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Should tax ^e capadly of
the best houses in the land
Sundown
(First National — Nine Reels)
(Reveiwed by Laurence Reid) A NUTIIER picture of America in the inakinj; hiys renclicd the A\ shadow stage. "Sundown," like "The Covered Wagon," "The ■^ -^ li-on Horse," and other similar productions deals with the trials and tribulations of the pioneers who blazed the long, long trail into the unmapped wilderness of the west.
Specifically we are shown the losing battle whicU the cattlemen waged against the advance of the homesteaders and civilization. And interwoven into the historical fabric are threads of powerful drama, clean-cut coijiedy, appealing romance and for good measure a wealth of "big moments," such as the tbrilling stampede of tliousands of cattle in which part of the vast herd crashes into the homesteaders cabin and raze it to the earth; the wonderfully staged prairie fire and the tense sequences surrounding it as the cowboys seek to drive the cattle to the river and safety; the knockout of a climax in which two transcontinental trains are held up until the entire 150,000 cattle have .passed over the tracks and into their new grazing land — Mexico.
The thing that stands out m "Sundown," is its luimanness. Tt deals with real folks. It reaches the heart as it tells the story of those pioneer plainsmen, foi-eed to leave their native land after years of unending toil.
Few pictureplaj-s in the history of the industry have had more remarkable scenic settings than "Sundown." All the beauties of the west the mountains the plains the streams the deserts, are unfolded in their natural charm. The cast is one that shows great cave in selection of typfs. Hobart Bosworth gives an inspiring portray.^l of the role of«John Brent, cattle king. Roy Stewart is an appealing Hugh Brent son, lover and cattleman. Bessie Love is immense as Ellen Crawley, the heroine of the picture. Charles Murray and Arthur Hoyt furnish a wealth of comedy relief. E. J Radclitfe is an exact prototype of Roosevelt.
THEME. An historical human drama of the events attending the last great drive of the cattle kings of the old west', filled with quaint humor, impelling drama and patriotic sequences.
PRODUCTION HIGHLIGHTS. The stampede of the herds. The prairie fire. The holding up of the transcontinental trains to allow the cattle to pass into Mexico. The fine characterizations
DIRECTION. A tremendous piece of work has been well done. The story has been transferred to the screen in able manner.
EXPLOITATION ANGLES. It would take a page to enumerate them all. Displays of the book. Include Roosevelt's "The Winning of the West," and use photos of the Radcliffe characterization in the display.
DRAWING POWER. Should tax the capacity of the ^^ best houses hi the land.
SUMMARY. Here is a picture for the entire family. It cannot fail to interest all classes of fans. It is something new under the sun of film production. It is admirably acted, wonderfully mounted and beautifully photographed. It is BIG in the true meaning of that word.
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