The makers of this film landed themselves in something of a quandary. When the film was all ready for release, someone in Republic's publicity department pointed out that the title meant nothing. There was not a single reference to brimstone, in any shape or allegorical form throughout the entire movie. A Foreword was hastily added in which the early settlers were commended for fighting Indians, drought - and outlaws like "Brimstone" Courteen. In the movie, however, the character is not called "Brimstone" but "Pop" Courteen, a title that masks a viciously vengeful rancher who, together with his three sons, is waging a secret war against the community in general, homesteaders in particular. COMMENT: I don't know why Adrian Booth gets such prominent billing here. Her role is so small, you would expect to find her name well down the cast list. But then Jack Holt's part is so fleeting, he's hardly in the movie at all. Two players have the lion's share of the action: Number one, Rod Cameron, an indifferent performer, but rugged enough to acquit himself honorably in the action scenes (with the help of a stunt double, of course). Number two, Walter Brennan, who emerges as the real star of the film. Admittedly, you can't always rely on Brennan. True, he's given some engrossingly charismatic portraits in the past, but some directors seem to have been afraid of him and unable to keep him under control. But here in Brimstone, Brennan is not only perfectly cast, but perfectly controlled. It's a good meaty part, and though Walter plays it to the hilt, he doesn't overplay it, or project it on just the one monotonously menacing note. He shades the role well. He can temper open hostility and incredibly mean-spirited viciousness with sly cunning, subterfuge and even a seemingly transparent if rough yet rascally charm. Yes, Brennan has a great role. He plays it superbly.Oddly, the next most impressive performance is handed out by Hal Taliaferro. A long-time western star, under the name Wally Wales, Taliaferro must have played hundreds of miniscule roles in the 1940s. His name often appears towards the bottom of cast lists, but it is usually very difficult to pick him out in the crowd. Here for once, he has a comparatively sizable role. Although he makes an extremely late entrance, he provides an extra ingredient in the climax, agreeably complicating the shoot-out and adding a few nice touches to the suspense. Jack Lambert contributes his usual strong characterization as a surly but none-too-bright offspring, Guinn "Big Boy" Williams turns in a bit of slightly forced comic relief, while Forrest Tucker adequately holds down a none-too-large but unusual role as an opportunistic sheriff.Production values are unusually good by Republic standards (even if they are helped out by some blue tinted stock and matching main footage in the introductory episode), with locations near Sacramento, a fair bit of action, and above all, as said, Walter Brennan's riveting performance.

"Undersea Kingdom" Joseph Kane's "Brimstone" is an above-average, but formulaic western with plenty of a knock down, drag out fistfights, shootouts, and intrigue. Rod Cameron is cast as an undercover marshal after a gang of thieves. The movie draws its title from the cunning patriarchal 'Pop' Courteen that Walter Brennan plays who presides over a family of ruthless, no-account outlaws who have a legitimate cattle spread. Just to give you an idea how villainous Brennan is, his two eldest sons are played by seasoned heavies like Jack Lambert and Jim Davis. Mind you, this is a plum role for Lambert because he survives about three-fourths of the film before he bites the dust. After a number of unexplained robberies occur, Johnny Tremain shows up and Sheriff Henry McIntyre (Forrest Tucker) deputizes him despite his instincts that Tremaine may be the outlaw roaming the territory. The town elders have their eye on McIntyre because he cannot seem to round up the bandit and threaten to depose him if he doesn't solve the crimes and apprehend the criminals before Marshal Walter Greenslide (Jack Holt of "The Littlest Rebel") arrives. When the marshal shows up, he is promptly wounded during a stagecoach robbery in the middle of a stream by a hooded bandit. Fortunately, the lawman is merely winged and comes out of it wearing a sling. Meantime, Pop is up to no-good not only struggling to keep his sons in line, especially one (James Brown of "Red River") who wants to marry a settler, and stealing money holding up a bank."Brimstone" features an all-star cast. Cameron makes a stalwart hero, while Brennan steals the show as the treacherous father. Indeed, Brennan's performance here reminded me of his superb characterization as Ike Clanton in John Ford's classic oater "My Darling Clementine." One big twist occurs near the end that Kane and "Escape Me Never" scenarist Thames Williamson concoct and let simmer beneath the surface for the length of his vigorous western. Look for Will Wright as the fiery editor and publisher of a newspaper. Guinn 'Big Boy' Williams has a strong part as Sheriff McIntyre's deputy. My only complaint is some of the special effects, particularly the painted backdrops look might obvious. Prolific helmer Joseph Kane, who directed two John Wayne escapades entitled "Flame of the Barbary Coast" and "Dakota," keeps the action moving and never allows the pace to slacken in this nimble 90-minute frontier tale. This is one of those rare action-packed westerns where the hero doesn't have a love interest. Nevertheless, western fans will appreciate this rugged horse opera and the sturdy cast that highlights it.

In continuing to review movies and TV appearances of the original "Dallas" cast in chronological order, we're once again in 1949 with Jim Davis once again playing an antagonist in Brimstone having previously been in Hellfire early in the year. He's one of the sons of Walter Brennan who's long resented all the settlers that have-what he believes-invaded his land and has no qualms about robbing and killing to get what he wants. Rod Cameron plays someone who aims to stop Brennan and his family. Forrest Tucker, also from Hellfire, once again plays a lawman but you might be surprised about his motivations. I'll stop there and just say that Davis has his most exciting scenes that I've seen him in during his younger days in this movie especially concerning his fate here. And I also like the way some characters turn loyalties on a dime. And how about when Brennan's other son, Jack Lambert, asks how the world can be round since if it was so, "...the people down in China would be standing on their heads!" Oh, one more thing: James Brown, the youngest son, would also appear in the later seasons of "Dallas" as Harry McSween. So on that note, I highly recommend Brimstone.

Basically, this Republic western from the late 1940's is Walter Brennan all the way with admirable support from two of his sons in the film, Jim Davis and Jack Lambert. The so-called star of the show, Rod Cameron, is only so-so and the rest of the cast mainly plod through their lines without much inspiration; this includes the likes of Forrest Tucker, Jack Holt, and "Big Boy" Williams, three screen stalwarts who usually did much better in the acting department. Walter Brennan as the title character, Brimstone, reprises his Old Man Clanton role from "My Darling Clementine," which he parodied twenty years later (still an old man) in the magnificent "Support Your Local Sheriff!" Jack Lambert as the dullard son, Luke (reprised by Bruce Dern in "Support Your Local Sheriff!"), has one of the best lines in the film. Pop Brimstone uses the expression, "...Just as sure as the world is round." Surprised by his dad's revelation, Luke blurts out, "Round?" Later, Luke is still puzzled and tries to convince his dad otherwise. "I've been thinking, Pop. The world can't be round...cause if it was, the people down in China would be standing on their heads." Luke comments while distorting his face and body to indicate the predicament of those living on the bottom of the earth. Why Jack Lambert never received his just deserts for his acting talents remains a mystery.The story is a bit lopsided and in places seems made-up as the film progresses. Generally, it's about the Courteen family of ranchers led by the old man who refuses to accept the end of the open range. He continues to fight a war against homesteaders, nesters, squatters, and the like by robbing stagecoaches of loot being transported for the interlopers. Suddenly, a mysterious stranger appears on the scene to begin robbing the robbers. The mysterious stranger teams up with the local sheriff to ferret out the real thieves. In the process he becomes involved in a split within the Courteen family concerning the youngest son, Bud (James Brown), in love with a nester, Molly Bannister (Adrian Booth). Bud finds himself in trouble with the law and with his own father. Unraveling the twisted plot is not easy but by the end of the show a satisfactory resolution takes place with a few surprises along the way.Keeping with its reputation for delivering plenty of action, Republic makes sure there are fisticuffs and chases. The studio would possibly have been better off shooting "Brimstone" in black and white. The color leaves much to be desired with a few tinted black and white inserts. This may have been a bigger budget film for Republic, but cost cutting is still obvious with rear projections and backdrops clearly visible in several "outdoor" scenes. "Brimstone" is still a pleasing shoot-'em-up for fans of the genre.