The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1924-10-09
BY JACK JUNGMEYER,
NEA Serrice Writer


HOLLYWOOD, Cal, Oct. Cat
tie from a thousand hills, assembled
in a great rodeo, carry the stellar
role in the picture, Shutdown, u
First Nationals epic of the range
country to be shown at the Circle
next week.
Like THE Covered Wagon, u
America, " The Birth of a Nation,
it depicts a significant phase Of our
national life-the close of the pas
toral era. Shutdown" has historic
perspective and scope; is a film doc
ument OF a vanishing breed of men
and beasts and the land they pre-
pared for closer settlement.
Human drama rides in stirrup and
chuck wagon beside the hoofed je
gions; drama springing from err
enactment of hOmesteaders upon
the cattle provinces Of the elder
West, from stampede, prairie fire
financial crisis and hard straits.
But the individual actors, giving
Of their best, are dwarfed by the
massed animals-50, 900 strong
winding from foreground to horizon
through the picture in the slow
curving line Of melancholy, the line
Of yearning and regret which gives
Shutdown" it's distinctive tone.
Original Story
The film is from an original story
by Earl Hudson. production super
visor Of First National. based upon
recent cattle drives from the south
west States to Mexico orNadequate
range, a pathetic exodus TO folk
along the Rio Grance.
Curious how moving is the sight
Of a great herd on the march. AT
rest, grazing, they are merely sc
many beeves. But in mass motion
they stir emotions of primal majesty
heir very docility adds to the effect
Of high drama.
Creatures Cf mans dominance, his
meat and milk, in turn dominating
their owners. forced to go where
the cattle nay Craze. even 10 the
abandonment Of hcme and exile tc
an alien land.
Then in a moment. at the smell OF
water. the placid mass converted
into a terrible catapuit. wiping ont
evel ything in the path Of stampede
including the home Of the nestoi
family whose daughter provides the
love interest--an awesorae scene
that, with the girl and her lover
stranded in sea OF tossing horns.
Again. poignant plthcs when the
cowhands. after immemorial custom
sing down The herd for the might
with plaIntive chant-the prairie
lullaby for animals treated like chill
iren
II should prove n memorable pic
ture. this dramatic summing up o,
g. glorious western day now come tC
its shutdown For those who can no.
sense the n'olding effect Of his do
nestle animals upon man.
destiny. there may be too much FIN
devoted 10 the herd. For me sun
down carries powerful appeal
Several Hits
Although conventional romance il
subordlnated. Bessie Love. the east
ern girl who brings her family from
the city for elbow room. and Roy
stewart. as son Of the cattle baror
crowded from his range. provide en-
crossing sentimental passages a.
their love develops beside the NOV
ing cattle.
Hobart BOsworth is an imposing
figure as leader of the cattlemen.
Charlie Murray gives a capita
characterization as driver of tn
chuck wagon. a perambulator for tn,
march-weary-the nestor family. {
calf, spent old rider. all givel
asylum with gruff tenderness.
why sort Of fun to leaven the seri
GUS and al times mournful tone O
the play.
Laurence Trimble and Harry Q
Hoyt shared honors in directing.
The concluding scene, where tn,
vast herd crosses ga railroad tract
between impatient passenger trains
and so into Mexico, is symbol,
period to words put into the mouth
Of e. J. Retclffe, an actor giving {
consummate portrait of Roosevelt
you could put your cowboys anC
cattle a milo deep from Canada t