“Hurry Sundown” (1967)

Drama

Running Time: 146 minutes

Written by: Horton Foote and Thomas C. Ryan Based on Hurry Sundown by K.B. Gilden

Directed by: Otto Preminger

Featuring: Michael Caine, Jane Fonda, John Phillip Law, Diahann Carroll, Robert Hooks, Faye Dunaway, Burgess Meredith, Robert Reed, George Kennedy, Frank Converse, Loring Smith, Beah Richards, Madeleine Sherwood, Rex Ingram, Steve Sanders, John Mark, Doro Merande, Luke Askew, Donna Danton and Jim Backus

Julie Ann Warren: “It wasn’t until I was ten years old that I realized that “damn” and “Yankee” were two separate words!”

“Hurry Sundown” is a 1967 drama film directed by Otto Preminger and starring Jane Fonda, Michael Caine, and Faye Dunaway. The film is set in the American South during the 1940s and deals with issues of racism and land ownership.

The film follows the story of two white men, Ty Ty Walden (played by Caine) and his cousin, Buck Walden (played by George Kennedy), who own a large plantation in the South. Ty Ty decides to sell a portion of the land to a black man named Reeve Scott (played by Robert Hooks), which causes a stir among the white residents of the area.

The film portrays the racism and discrimination that was prevalent in the South at the time, as well as the tensions between the black and white communities. The performances of the actors are generally good, with Fonda and Dunaway delivering strong performances in particular.

The film’s pacing is slow at times, and some of the dialogue and scenes can feel forced or contrived. Additionally, the portrayal of the black characters in the film has been criticized for being stereotypical and lacking in depth.

Overall, “Hurry Sundown” is an interesting and thought-provoking film that addresses important issues. While it may not be perfect, it is worth a watch for those interested in the history of racism and discrimination in the United States.

“Hurry Sundown” is a 1967 drama film directed by Otto Preminger and starring Jane Fonda, Michael Caine, and Faye Dunaway. The film is based on the novel of the same name by K.B. Gilden.

The film takes place in the rural South in the 1940s and centers around two families, one black and one white, who are involved in a dispute over land. The white family, led by siblings Robert (Caine) and Julie Ann Warren (Dunaway), want to buy out the black family’s land in order to expand their own plantation. However, the black family, led by Reeve Scott (John Phillip Law), refuse to sell and instead fight to keep their land.

“Hurry Sundown” touches on themes of racism, greed, and power struggles. The performances by the ensemble cast are strong, particularly Jane Fonda as Julie Ann Warren and John Phillip Law as Reeve Scott. The cinematography is also impressive, capturing the lush, southern landscape.

However, the film has been criticized for its stereotypical portrayal of black characters, who are largely portrayed as subservient and powerless. Additionally, the plot can be slow-moving at times, and the film’s message can feel heavy-handed.

“Hurry Sundown” is a well-acted and visually stunning film that offers a snapshot of a particular time and place in American history. However, it is not without its flaws and may not appeal to all audiences.

In terms of critical reception, “Hurry Sundown” received mixed reviews upon its release. Some critics praised the film’s performances and technical aspects, while others criticized its handling of the sensitive subject matter and the stereotypical portrayal of black characters.

Despite its flaws, “Hurry Sundown” is still considered an important film in the history of American cinema. The film tackled issues of racism and power dynamics at a time when such topics were not widely discussed in mainstream media. Additionally, the film’s large ensemble cast featured several notable actors, including Jane Fonda and Michael Caine, who went on to become major stars in the industry.

In conclusion, while “Hurry Sundown” may not be a perfect film, it remains a significant work in American cinema that tackled important themes and featured impressive performances from its cast.

Video Review

Imprint brings Hurry Sundown to Blu-ray framed at 2.35.1 widescreen and in AVC encoded 1080p high definition transfer taken from “2k scan provided by Paramount Pictures.” Offered up on a dual layered 50GB disc, the picture quality looks similar to the Olive Films Blu-ray edition from 2014 in terms of color reproduction but it definitely features better compression. Detail levels, depth and texture also look very similar to the 2014 release and as this isn’t advertised as coming from a new scan, it is likely taken from the same source. Either way, it’s a decent enough high definition offering. Some more cleanup work could probably have done away with some of the minor print damage that appears here and some scenes look a tad soft, but overall this is perfectly watchable, just never reference quality.    

Audio Review

The 24-bit LPCM 2.0 Mono track, in the film’s native English sounds fine. Optional subtitles are offered in English only. It sounds pretty solid. The track is clean, clear and nicely balanced and while limited in range, it does provide the score some depth.