''Colorado Sundown'' is a black and white 1952 American

Western Western may refer to: Places *Western, Nebraska, a village in the US *Western, New York, a town in the US *Western Creek, Tasmania, a locality in Australia *Western Junction, Tasmania, a locality in Australia *Western world, countries that id ...

film directed by

William Witney William Nuelsen Witney (May 15, 1915 – March 17, 2002) was an American film and television director. He is best remembered for the action films he made for Republic Pictures, particularly serials: ''Dick Tracy Returns'', ''G-Men vs. the Black ...

. It mixes genres: western, musical, crime story and comedy. Interspersed during the action are musical selections sung by The Republic Rhythm Riders, including a rare solo by Slim Pickens

Plot

The film opens with a runaway stage with Rex (Rex Allen) and Slim (Slim Pickens) in pursuit. Rex jumps on and stops the stage, rescuing Jackie (Mary Ellen Kay) and Mattie (Louise Beavers). However, they mistake him for the careless stagecoach driver. Troubles arise when Jackie and Slim find they are inheriting a third share of a ranch along with Carrie Hurley (June Vincent) and her brother Daniel (Fred Graham). The next day Carrie persuades Slim and Jackie to sell their portion of the ranch because of supposedly infected trees but Rex shows and stops the sale. Carrie's younger brother Dusty Hurley arrives and agrees to impersonate John Stoker, a forest ranger who has been poisoned by Carrie. Stoker convinces some of the ranchers to sell but Rex is suspicious and writes to the forest service. The letter from the forest service arrives and Maddie takes it but is shot by the fake Stoker who takes it to Carrie who hides it. Rex arrives and fights with Stoker who collapses in Carrie's office and she shoots Rex wounding him. Slim shows up and takes Rex and Stoker to Doc but Stoker dies along the way. A storm ensues and all pitch in to stop the dam from breaking. The storm abates revealing the real rangers body which along with Dusty's body are taken to doc who finds that both have been poisoned. Meanwhile the ranchers and lumbermen begin to fight but are stopped by Rex and the sheriff. Rex then catches up with Carrie and Daniel. He fights with Daniel and they both fall into the river. Rex emerges the victor and carts Carrie off to jail. He bides Jackie and Slim farewell and rides off alone. A goat butts Slim causing a bucket of milk to land on his head.

Cast

Rex Allen Rex Elvie Allen (December 31, 1920 – December 17, 1999), known as "the Arizona Cowboy", was an American film and television actor, singer and songwriter; he was also the narrator of many Disney nature and Western productions. For his contribut ...

as the Arizona Cowboy *Koko the dog as himself *

Mary Ellen Kay Mary Ellen Ruffalo ( Keaggy, August 29, 1929 – 2017), better known as Mary Ellen Kay, was an American television and film actress. Biography Kay was born in Boardman, Ohio, on August 29, 1929. She was one of ten siblings and the sister of virt ...

as Jackie Reynolds *

Slim Pickens Louis Burton Lindley Jr. (June 29, 1919 – December 8, 1983), better known by his stage name Slim Pickens, was an American actor and rodeo performer. Starting off in the rodeo, Pickens transitioned to acting and appeared in dozens of movies and ...

as Joshua 'Slim' Pickens / Ma Pickens *

June Vincent June Vincent (born Dorothy June Smith, July 17, 1920 – November 20, 2008) was an American actress. Life and career Vincent was born in Harrod, Ohio, the daughter of Sybil Irwin and the Rev. Willis E. Smith. Stage Vincent's acting career bega ...

as Carrie Hurley * Fred Graham as Daniel Hurley * John Daheim as Dusty Hurley aka John Stocker *

Louise Beavers Louise Beavers (March 8, 1902 – October 26, 1962) was an American film and television actress. From the 1920s until 1960, she appeared in dozens of films and two hit television shows. She was most often cast in the roles of a maid, servan ...

as Mattie, Jackie's Maid *

Chester Clute Chester Lamont Clute (February 18, 1891 – April 2, 1956) was an American actor familiar in scores of Hollywood films from his debut in 1930. Diminutive, bald-pated with a bristling moustache, he appeared in mostly unbilled roles, consi ...

as Lawyer Davis * Clarence Straight as Mail Man driving the Hack * The Republic Rhythm Riders as Ranch workers, Musicians

External links

* * 1952 films 1950s English-language films American black-and-white films 1952 Western (genre) films Republic Pictures films American Western (genre) films Films directed by William Witney 1950s American films {{1950s-Western-film-stub