''Sunset Range'' is a 1935 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

Ray McCarey Raymond Benedict McCarey (September 6, 1904 – December 1, 1948) was an American film director, brother of director Leo McCarey. Biography McCarey began working at Hal Roach Studios, where he did work on short films with Our Gang and L ...

and starring

Hoot Gibson Edmund Richard "Hoot" Gibson (August 6, 1892 – August 23, 1962) was an American rodeo champion, film actor, film director, and producer. While acting and stunt work began as a sideline to Gibson's focus on rodeo, he successfully transitione ...

. The film received a mostly positive reception, with praise for Gibson's acting and delivery of humor in what was his first western film in two years. The film was regarded by some as being the "high point" in the filmmaking activity of the First Division Pictures studio, alongside another western, '' Rainbow's End'', in the same year.

Plot

The story starts in

New York City New York, often called New York City or NYC, is the List of United States cities by population, most populous city in the United States. With a 2020 population of 8,804,190 distributed over , New York City is also the L ...

before the westerners, led by Reasonin' Bates, travel to

Arizona Arizona ( ; nv, Hoozdo Hahoodzo ; ood, Alĭ ṣonak ) is a state in the Southwestern United States. It is the 6th largest and the 14th most populous of the 50 states. Its capital and largest city is Phoenix. Arizona is part of the Fou ...

to outsmart gangsters in the east. The plot revolves around Bonnie, who gets involved in a case of kidnap and unknowingly hides ransom money. The ranch she owns is managed by Bates, who saves both her and the ransom money from the villain Grant.

Cast

Casting

Gibson was cast in the leading role of Reasonin' Bates in what was his first western film in two years and the first since he had signed for First Division Pictures. The role was a departure from his usual western films, instead acting in a story with comedy and drama which was described as being one of his best performances. Gibson, who was a stunt performer in films prior to starring in westerns, performed "many feats of daring" in the film. The villain Grant was played by Walter McGrail, who was well known in that type of character role in many previous western movies.

Reception

The ''

Sydney Morning Herald ''The Sydney Morning Herald'' (''SMH'') is a daily compact newspaper published in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, and owned by Nine. Founded in 1831 as the ''Sydney Herald'', the ''Herald'' is the oldest continuously published newspaper i ...

'' noted that despite the film's "exciting opening", the film became "leisurely" and described the acting, dialogue and humor as "feeble". The ''

Intelligencer Journal The ''Intelligencer Journal'', known locally as the ''Intell'', was the daily, morning newspaper published by Lancaster Newspapers, Inc in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. It is the 7th oldest newspaper in the United States and was one of the oldest newsp ...

'' offered a more positive review of the film, suggesting that it "will satisfy every theatregoer with entertainment and thrills", noting that the film had much comedy and dramatic situations which made for excitement. A positive assessment was also given by ''

The News and Observer ''The News & Observer'' is an American regional daily newspaper that serves the greater Triangle area based in Raleigh, North Carolina. The paper is the largest in circulation in the state (second is the ''Charlotte Observer''). The paper has bee ...

'', suggesting that the film was "one of the finest westerns ever made" which was packed with "fast action, fast shooting and hard riding from beginning to end". The ''

Reading Times The ''Reading Eagle'' is the major daily newspaper in Reading, Pennsylvania. A family-owned newspaper until the spring of 2019, its reported circulation is 37,000 (daily) and 50,000 (Sundays). It serves the Reading and Berks County region of Pe ...

'' had considerably praise for Gibson's performance, noting it was one of his best and that he proves himself as being an excellent rider with his handling of comedy and drama. The ''

Casper Star-Tribune The ''Casper Star-Tribune'' is a newspaper published in Casper, Wyoming, with statewide influence and readership. It is Wyoming's largest print newspaper, with a daily circulation of 23,760 and a Sunday circulation of 21,041. The ''Star-Tribune'' ...

'' also praised the film, remarking that the film takes the audience "back to the real days of motion pictures", with praise for Gibson's delivery of humor and noting that he "has never been better than he appears in 'Sunset Range'".

References

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Sunset Range 1935 films American black-and-white films 1935 Western (genre) films American Western (genre) films Films directed by Ray McCarey 1930s English-language films 1930s American films