The Sundowners (1960)

Set against the expansive backdrop of the 1920s Australian Outback, "The Sundowners" paints an engaging portrait of the Carmody family, composed of the wanderlust-infused Paddy (Robert Mitchum), his pragmatic wife Ida (Deborah Kerr), and their adventurous teenage son Sean (Michael Anderson, Jr.). Working as sheep drovers, the Carmodys are a nomadic clan, constantly on the move, their lives woven into the fabric of the vast, untamed landscapes. Paddy, the free-spirited patriarch, thrives in this transient lifestyle, reveling in the lack of ties and the thrill of the unknown. He sees their life as an open-ended adventure, unencumbered by the constraints of a permanent homestead or the monotonous rhythm of farm life. However, Ida and Sean yearn for stability, dreaming of owning a farm and establishing roots in the ever-changing sands of their existence. Their contrasting desires come to a head during a six-week job driving sheep from Bulinga to Cawndilla. Ida convinces Paddy to contemplate the idea of settling down, though his agreement is more to appease her than a genuine desire. Seemingly against Paddy's nomadic inclinations, Ida secures them all positions at Halstead farm - Paddy as a sheep shearer, Sean as a tar boy, and herself as the farmhand cook. Their eclectic crew is completed by their British companion Rupert Venneker (Sir Peter Ustinov), who, despite his lack of previous ties to the area, finds his own reasons for wanting to stay put. As the Carmodys' stay in Cawndilla extends, their divergent dreams become increasingly apparent. Ida and Sean, with their eyes on a promising farm in Bulinga, hope to save enough money by the season's end for a down payment. However, Paddy grows increasingly restless, his longing for the open road intensifying with each passing day. A blend of compelling events, including a riveting sheep-shearing contest, the birth of a child, bouts of drinking and gambling, and the fate of a race horse named the Sundowner, all conspire to shape the Carmodys' final decision. Will they choose the allure of the open road or the comfort of a settled life? Only time, and the Outback, will tell.

The Sundowners is an adventure movie featuring Deborah Kerr.

It is possible to buy The Sundowners on Amazon Video, Apple TV, Microsoft Store and Vudu or rent it on Google Play Movies and YouTube.