Directed by Harry Keller
Starring Audie Murphy, Barry Sullivan, Venetia Stevenson, John McIntire, Kenneth Tobey
One of the last run of pictures Audie Murphy did for Universal International, produced by Gordon Kay and directed by Harry Keller (with a day or two by an uncredited George Sherman), Seven Ways From Sundown (1960) is a good one. Murphy’s as cool as ever, and there’s a great part for Barry Sullivan. Plus, John McIntire and Kenneth Tobey are along for the ride.
Explosive Media has announced a May 22 release for the picture on DVD and Blu-ray. It’ll be in its original 1.85 and region free.
It’s a solid picture (and it gets a chapter in my book). Highly, highly recommended.
Thanks to John Knight for the news.
50 Westerns From The 50s. 
This is one of my favorite Audie Murphy western. The presence of Barry Sullivan is worth the price of the admission alone. Nice that Explosive Media is still releasing westerns !
Wonderful news! I wrote about this film for Classic Movie Hub when I first saw it a little while back and it impressed me. Really enjoyed it. It’s interesting how long it’s taken some of Audie’s films to make it to DVD and/or Blu-ray, especially in the U.S.
Best wishes,
Laura
Toby and John K, it’s good news when an Audie Murphy Western Movie receives a Blu-ray release. SEVEN WAYS FROM SUNDOWN(1960) is a good one and well worth viewing. This one managed to elude me until I first viewed it on tv’s AMERICAN MOVIE CLASSICS in 2013.
I received and watched A TIME FOR DYING the other day.Not the worst western made.Victor Jory was in it looking pretty old.Don’t know what’s happened to Olive films lately .I watched HANNIE CAULDER last night released by them,but there has been no new releases lately.I also watched DODGE CITY.Does anyone know why they never called Erron Flyn’s character Wyatt Earp,after all it was Earp who cleaned up Dodge.Maybe the producers were afraid of legal action .This was 1939 and plenty of films have been made since usingEarp’s name.
Graham, I saw the widescreen HD print of A TIME FOR DYING on Amazon Prime in June, 2020. The 73 minute movie really looked good. Lucien Ballard’s photography is top notch and the 1,800 acre Apacheland Ranch and Apacheland Studio, which was 40 miles east of Phoenix, Arizona, was a great location for filming Westerns. A really good Western townsite was built there.
A TIME FOR DYING was a troubled film shoot and the independent production company FIPCO(Film International Planning Company) ran out of money. As a result, Budd Boetticher’s original screenplay wasn’t completely filmed as Budd would have liked. The movie was filmed in 1969 and had post-production and distribution problems. It had a theatrical premiere in Dallas, Texas on 9/15/69 and was shown in some other theaters in Texas. Also, it was shown in France in 1971, West Germany in 1972, and Staunton, Virginia in 1972, but pretty well disappeared until it was distributed by Corinth Films in a limited way in 1982. So, not that many movie goers had seen this one, until it was aired on cable tv’s the SuperStation WTBS Channel 17 Atlanta. This is where I first viewed the movie in 1986. I think the movie is an offbeat, oddball, and downer of a Western.
A TIME FOR DYING was to be the comeback trail for Budd Boetticher and Audie Murphy, who got together in an attempt to reinvent their stagnant careers. Sadly, it wasn’t to be. Although, I think the movie is worth a look see, because it is Audie Murphy’s last movie and I think it would have been a better movie, if Audie would have had a larger acting role in it.
Graham, are the special features on this Blu-ray edition of A TIME FOR DYING, good?
The main reason that the early Wyatt Earp movies didn’t use Earp’s real name was because of Sarah Josephine Marcus Earp, who was Wyatt’s widow. She was a thorn in the side of anyone who tried to make a movie, or write a book about her Wyatt. She would threaten a lawsuit, if she didn’t like the portrayal
of Wyatt. She died in 1944.
Toby and John K will probably know more about what Olive Films is doing, regarding Westerns.
Walter.the special features are good although there 2 features I’ve yet to view.You can watch the film in 1.85: or 1.37: ratio.A 36 page booklet is included .I thought there would have been legal problems using Earp’s name. Whether it’s a music right issue or using a legend’s name,families usually get involved.Imprint have announced their June releases and among them is THE LONG SHIPS.I just ordered a French release version BLU RAY of this film which still has not arrived .Walter,have you ever seen Errol Flynn’s last film,CUBAN REBEL GIRLS where he narrates and plays himself.One girl says”dont I know you from somewhere ,TV, Flynn replies “maybe”.He looks over weight but still has that charm and good looks.He died from a heart attack 2 months before it was released.Another one of his last films which is a favourite of mine is THE ROOTS OF HEAVEN.
Walter,I did watch the 2 features on A TIME FOR DYING .Goes to show you how interesting I thought they were if I forgot watching them,although others might enjoy them and find them interesting.
Graham, Yes. I’ve seen Errol Flynn’s last movie CUBAN REBEL GIRLS(1959) and what a curio it is, needless to say. I first recall reading about the movie in one of those newspaper weekend pull-outs of the next weeks tv schedules. Usually there would be a syndicated “Hollywood” article of some kind in the pull-out. This was in the early 1970’s, when I was reading everything I could about movies and moviemakers, which for me, was catch and catch-can, out in the hinterlands, where I lived at that time. Anyway, the article was about Flynn the “Great Swashbuckler” and it ended with his demise in the arms of his young lover and co-star Beverly Aadland. The movie they made together was CUBAN REBEL GIRLS.
I never saw CUBAN REBEL GIRLS on tv, back in the day, and I’m not sure if it was ever shown on tv. I finally viewed the movie online in 2020. This print seems to be from a vhs tape re-titled as ASSAULT OF THE REBEL GIRLS. Media Video released a vhs tape of the movie in 1987 and Fox Hills Video in 1988 under that re-title. I never saw these vhs tapes for rent or sale in my neck of the woods, at that time.
CUBAN REBEL GIRLS aka ASSAULT OF THE REBEL GIRLS is, in my opinion, a rather bizarre semi-docudrama movie filmed on the cheap. The non-acting acting of amateurs is quaintly humorous in an inept way, but they are trying. I think the on location black and white photography of 1959 Cuba is what makes this movie worth viewing, at least once. The movie can be viewed as a Historical time capsule as well as being Errol Flynn’s last movie.
Graham, did you view the CUBAN REBEL GIRLS on Kit Parker’s 2010 dvd release?
Walter, it’s on a double bill with UNTAMED WOMEN released in 2010.I wonder if Flynn knew Castro would turn Communist?
Graham, thank you for the reply. I think it was pretty clear that in late 1958 and early 1959 Errol Flynn believed that Fidel Castro was a “Freedom Fighter” and not a Communist. Castro, himself denied that he was a Communist at that point in time, but by December, 1959 the President Dwight Eisenhower Administration knew the truth about Castro being a Communist and that the new Cuban government under Castro should be replaced.
CUBAN REBEL GIRLS was released to theaters on December 25, 1959. Earlier, Flynn and his business partner Victor Pahlen(they co-owned a movie theater in Havana, Cuba) had produced a documentary movie titled THE TRUTH ABOUT FIDEL CASTRO REVOLUTION(filmed 1958-59, released 1959). This documentary premiered 8/17/59 in the Soviet Union at the Moscow International Film Festival and it was also shown 11/11/60 in East Germany(Communist German Democratic Republic). I wouldn’t doubt if it was shown in other countries behind the “Iron Curtain.” This almost unknown documentary was thought lost for forty years, but it actually was stored away at Pinewood Studios in London. It was found and had its first showing in the USA in New York City in 2001 thanks to Kyra Pahlen(daughter of Victor Pahlen), who owns the copyright. Image Entertainment released it on dvd in 2002 under the re-title of CUBAN STORY.
I think Errol Flynn may have realized by the time he died of a heart attack in Vancouver, British Columbia on 10/14/59 that Castro was a Communist. Although, Flynn’s documentary and movie are supportive of Castro and his revolution, later on Flynn stated, “It is one thing to start a revolution, another to win it and still another to make it stick. As far as this writer is concerned it ain’t sticking. The police state in Cuba is not very different from that of its predecessors.”
It’s odd that we’ve gotten so deep into Cuban Rebel Girls at this time. Just last week, I pulled out Rocky Mountain, which I love.
Boy, Flynn sure took a nosedive in his last nine years. I find it almost impossible to watch Cuban Rebel Girls, or maybe I should say to watch Flynn in it.
Walter,
Thanks so much for the background info on A TIME FOR DYING.
I don’t know if Olive Films still exist,at any rate they are not releasing
the amount of films they were several years back.
I think Imprint are a better bet as they have a very good deal with Paramount
although sadly they don’t seem to be too keen on Westerns.
Graham,
I’ve just noted Imprint are releasing THE LONG SHIPS as a Widmark fan
I’m very excited about this release. Someone sent me a high def rip of the film
which looks wonderful but I’m so glad Imprint are releasing THE LONG SHIPS
in a de-luxe format.
The film of course is total nonsense and a guilty pleasure to be sure but it
looks stunning in high def. Irving Allen favorite Lionel Jefferies seems to be
having the time of his life in this one,’though I guess his role is VERY
non p.c. these days. Graham,I hope you will keep on Imprint’s case regarding
Western releases, in fact I’ve put it on my list of things to do today.
I don’t think we will ever see Imprint releasing any A.C.Lyles Westerns but
there is a hope they might release WILL PENNY or Kirk Douglas’ POSSE.
I guess,like myself Graham grew up in the heyday of the “epic” film,these were
of course shown on giant screens at single screen cinemas.
Films like EL CID and KING OF KINGS garnered great critical acclaim but films
like THE LONG SHIPS and SODOM & GOMORRAH were great fun and
probably more to my taste these days.
I highly recommend Explosive Media’s new Blu Ray of SODOM & GOMMORAH
not in the class of the Mann or Ray films mentioned but highly entertaining.
The release tied in nicely with my current Robert Aldrich obsession and
Stanley Baker’s performance alone is worth shelling out the cash.
Explosive have released the uncut version, there is a lovely illustrated de-luxe
booklet, (in German) and a very interesting visual essay by Glenn Erickson
(in English) with removable German subs.
Aldrich being Aldrich the violence is content is high what with the roastings
alive and brandings and the sex content quiet mild.
For a Liberal the sadism in Aldrich’s work is often quiet disturbing.
Hello Graham,
I’ve e-mailed Imprint from their website-they always reply to my suggestions
so at least that’s something.
I don’t think there is any hope for 50’s Paramount Westerns to get released
like FLAMING FEATHER,THE GREAT MISSOURI RAID and THUNDER IN
THE SUN so I’ve suggested titles like POSSE,THE DESERTER,NEVADA
SMITH and WILL PENNY.
I’ve also suggested my A.C. Lyles set including 2 Westerns and 1 Noir
and 1 Neo Noir
TOWN TAMER
Lesley Selander’s Western is the best of the 13 Lyles and has the best cast.
ARIZONA BUSHWHACKERS was Selander’s last title before retiring
and has a narration by Lyles pal James Cagney
SHORT CUT TO HELL
Was James Cagney’s only stint at direction and is a knockout B Movie
remake of THIS GUN FOR HIRE
ROGUES GALLERY
Is a Neo Noir shot by Conrad Hall and has the usual Lyles stellar veteran
cast.
I think that would make a very attractive set and how wonderful to see the
two Westerns in high def in all of their Techniscope glory.
John K, always good to hear from you. Like you, I think that THE LONG SHIPS(filmed 1963, released 1964) and SODOM AND GOMORRAH(filmed 1961, released 1962) are more to my taste these days and I did like them back in the day. In THE LONG SHIPS I really get a kick out of Richard Widmark as a Viking warrior, who also is a champion long distance swimmer! Where else are you going to see Sidney Poitier as a villainous Barbary Coast Moor, who is also a dreamer. How about that gruesome torture device “The Mare of Steel,” where a captive gets to slide down a 12 feet long blade face down. Good gosh, I haven’t even mentioned Rosanna Schiaffino and Beba Loncar. The photography of Christopher Challis is top-notch and the movie is just all out fun and entertaining in a tongue pressed against cheek way.
I managed to miss THE LONG SHIPS’ prime time network tv airing in 1967 on THE CBS FRIDAY NIGHT MOVIE, but I did first catch it on KHTV Channel 11 Little Rock in 1978. Well worth a look see.
SODOM AND GOMORRAH isn’t the usual spectacular Biblical movie of its time. It’s certainly no classic epic of the type that we all know and have viewed before. This movie is interesting in the way it blends the Hollywood Epic with the Italian Peplums The movie recounts the Biblical story of the notorious kingdom of sin and sacrilege and of the Hebrew Leader Lot(Stewart Granger), who leads his people into Sodom.
There is a lot going on in this movie, which mostly went over my youngster’s head when I first viewed it on THE ABC WEDNESDAY NIGHT MOVIE in 1967. Didn’t it receive an X Certificate in the UK back in the day? I agree with you in that, “For a Liberal the sadism in Aldrich’s work is often quiet disturbing.” Well anyway, they sure don’t make movies like this one anymore, which is today’s loss. I think it is well worth viewing.
I’m always hopeful that somehow or other we’ll see those 1950’s Paramount Western Movies catch the light of day by way of good prints on Blu-ray. There are so many good ones that we’ve talked about over the years on the blogs. I know it’s not a Paramount release, but wouldn’t it be something if the United Artist release of THE YELLOW TOMAHAWK(filmed 1953, released 1954) would show up in color, no less. We can hope.
Toby, I agree about Errol Flynn. I viewed CUBAN REBEL GIRLS once and that was enough for me. I would much rather watch ROCKY MOUNTAIN(1950). This is a really good Western/War of the Rebellion movie. I first recall viewing it on the WREC Channel 3 Memphis EARLY MOVIE in 1966. They aired this one a lot back in the day. I think Flynn was really getting more interesting as an actor as he got older and it was a shame that this was his last Western. This movie is a Classic and Flynn’s weather-beaten face fit right in and he gave a top-notch performance.