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What's After the Movie?
Adventure drama

The Sundowners (1960): Cast, Ratings, Plot & Where to Watch

The Sundowners (1960) movie poster

The Sundowners is a 1960 adventure drama directed by Fred Zinnemann, starring Robert Mitchum, Peter Ustinov and Deborah Kerr. It runs 2 hours 13 minutes. It was nominated for 4 Oscars. Critics gave it 82 on Metacritic. Stream it on Amazon MX Player and Amazon Prime Video, or rent or buy it on Amazon Video and Apple TV Store.

award nominations
9
Metascore
82
The Sundowners (1960) movie poster
Released
Runtime
2h 13m (133 min)
Director
Fred Zinnemann
Genres
Adventure , Drama
Original language
English
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is The Sundowners About?

The premise of The Sundowners without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.

In 1920s Australia, Paddy Carmody, a carefree Irish sheep herder, struggles with his wanderlust as his wife Ida and young son Sean desire a more stable existence. The family’s conflicting desires create tension, forcing them to choose between a life of freedom and the security of settling down. Meanwhile, their boarder contends with the challenges of the unforgiving outback and finds himself drawn to the allure of a local hotel keeper.

The Sundowners Themes & Keywords

· 50 tags
  • sheep
  • horse
  • australia
  • sheep shearing
  • 1920s
  • sheep ranch
  • based on novel
  • australian western
  • scene during opening credits
  • mitchum and kerr
  • gentle cinema
  • son
+38 more
  • sheep herder
  • british actress plays an australian character
  • british actor plays an australian character
  • american actor plays an australian character
  • the outback australia
  • love
  • gambling
  • cook
  • contest
  • birth
  • redheaded woman
  • sheepherder
  • friendship
  • forest fire
  • childbirth
  • bartender
  • bachelor
  • adolescent
  • sheepman
  • family relationships
  • husband wife relationship
  • male female relationship
  • starting over
  • shepherd
  • reflection
  • racer
  • finance
  • chance
  • ambition
  • affection
  • sheep drive
  • restlessness
  • train station
  • pub
  • pregnancy
  • marriage
  • job interview
  • hunting
Where to watch

Where to Watch The Sundowners

Stream it on Amazon MX Player and Amazon Prime Video, or rent or buy it from Amazon Video and Apple TV Store. US availability and prices from JustWatch.

Streaming availability in the US, powered by JustWatch logo

Cast & crew

The Sundowners Cast

Robert Mitchum leads the cast, with Peter Ustinov and Deborah Kerr. Directed by Fred Zinnemann; 10 actors are credited in all.

Ratings

The Sundowners Reviews & Ratings

Critics gave The Sundowners 82 on Metacritic.

Plot

The Sundowners Plot Summary

What happens in The Sundowners from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 13 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 2-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

Paddy Carmody is a sheep drover and shearer, roaming the sparsely populated Australian outback with his wife Ida Carmody and their son Sean Carmody. They live as sundowners, constantly moving and pitching a tent whenever the sun dips low. Ida longs for a settled life, while Paddy’s wanderlust pulls him toward the next horizon. During a crossing through the bush, the family meets refined Englishman Rupert Venneker and hires him to help drive a large herd of sheep to the town of Cawndilla. Along the way, they survive a dangerous bushfire, a stark reminder of the land’s power and their fragile nomadic rhythm.

Full summary

The whole story of The Sundowners, scene by scene

Read the full summary
Awards

The Sundowners Awards & Nominations

The Sundowners was nominated for 4 Oscars. The 9 nominations come from 4 ceremonies, the most at the Oscars 1961.

9 nominations4 ceremonies

Videos

The Sundowners Trailers & Videos

2 videos: 1 trailer and 1 clip.

Original Theatrical Trailer
  • Clip Dirt Road Rage
Details

The Sundowners Also Known As

11 alternative titles, including “Peregrinos da Esperança” and “Les horizons sans frontières”.

Also known as
  • Peregrinos da Esperança
  • Les horizons sans frontières
  • Der endlose Horizont
  • Tres vidas errantes
  • I nomadi
  • Peregrino da Esperança
  • Бродяги
  • Przybysze o zmierzchu
  • 游牧客
  • Tres vides errants
  • Viddernas vagabond

Seen The Sundowners?

FAQ

The Sundowners FAQ: Where to Watch, Cast & Awards

Runtime, release date, director, cast, where to watch, ratings, awards and post-credit scenes of The Sundowners, each answered in a sentence.

How long is The Sundowners?

The Sundowners runs 2 hours 13 minutes (133 minutes).

When was The Sundowners released?

The Sundowners was released on December 9, 1960.

Who directed The Sundowners?

The Sundowners was directed by Fred Zinnemann.

More films by Fred Zinnemann

Who is in the cast of The Sundowners?

The Sundowners stars Robert Mitchum, Peter Ustinov and Deborah Kerr, among 10 credited actors.

Where can I watch The Sundowners?

In the US, The Sundowners is streaming on Amazon MX Player, Amazon Prime Video and Fandango at Home Free and available to rent or buy on Amazon Video, Apple TV Store and Fandango At Home (availability from JustWatch).

How is The Sundowners rated?

The Sundowners has 82 on Metacritic and 67% on TMDB.

Was The Sundowners nominated for any awards?

The Sundowners received 9 nominations across 4 ceremonies.

Does The Sundowners have a post-credit scene?

No. The Sundowners has no extra scene during or after the credits.

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