The Films of Fred Zinnemann

Kid Glove Killer

Eyes in the Night

The Seventh Cross

Little Mister Jim

My Brother Talks to Horses

The Search

Act of Violence

The Men

Benjy

Teresa

High Noon

The Member of the Wedding

From Here to Eternity

Oklahoma!

A Hatful of Rain

The Nun's Story

The Sundowners (February 1/07)

The Sundowners casts Robert Mitchum as Paddy Carmody, an Australian drover whose nomadic lifestyle suits him just fine - though his wife (Deborah Kerr) and son (Michael Anderson Jr) are desperate for a home they can call their own. Shot on location and featuring stunning cinematography by Jack Hildyard, the film's lack of plot never becomes as pronounced as one might've feared - though there's no denying that a shorter running time would've been prudent. Scripter Isobel Lennart does an excellent job of capturing the Carmodys' day-to-day grind, emphasizing long yet fascinating sequences involving Paddy's various sheep-related exploits (including the inherent difficulties in herding over a thousand such animals from one place to another). The vibe of authenticity is cemented by Mitchum's superb performance; the actor drops his laconic persona and effortlessly steps into the shoes of a laid-back, salt-of-the-earth sort, and even adopts a convincing Australian accent. And although the episodic structure ensures that certain sequences are more interesting than others, The Sundowners is generally an effective and sporadically captivating piece of work.

out of

Behold a Pale Horse

A Man for All Seasons

The Day of the Jackal

Julia

Five Days One Summer