The 1988 film Sunset is a comedy-drama film written and directed by Blake Edwards and starring Bruce Willis as Tom Mix and James Garner as Wyatt Earp. It is a fictionalized account of the two Western legends meeting in Hollywood in the late 1920s during the waning days of the silent film era.
The film opens with Earp, who is now retired from law enforcement, living in Hollywood and working as a technical adviser on Western films. One day, he is approached by Alfie Alperin (Malcolm McDowell), the head of a major Hollywood studio, who wants to produce a film about Earp's life. Earp is reluctant to agree, but he is eventually persuaded by Alperin's promise that he will cast Tom Mix to play Earp in the film.
Mix is a rising star in Hollywood, but he is also a bit of a hothead. Earp and Mix initially clash, but they eventually develop a mutual respect for each other. As they work together on the film, they also become embroiled in a murder mystery involving the disappearance of Earp's ex-girlfriend's son.
Sunset is a charming and nostalgic film that celebrates the golden age of Hollywood. It is also a heartwarming story about friendship and redemption.
Critical Reception
The film was met with mixed reviews upon its release. Some critics praised the film's performances and its humor, while others criticized its slow pace and its lack of focus. However, the film has since become a cult classic, and it is now considered to be one of Blake Edwards's best films.
Themes
The film explores a number of themes, including:
- Friendship: Earp and Mix develop an unlikely friendship despite their different backgrounds and personalities.
- Redemption: Earp is a man who is trying to redeem himself for his past mistakes. Mix is also a man who is trying to redeem himself, albeit for different reasons.
- Hollywood: The film is a satire of the Hollywood film industry. It exposes the greed and corruption that existed in Hollywood during the golden age.
Overall:
Sunset is a charming and nostalgic film that is sure to please fans of classic Hollywood and classic Westerns. It is also a heartwarming story about friendship and redemption.
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Cast
- Bruce Willis as Tom Mix
- James Garner as Wyatt Earp
- Malcolm McDowell as Alfie Alperin
- Mariel Hemingway as Cheryl King
- Kathleen Quinlan as Nancy Shoemaker
- Jennifer Edwards as Victoria Alperin
- Patricia Hodge as Christina Alperin
- Richard Bradford as Captain Blackworth
- M. Emmet Walsh as Chief Dibner
- Joe Dallesandro as "Dutch" Kieffer
- Andreas Katsulas as Arthur
- Dann Florek as Marty Goldberg
- Bill Marcus as Hal Flynn
- Michael C. Gwynne as "Mooch"
- Dermot Mulroney as Michael Alperin
- Jeffrey Briar as Stan Laurel
- Bevis Faversham as Oliver Hardy
- John Fountain as John Gilbert
- Peter Jason as Frank Coe
Director: Blake Edwards
Writer: Blake Edwards
Box Office Gross: $4,594,452
Distributor: TriStar Pictures
Genre: comedy crime drama mystery thriller western
Release Date: April 29, 1988