Seven Ways from Sundown

This starts out as a really charming Audie Murphy Western (1960) about a polite and green kid who's joined the Texas Rangers, even though he doesn't even have a six-shooter. The internet said the original director, George Sherman, got in an argument with Audie Murphy, who threatened to kill him, and Harry Keller finished as director. The best thing, right off, is Audie's character's name, Seven Ways from Sundown Jones. He explains that his dad named the kids by number—I mean, he didn't really even name them, just numbered them! But his mom always added an additional nickname—so there was One for the Money Jones, Two to Get Ready Jones, and on, up to Seven. He didn't mention the other names, but it's in my nature to fill out the information. Three's Company Jones, Four Dead in Ohio Jones, Five Card Stud Jones, Six Flags Over Texas Jones—and then maybe even Eight is Enough Jones. Some family! Anyway, he's tracking down a bad guy named Jim Flood (Barry Sullivan) who is charming in his own way. Actually, as it went on, I got to like him more than Seven, as their friendship grows. It's essentially a love story. I had to see how it ended, though I could have predicted it all along. I was kind of sad, having to see one of these guys get killed, and kind of mad at myself for caring. I guess, ultimately, it falls into the category of Westerns where one guy essentially kills another guy with personalty.