“Well, now, wouldn’t you say that was a little coincidental, Billy?” —John Elder
Today’s quick review: The Sons of Katie Elder. After the death of Katie Elder, her sons John (John Wayne), Tom (Dean Martin), Matt (Earl Holliman), and Bud (Michael Anderson, Jr.) return to the town of Clearwater, Texas, to attend her funeral. There they tangle with Morgan Hastings (James Gregory), the new owner of the Elders’ ranch, as well as Curley (George Kennedy), Morgan’s hired gun, and Ben (Jeremy Slate), an over-eager sheriff’s deputy.
The Sons of Katie Elder is a classic Western about four brothers who come home after a long absence and try to find out what happened to their family. Left with no inheritance and a bad reputation in town, the Elder brothers stir up trouble by digging into the unsolved murder of their father and the loss of the family ranch. The Sons of Katie Elder spins this premise into a capable drama with believable characters and varied sources of conflict.
The Sons of Katie Elder takes an indirect approach compared to other Westerns. It shares the slow build-up to violence seen in similar stories, but the inciting incidents happened in the brothers’ absence. John and the others are left to seek answers months after the fact, and their prying does nothing to endear them with a town that already distrusts them. This makes for a potent situation that only gets more perilous as the story unfolds.
The other strength of the movie is the brothers themselves. The brothers are boisterous and far from model citizens, but their loyalty to each other and determination to set things right make them well worth following. No single brother fits the heroic mold, but they complement each other well, with John acting to keep his impulsive younger brothers in check. Their differing personalities add an element of unpredictability to the story.
All in all, The Sons of Katie Elder hits a sweet spot with its premise, its characters, and the way its story plays out. The movie is missing some of the subtler touches seen in other dramas, such as deeply personal character development or an artfully orchestrated conclusion. But what it lacks in nuance, it makes up for with varied characters, interesting conflicts, and a story that moves of its own accord. Western fans should give it a shot.
For a John Wayne movie about a gunfighter returning home to help his family, try Big Jake. For a more adventurous Western about four men who are dedicated to justice, try Silverado. For a modern crime drama with a similar premise, try Four Brothers.
[7.2 out of 10 on IMDB](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0059740/). I give it a 7.0 for an intricate story and dynamic characters.