Solemplex To me, this movie is perfection.

Listonixio Fresh and Exciting

Borserie it is finally so absorbing because it plays like a lyrical road odyssey that’s also a detective story.

Jakoba True to its essence, the characters remain on the same line and manage to entertain the viewer, each highlighting their own distinctive qualities or touches.

zardoz-13 "Undersea Kingdom" Joseph Kane's "Brimstone" is an above-average, but formulaic western with plenty of a knock down, drag out fistfights, shootouts, and intrigue. Rod Cameron is cast as an undercover marshal after a gang of thieves. The movie draws its title from the cunning patriarchal 'Pop' Courteen that Walter Brennan plays who presides over a family of ruthless, no-account outlaws who have a legitimate cattle spread. Just to give you an idea how villainous Brennan is, his two eldest sons are played by seasoned heavies like Jack Lambert and Jim Davis. Mind you, this is a plum role for Lambert because he survives about three-fourths of the film before he bites the dust. After a number of unexplained robberies occur, Johnny Tremain shows up and Sheriff Henry McIntyre (Forrest Tucker) deputizes him despite his instincts that Tremaine may be the outlaw roaming the territory. The town elders have their eye on McIntyre because he cannot seem to round up the bandit and threaten to depose him if he doesn't solve the crimes and apprehend the criminals before Marshal Walter Greenslide (Jack Holt of "The Littlest Rebel") arrives. When the marshal shows up, he is promptly wounded during a stagecoach robbery in the middle of a stream by a hooded bandit. Fortunately, the lawman is merely winged and comes out of it wearing a sling. Meantime, Pop is up to no-good not only struggling to keep his sons in line, especially one (James Brown of "Red River") who wants to marry a settler, and stealing money holding up a bank."Brimstone" features an all-star cast. Cameron makes a stalwart hero, while Brennan steals the show as the treacherous father. Indeed, Brennan's performance here reminded me of his superb characterization as Ike Clanton in John Ford's classic oater "My Darling Clementine." One big twist occurs near the end that Kane and "Escape Me Never" scenarist Thames Williamson concoct and let simmer beneath the surface for the length of his vigorous western. Look for Will Wright as the fiery editor and publisher of a newspaper. Guinn 'Big Boy' Williams has a strong part as Sheriff McIntyre's deputy. My only complaint is some of the special effects, particularly the painted backdrops look might obvious. Prolific helmer Joseph Kane, who directed two John Wayne escapades entitled "Flame of the Barbary Coast" and "Dakota," keeps the action moving and never allows the pace to slacken in this nimble 90-minute frontier tale. This is one of those rare action-packed westerns where the hero doesn't have a love interest. Nevertheless, western fans will appreciate this rugged horse opera and the sturdy cast that highlights it.

chuck-reilly Director Joseph Kane made a career out of filming "B" Westerns, usually with John Wayne as his lead actor. His 1949 classic "Brimstone" is probably one of his best works, although it and most of his other films are virtually forgotten now. Walter Brennan is the title character and fire and "Brimstone" are what he's all about. As several other reviewers have noted, Brennan mostly repeats his Ike Clanton portrayal from "My Darling Clementine" with a few extra doses of nastiness. He's on screen throughout the movie and carries it off like the true professional he was. Other notables in the cast include Lorna Gray, Jim Davis, James Brown (from the old "Rin Tin Tin" TV series) and Rod Cameron in the lead. He's the "good guy" but Brennan and Guinn "Big Boy" Williams steal the show effortlessly. Williams was in countless movies as Errol Flynn's sidekick alongside his partner Alan Hale Sr. Davis made a name for himself later on "Dallas" in the 1970s. As for Walter Brennan, he's the only man in history to win three Best Supporting Actor Oscars. He could play nice friendly grandfathers and switch over to psychopathic murderers without an acting class in between. For those who only remember Brennan from his days as old Amos McCoy on television, "Brimstone" will give them a much better appreciation of this man's talent and acting virtuosity. He could play one mean dude.

Alonzo Church This is a Republic Studios shot at an A picture. The problem is that it is still Republic, after all. The film is in color, but it's "Trucolor", which is a two color process that makes the great outdoors look very odd. (The movie was clearly shot in the winter -- which makes the fact that the process really does not show green less of a liability. The blue shows up as a very cold blue) And when it is time for a big sweeping scene that's beyond this film's budget, the movie suddenly changes to black and white for a minute.But the reason for watching is seeing Walter Brennan in full-bore villain mode. And he plays the character as that mean old evil reprobate we all know in our lives, and he is scary good at it. The character resembles his villain in "My Darling Clementine", but he has more film time to be just plain awful, and he makes the most of it. It is bravura acting, but it is not the least hammy or corny. The man won his Academy Awards for a reason.Plot? Stranger with unclear motives takes on a corrupt town. No surprises on how this develops, though one thinks the Walter Brennan character in real life would have made prompt mincemeat of the stalwart hero, and purchased himself a few more local politicians.

volker-9 *Stagecoach* used to be my favorite Western, but *Brimstone* may supplant it. Brimstone has no intellectual pretensions, but it's a perfect distillation of all cowboy movies. Every line is a great cliche.