Maybe we mostly go to B Westerns for the action, gun play and saloon fights and horseback chases. At least I do.
But "Sunset Range" has something else: Charm.
And good humor.
And extremely likable ranch hands who suddenly find themselves employed by a city-slicker girl who herself just oozes charm.
The joy of "Sunset Range" begins with a wonderful story, by Paul Schofield, of whom it is very difficult to find any information.
That story is presented by director Ray McCarey, and it must run in the family, directorial excellence, because he was brother to Leo McCarey.
McCarey is gifted with not only his own skill but with a cast that is about as close to perfect for this cine-play as a cast could get.
Many of the performers play characters with their, the actors', names, such as Goober Glenn and George and Lem Sowards.
One stand-out is John Elliott, who has credits starting in 1919 and running till 1956! He gives what must be the best performance in this movie, and one of the best I've ever seen in a B Western.
The ranch-hand characters are dirty and dusty and unshaven fellows suddenly presented with a city-slicker girl as their new boss, because her brother bought her the ranch, and their reaction is priceless.
One hand, though, is resentful. Even this lovely and adorable girl is still a girl and he just don't like 'em. Girls, that is.
That hand is the estimable Hoot Gibson.
I have only recently -- February of 2016 -- re-discovered Hoot and I am just enthralled. Maybe I'm speaking too soon, but so far I believe he is one of the most likable movie performers, probably in all of Hollywood history.
He is not our standard rough and tough cowboy hero, but in real life he had been a cowboy who became a movie stunt man, an early one.
He earns our admiration and liking by his personality and not just his fisticuffs.
He and his cowboy colleagues in "Sunset Range" make us awfully glad we tuned in to watch them and the charming and adorable Bonnie, played by the charming and adorable Mary Doran.
A good story so well played by this perfect cast is really quite a surprise to someone expecting a shoot-'em-up, but it should be a very pleasant surprise.
By the way, there IS plenty of action, too, and director McCarey uses his cameras very well in capturing it.
I highly recommend "Sunset Range" which is available at YouTube.
But "Sunset Range" has something else: Charm.
And good humor.
And extremely likable ranch hands who suddenly find themselves employed by a city-slicker girl who herself just oozes charm.
The joy of "Sunset Range" begins with a wonderful story, by Paul Schofield, of whom it is very difficult to find any information.
That story is presented by director Ray McCarey, and it must run in the family, directorial excellence, because he was brother to Leo McCarey.
McCarey is gifted with not only his own skill but with a cast that is about as close to perfect for this cine-play as a cast could get.
Many of the performers play characters with their, the actors', names, such as Goober Glenn and George and Lem Sowards.
One stand-out is John Elliott, who has credits starting in 1919 and running till 1956! He gives what must be the best performance in this movie, and one of the best I've ever seen in a B Western.
The ranch-hand characters are dirty and dusty and unshaven fellows suddenly presented with a city-slicker girl as their new boss, because her brother bought her the ranch, and their reaction is priceless.
One hand, though, is resentful. Even this lovely and adorable girl is still a girl and he just don't like 'em. Girls, that is.
That hand is the estimable Hoot Gibson.
I have only recently -- February of 2016 -- re-discovered Hoot and I am just enthralled. Maybe I'm speaking too soon, but so far I believe he is one of the most likable movie performers, probably in all of Hollywood history.
He is not our standard rough and tough cowboy hero, but in real life he had been a cowboy who became a movie stunt man, an early one.
He earns our admiration and liking by his personality and not just his fisticuffs.
He and his cowboy colleagues in "Sunset Range" make us awfully glad we tuned in to watch them and the charming and adorable Bonnie, played by the charming and adorable Mary Doran.
A good story so well played by this perfect cast is really quite a surprise to someone expecting a shoot-'em-up, but it should be a very pleasant surprise.
By the way, there IS plenty of action, too, and director McCarey uses his cameras very well in capturing it.
I highly recommend "Sunset Range" which is available at YouTube.