JohnHowardReid The makers of this film landed themselves in something of a quandary. When the film was all ready for release, someone in Republic's publicity department pointed out that the title meant nothing. There was not a single reference to brimstone, in any shape or allegorical form throughout the entire movie. A Foreword was hastily added in which the early settlers were commended for fighting Indians, drought - and outlaws like "Brimstone" Courteen. In the movie, however, the character is not called "Brimstone" but "Pop" Courteen, a title that masks a viciously vengeful rancher who, together with his three sons, is waging a secret war against the community in general, homesteaders in particular. COMMENT: I don't know why Adrian Booth gets such prominent billing here. Her role is so small, you would expect to find her name well down the cast list. But then Jack Holt's part is so fleeting, he's hardly in the movie at all. Two players have the lion's share of the action: Number one, Rod Cameron, an indifferent performer, but rugged enough to acquit himself honorably in the action scenes (with the help of a stunt double, of course). Number two, Walter Brennan, who emerges as the real star of the film. Admittedly, you can't always rely on Brennan. True, he's given some engrossingly charismatic portraits in the past, but some directors seem to have been afraid of him and unable to keep him under control. But here in Brimstone, Brennan is not only perfectly cast, but perfectly controlled. It's a good meaty part, and though Walter plays it to the hilt, he doesn't overplay it, or project it on just the one monotonously menacing note. He shades the role well. He can temper open hostility and incredibly mean-spirited viciousness with sly cunning, subterfuge and even a seemingly transparent if rough yet rascally charm. Yes, Brennan has a great role. He plays it superbly.Oddly, the next most impressive performance is handed out by Hal Taliaferro. A long-time western star, under the name Wally Wales, Taliaferro must have played hundreds of miniscule roles in the 1940s. His name often appears towards the bottom of cast lists, but it is usually very difficult to pick him out in the crowd. Here for once, he has a comparatively sizable role. Although he makes an extremely late entrance, he provides an extra ingredient in the climax, agreeably complicating the shoot-out and adding a few nice touches to the suspense. Jack Lambert contributes his usual strong characterization as a surly but none-too-bright offspring, Guinn "Big Boy" Williams turns in a bit of slightly forced comic relief, while Forrest Tucker adequately holds down a none-too-large but unusual role as an opportunistic sheriff.Production values are unusually good by Republic standards (even if they are helped out by some blue tinted stock and matching main footage in the introductory episode), with locations near Sacramento, a fair bit of action, and above all, as said, Walter Brennan's riveting performance.

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.

jarrodmcdonald-1 This film has quite a lot going for it. First, we have Walter Brennan as the title character, a crooked father who leads his sons in various cattle rustling schemes. Sort of reminiscent of Brennan's turn in MY DARLING CLEMENTINE, where he played Pop Clanton. Second, this film was made in the Trucolor process, Republic's answer to Technicolor. The blues are so strong and clear, and the reds and greens are perfect. This is very noticeable when portions of the film take place outdoors, and director Joseph Kane did take them out on location for quite a few sequences. So it's a gorgeously photographed picture. Third, I think this film is worth checking out because it moves along at a nice pace and is consistently entertaining. The direction and performances have much to do with its success. What a sturdy western cast, who raise the story a notch above most films that cover this subject. In addition to Brennan, we have Rod Cameron, the lovely Adrian Booth, Jim Davis, Guinn Williams, Jack Holt, Forrest Tucker and Will Wright. And oh, don't miss Jody Gilbert in her great bit as a Fat Woman (what else?) on the stage.

bkoganbing Borrowing from his portrayal of Old Man Clanton in My Darling Clementine, Walter Brennan dominates this film as the mean and merciless head of an outlaw family. It seems that Brennan at one time was the local Ben Cartwright, but little by little the homesteaders and small ranches have nibbled him down to little by his standards. So he and his two outlaw sons Jim Davis and Jack Lambert have been plying the outlaw trade going after them with some cattle rustling and other forms of criminal enterprise.The general outlaw situation has a lot of people mighty of suspicious of sheriff Forrest Tucker and deputy Guinn Williams. Federal Marshal Jack Holt arrives on the scene, but he's wounded in a stagecoach holdup and not able to do too much.Into all this mix is a mysterious loner played by Rod Cameron who looks like he's trying to cut himself in on everybody's action, Brennan's and Tucker's. When you're not watching Brennan, Cameron's the one that should be paid attention.Brennan had a very bad time with John Ford when he made My Darling Clementine, but Ford got a great performance from him. I think Brennan channeled a lot of that into his role here of Brimstone Courteen.This is a great action western from Republic with quite a bit more plot to it than the usual Republic product for the Saturday afternoon kid market. And you'll not forget Walter Brennan in the title role.