The Sons of Katie Elder

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The Sons of Katie Elder

1965 Movie Poster
Directed by Henry Hathaway
Produced by Paul Nathan
Hal B. Wallis
Written by screenplay by
William H. Wright
Allan Weiss
Harry Essex
from a story by
Talbot Jennings
Starring John Wayne
Dean Martin
Martha Hyer
Michael Anderson, Jr.
Earl Holliman
Music by Elmer Bernstein
Cinematography Lucien Ballard
Editing by Warren Low
Distributed by Paramount Pictures
Release date(s) July 1, 1965
Running time 122 min.
Country USA
Language English
Allmovie profile
IMDb profile

The Sons of Katie Elder is a 1965 western film directed by Henry Hathaway and starring John Wayne and Dean Martin. The film was released by Paramount Pictures.

Filmed shortly after Wayne's surgery to remove a cancerous lung and two ribs, the star insisted on doing his own stunts, and nearly contracted pneumonia after being dragged into a river.

[edit] Plot

The sons of Katie Elder - John, Tom, Bud and Matt - reunite at their hometown for their mother's funeral. All four of them share some regret with each other as none of them have done her exactly proud, although until her death she had held her hopes high for her offspring.

However, the townspeople are mostly not on friendly terms with John, the eldest of the four and a professional gunslinger. And, Morgan Hastings, the owner of the local gunsmithy and also of the old Elder ranch after their father's death, begins to display an increasingly hostile attitude towards the brothers. This only serves to pique their curiosity, and after asking questions about their father's demise they begin to suspect foul play. But as soon as it becomes clear that Hastings is a villain, he frames the Elders for murder and, not content with seeing them going to prison, arranges an ambush in which Matt is killed and Bud seriously injured. Enraged and confronted with the truth, John takes it upon himself to avenge his family by going after Hastings.

[edit] Cast

[edit] External links