENTINE, where he played Pop Clanton. Second, this film was made in the Trucolor process, Republic's answer to Technicolor. The blues are so strong and clear, and the reds and greens are perfect. This is very noticeable when portions of the film take place outdoors, and director Joseph Kane did take them out on location for quite a few sequences. So it's a gorgeously photographed picture. Third, I think this film is worth checking out because it moves along at a nice pace and is consistently entertaining. The direction and performances have much to do with its success. What a sturdy western cast, who raise the story a notch above most films that cover this subject. In addition to Brennan, we have Rod Cameron, the lovely Adrian Booth, Jim Davis, Guinn Williams, Jack Holt, Forrest Tucker and Will Wright. And oh, don't miss Jody Gilbert in her great bit as a Fat Woman (what else?) on the stage.

Basically, this Republic western from the late 1940's is Walter Brennan all the way with admirable support from two of his sons in the film, Jim Davis and Jack Lambert. The so-called star of the show, Rod Cameron, is only so-so and the rest of the cast mainly plod through their lines without much inspiration; this includes the likes of Forrest Tucker, Jack Holt, and "Big Boy" Williams, three screen stalwarts who usually did much better in the acting department. Walter Brennan as the title character, Brimstone, reprises his Old Man Clanton role from "My Darling Clementine," which he parodied twenty years later (still an old man) in the magnificent "Support Your Local Sheriff!" Jack Lambert as the dullard son, Luke (reprised by Bruce Dern in "Support Your Local Sheriff!"), has one of the best lines in the film. Pop Brimstone uses the expression, "...Just as sure as the world is round." Surprised by his dad's revelation, Luke blurts out, "Round?" Later, Luke is still puzzled and tries to convince his dad otherwise. "I've been thinking, Pop. The world can't be round...cause if it was, the people down in China would be standing on their heads." Luke comments while distorting his face and body to indicate the predicament of those living on the bottom of the earth. Why Jack Lambert never received his just deserts for his acting talents remains a mystery.The story is a bit lopsided and in places seems made-up as the film progresses. Generally, it's about the Courteen family of ranchers led by the old man who refuses to accept the end of the open range. He continues to fight a war against homesteaders, nesters, squatters, and the like by robbing stagecoaches of loot being transported for the interlopers. Suddenly, a mysterious stranger appears on the scene to begin robbing the robbers. The mysterious stranger teams up with the local sheriff to ferret out the real thieves. In the process he becomes involved in a split within the Courteen family concerning the youngest son, Bud (James Brown), in love with a nester, Molly Bannister (Adrian Booth). Bud finds himself in trouble with the law and with his own father. Unraveling the twisted plot is not easy but by the end of the show a satisfactory resolution takes place with a few surprises along the way.Keeping with its reputation for delivering plenty of action, Republic makes sure there are fisticuffs and chases. The studio would possibly have been better off shooting "Brimstone" in black and white. The color leaves much to be desired with a few tinted black and white inserts. This may have been a bigger budget film for Republic, but cost cutting is still obvious with rear projections and backdrops clearly visible in several "outdoor" scenes. "Brimstone" is still a pleasing shoot-'em-up for fans of the genre.

This is one of the B Western films that has everything, great stars, great plot, surprises, good guys, bad guys, etc.Brennen does an excellent job as Brimstone, a grizley old man that is bad to the bone and expects his moron sons to be just as bad. The exception being James Brown.Rod Cameron plays a great part but in my opinion, Guinn "Big Boy" Williams steals the show."Gracious, I always talk Spanish when I'm eatin', makes the food taste better"Watch it, tape it and watch it again. You'll always find some hidden part or line that'll connect for you.

*Stagecoach* used to be my favorite Western, but *Brimstone* may supplant it. Brimstone has no intellectual pretensions, but it's a perfect distillation of all cowboy movies. Every line is a great cliche.