“Showdown” is a movie I watched in my attempt to expand my repertoire. It’s a western-gunslinger-love triangle, and I enjoyed it despite the fact I didn’t think I would.
Rock Hudson is Chuck Jarvis, the sheriff in town. His best friend is Billy Massey (Dean Martin) and they’ve known each other just about their entire lives. They both fell in love with the same girl, Kate (Susan Clark) and they went into partnership on a ranch. When Kate chose Chuck, it was hard on Billy and he decided to sell Chuck his share of the ranch. Billy rode off for Mexico to start a whole new life.
The movie begins with a train robbery, masterminded by Billy. He has returned to the town of his birth, thinking that the sheriff is still the one he remembers, not knowing that his good friend Chuck is now on the job. When the robbery is reported and Billy is named as the robber, Chuck can hardly believe it, but he knows he has to track Billy down in order to serve justice. While Chuck is out hunting him, Billy doubles back and comes to the ranch, to find out from Kate that it’s Chuck he’s up against.
Chuck returns to the house and finds Billy there. After talking things over for a while, he comes up with a story they can tell the feds that clears Billy of most of the charges and would save him from the hanging rope. Billy encourages him to take Kate on a romantic getaway while they wait for Billy’s trial, and Chuck does.
While Chuck is gone, the prosecuting attorney moves Billy’s trial up to take place while Chuck’s back is turned. Billy escapes, knowing that he’ll never survive without Chuck there to back him up, and the two of them end up fighting on the same side against the men who’ve ridden to bring Billy back.
This movie is interspersed with memories of their childhood and growing up years, and I felt I got a good insight into who these men were and why Chuck was willing to defend his friend, even though Billy had gone wrong of the law. I must say, however, I’ve never seen Rock Hudson with quite so many crow’s feet . . .
This movie was rated PG.
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