Decision at Sundown

Decision at Sundown

Year: 1957

Runtime: 78 mins

Language: English

Director: Budd Boetticher

WesternWesternsWild west outlaws and gunfightsWestern frontier dramas with a touch of humorShow All…

At last the search was over… A man and his partner arrive at a small Western town to kill its most powerful man because the former blames him for his wife’s death.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline & Setting – Decision at Sundown (1957)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Decision at Sundown (1957). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

The events unfold in a dusty frontier town, centered on a tense power dynamic and a wedding that becomes a flashpoint for violence. The period emphasizes rugged individualism, gunplay, and a code of honor that can justify drastic actions. Key scenes take place in the town’s public spaces, where characters confront moral choices under pressure.

Location

Sundown

An isolated Western town named Sundown where the church, saloon and livery stable anchor daily life. Tate Kimbrough's political and economic influence shapes the town, while outsiders arrive and upset the balance. The setting functions as a microcosm of frontier justice, where loyalty and fear drive decisions.

🏜️ Western town ⚖️ Power struggles 🕯️ Moral ambiguity

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 16:03

Main Characters – Decision at Sundown (1957)

Meet the key characters of Decision at Sundown (1957), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Bart Allison (Randolph Scott)

A gunfighter driven by a consuming hatred after believing his wife was driven to suicide by Tate. He is a skilled marksman and loyal friend to Sam, whose obsession with revenge often undermines his moral clarity. The story follows his struggle between vengeance and the possibility of a more tempered response to loss.

⚔️ Revenge 🤝 Loyalty 🧭 Moral ambiguity

Tate Kimbrough (John Carroll)

A charismatic power broker who rules Sundown with political and economic influence. He uses control, schemes, and tension to maintain his position while presenting a calm public facade. His wedding plan is a calculated move to consolidate power amid a growing opposition.

💼 Power 🗡️ Ruthlessness

Lucy Summerton (Karen Steele)

The bride-and-daughter of Mr. Summerton who becomes a catalyst in the town’s turmoil. She resists Tate's scheme and asserts her own moral compass, influencing Bart and other townsfolk. Her choices illuminate love, loyalty, and the possibility of reform.

💖 Love 🧭 Moral courage

Sam (Noah Beery Jr.)

Bart's loyal friend and companion, who becomes a casualty in the escalating conflict. His death exemplifies the personal costs of revenge and the fragility of trust in a town ruled by fear. His presence anchors a moral counterpoint to Bart's obsession.

🤝 Loyalty 💔 Tragic loss

Dr. John Storrow (John Archer)

The humane town doctor who challenges vengeance and calls for restraint. He helps mobilize public opinion against unchecked violence and serves as a moral voice within Sundown.

🏥 Healer 🧭 Moral compass

Morley Chase (Ray Teal)

A ranch owner who sides with the reform-minded opposition and contributes to organizing resistance against Tate's rule. He represents practical power aligned with a move toward justice.

🤝 Opposition 🐄 Rancher

Ruby James (Valerie French)

Tate's romantic interest who becomes a conscience in the conflict. Her decision to shoot Tate's arm to prevent a fatal battle shows a willingness to defy her lover for a greater good, complicating Bart's vendetta.

💃 Love 🧭 Moral conscience

Spanish (H.M. Wynant)

One of Tate's hired guns whose violence escalates the town's crisis, culminating in Sam's death and the subsequent moral reckoning.

🗡️ Henchman 🔫 Violence

Sheriff Swede Hansen (Andrew Duggan)

The local law who finds his authority challenged by Bart's confrontation with Tate, embodying the legal framework of the town amid rising tensions.

⚖️ Law 🛡️ Authority

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 16:03

Major Themes – Decision at Sundown (1957)

Explore the central themes of Decision at Sundown (1957), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

⚔️ Revenge

Bart's pursuit of Tate is driven by a consuming hatred and a desire to overturn the local power structure. The plan to derail the wedding escalates conflicts and triggers a chain of violence that tests loyalty and restraint. The narrative probes whether vengeance ultimately frees or destroys those who seek it, leaving bitterness in its wake.

🤝 Justice & Morality

Dr. Storrow and others challenge Bart's vendetta, arguing for humane and fair responses rather than vigilante acts. The town's shift from fear to collective conscience shows that justice depends on public voices as much as on gunplay. Lucy's and Ruby's moral choices pressure Bart to reconsider the meaning of true justice.

💔 Loss & Redemption

Sam's death is the emotional catalyst that reshapes Bart's outlook, underscoring the cost of violence for friendships and the community. Ruby's interference complicates Bart's hatred and catalyzes a potential turn toward restraint. The resolution hints at redemption, even for a man driven by revenge.

💼 Power & Control

Tate Kimbrough wields political and economic influence to shape Sundown, demonstrating how wealth and authority can intimidate a town. The conflict reveals how power can be sustained through fear, manipulation, and social pressure. The eventual shift in allegiance shows that control is fragile when confronted with collective action.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 16:03

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Decision at Sundown Summary

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Decision at Sundown Summary

Decision at Sundown Timeline

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Decision at Sundown Timeline

More About Decision at Sundown

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Decision at Sundown (1957) Plot Summary & Movie Recap

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