Four Wild Sons of a Murdered Father and a Devout, Defrauded
Jan Peczkis | Chicago IL, USA | 09/16/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)
"The following review is limited to THE SONS OF KATIE ELDER.
The setting of this western is the town of Clearwater, TX (near Laredo), probably in the 1870's. The four sons of Katie Elder, who had not seen each other, or her, in years, come to her funeral. The eldest brother, John Elder (John Wayne), watches the funeral from a distance.
Why are some of the townspeople anxious for John Elder, a gunslinger, to leave the town as soon as possible after the funeral? The brothers do not get straight answers as to how it was that their mother had recently lost her property, and begin to smell a rat. They also learn that their father had been murdered, but no one will say who was responsible.
A woman who was a close friend of Katie Elder describes Mrs. Elder as a devout woman of character, and how disappointed she was in her four sons. At least some of Katie Elder's sons mailed her letters and money, but had otherwise gone down the wrong paths in life. Mrs. Elder at least wanted one of them to go to college, but he balked. The woman did not want to discuss the murder of Mr. Elder because Katie Elder didn't want vengeance and further violence.
Three of the brothers wanted to fulfill their mother's wishes that the remaining one go to college, but he continues to balk. John Elder keeps the pressure on.
Sibling rivalry exists even in adulthood. At one time, all four brothers are involved in a brawl. At another time, they drag each other into a body of water.
The conspiracy of silence about Mrs. Elder's property and her murdered husband begins to unravel despite the current owners' persistent efforts to have it stifled. In time, the current owners of Mrs. Elder's property frame the four sons for murder. The local law enforcement officials seem ready to believe the charge with no evidence, and a lynch mob surrounds the prison. There is a massive shootout, and three of the four brothers are wounded. Will any of these three survive? Will they be able to clear the Elder name of the murder charge?
"
Attention: All John Wayne Fans!
H. W. Dixon | Pensacola, Fl. | 01/08/2009
(5 out of 5 stars)
"My husband is a John Wayne fan and believes "The Shootist" is Wayne's best. I tend to agree, but "The Quiet Man" is great, too. I gave husband this for Christmas, and he was VERY pleased!
"Katie Elder" also good!"
Another great value
Boyd Wengert | AMERICAN FALLS, IDAHO, US | 03/12/2010
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Both classics of John Wayne on this double feature are excellent especially for hardcore John Wayne fans."