The Sundowners (1960)

User Rating:

7.5/10   

Director:

Fred Zinnemann

Writers:

Isobel Lennart (screenplay)
Jon Cleary (novel)

Release Date:

11 August 1961 (West Germany)

Genre:

Drama | Adventure

Tagline:

Across Six Thousand Miles of Excitement...Across a Whole World of Adventure Comes the Rousing, Story of Real People Called "The Sundowners"!

Plot:

In the Australian Outback, the Carmody family--Paddy, Ida and their teenage son Sean--are sheep drovers...

Plot Keywords:

Birth | Contest | Horse | Gambling | Farm

Awards:

Nominated for 5 Oscars. Another 3 wins & 7 nominations

Cast

Deborah Kerr	...	Ida Carmody
Robert Mitchum	...	Paddy Carmody
Peter Ustinov	...	Rupert Venneker
Glynis Johns	...	Mrs. Firth
Dina Merrill	...	Jean Halstead
Chips Rafferty	...	Quinlan
Michael Anderson Jr.	...	Sean Carmody
Lola Brooks	...	Liz Brown
Wylie Watson	...	Herb Johnson
John Meillon	...	Bluey Brown
Ronald Fraser	...	Ocker
Gerry Duggan	...	Shearer
Leonard Teale	...	Shearer
Peter Carver	...	Shearer
Dick Bentley	...	Shearer
Mervyn Johns	...	Jack Patchogue, mayor of Cawndilla
Molly Urquhart	...	Mrs. Bateman
Ewen Solon	...	Halstead
Max Osbiston	...	Farm couple
Mercia Barden	...	Farm couple
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Ray Barrett	...	(uncredited)
Jack Cunningham	...	Paddy's Drinking Companion No2 (uncredited)
John Fegan	...	(uncredited)
Lloyd Lamble	...	Mr. Bateman (uncredited)
Bryan Pringle	...	PC Thomas (uncredited)
Colin Tapley	...	Palmer (uncredited)
Alister Williamson	...	Shearer (uncredited)

Directed by
Fred Zinnemann

Writing credits
Isobel Lennart		(screenplay)
Jon Cleary		(novel)

Produced by
Gerry Blattner	....	producer

Original Music by
Dimitri Tiomkin

Cinematography by
Jack Hildyard		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Jack Harris

Casting by
Robert Lennard
Gloria Payten

Art Direction by
Michael Stringer

Costume Design by
Elizabeth Haffenden

Makeup Department
Gordon Bond	....	hair stylist
George Frost	....	makeup artist

Production Management
John Palmer	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Peter Bolton	....	assistant director
Lex Halliday	....	second unit director
Roy Stevens	....	assistant director

Art Department
Frants Folmer	....	set dresser
Terence Morgan	....	set dresser

Sound Department
David Hildyard	....	sound mixer
Keith Batten	....	sound assistant (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Gerry Fisher	....	camera operator (as Gerald Fisher)
Skeets Kelly	....	director of photography: second unit (uncredited)
Nicolas Roeg	....	camera operator (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Joan Bridge	....	wardrobe color consultant

Music Department
Dimitri Tiomkin	....	conductor
Stanley Black	....	music supervisor (uncredited)
Tommy Reilly	....	musician: harmonica (uncredited)

Other crew
Elaine Schreyeck	....	continuity
Ron Whelan	....	location manager: Australia
Walter Thompson	....	production associate (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Warner Bros.

Distributors

• Warner Bros. Pictures (1960) (USA) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros. (1961) (West Germany) (theatrical)
• Hollywood Classics (USA) (VHS)
• Warner Home Video (2007) (USA) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (USA) (VHS)

Also Known As:

Fred Zinnemann's The Sundowners (UK) (complete title)

Runtime:

133 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound Recording)

Certification:

UK:U | West Germany:12 (f) | Canada:G (video rating) | Finland:K-8 | USA:Approved | Australia:G

Filming Locations:

Associated British Elstree Studios, Shenley Road, Borehamwood, Hertfordshire, England, UK

Company:

Warner Bros.

Trivia:

Gerry Duggan worked 30 days over 8 weeks.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Fade to Black (1980)

The Sundowner is always on the move, never finding his home.

Set in Australia in the 1920s,this wonderful movie tells the story of sheepdrover Mitchum, wife Kerr and son Anderson, drifting through the Australian wilderness,never settling down.Tired of constantly being on the move Kerr wants a home for her family,but Mitchum is insensitive to his family's wishes.

Deborah Kerr gives a fantastic performance that brings to life even the inner emotions of her character.She's never been better.Robert Mitchum is very believable in his assignment.It's perhaps one of his most complex roles.Also Peter Ustinov scores a triumph:A man too irresponsible to have a family of his own,and therefore clings to Mitchum and Kerr's family. The story isn't much on paper,but Fred Zinnemann's imaginative direction gives the incidents the needed emotions. Beautiful cinematography and sock performances from the rest of the cast makes this a movie you shouldn't miss.