- published: 03 Oct 2012
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The Sundowners is a 1960 film that tells the story of an Australian outback family torn between the father's desires to continue his nomadic sheep-herding ways and the wife's and son's desire to settle down in one place. The movie stars Deborah Kerr, Robert Mitchum, and Peter Ustinov, with a supporting cast including Glynis Johns, Dina Merrill, Michael Anderson, Jr., and Chips Rafferty.
The film was adapted by Isobel Lennart from the novel by Jon Cleary and directed by Fred Zinnemann.
The Sundowners was nominated for Academy Awards for Best Actress in a Leading Role (Deborah Kerr), Best Actress in a Supporting Role (Glynis Johns), Best Director, Best Picture, and Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material from Another Medium.
Irish-Australian Paddy Carmody is a roving sheep herder known as a "sundowner" (because he is constantly moving, pitching his tent wherever the sun goes down). His wife Ida and son Sean want to settle down, but Paddy is a wanderlust and never wants to stay in one place for long. While passing through the bush the family meet former sea captain, Rupert Venneker and hire him as an extra drover. The group drive a herd of sheep to a nearby town where they meet Mrs. Firth who takes a liking to Rupert.