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The Sons of Katie Elder

Play trailer Poster for The Sons of Katie Elder 1965 2h 2m Western Play Trailer Watchlist
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100% Tomatometer 15 Reviews 82% Popcornmeter 10,000+ Ratings
Four ne'er-do-well sons reunite in their Texas hometown to attend their mother's funeral. Led by older brothers John (John Wayne), a gunfighter, and Tom (Dean Martin), a gambler, the four soon learn that their father gambled away the family ranch, which was the cause of his murder. The brothers decide to avenge their father's death and win back the ranch, a situation that quickly leads to trouble with the local sheriff and violent conflict with the rival Hastings clan.
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The Sons of Katie Elder

Critics Reviews

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Tom Cassidy Common Sense Media 01/31/2024
The violence is mild and the characters' intentions are always clear, so it makes for a good family movie that can spark discussions about the choices we make. Go to Full Review Ray Oviatt Toledo Blade 07/01/2022
Traditionalists should be quite pleased with The Sons of Katie Elder. Go to Full Review Matt Brunson Film Frenzy 05/30/2021
3/4
I've always had a soft spot for this one. Go to Full Review Joan Didion Vogue 03/13/2020
I have a good time at movies like Katie Elder; I like the country and I like John Wayne and I like Dean Martin and I like gunfights. Go to Full Review Steve Crum Dispatch-Tribune Newspapers 12/21/2006
4/5
Fun, often exciting Wayne western with great cast. Go to Full Review Dennis Schwartz Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews 10/13/2005
B-
Undemanding psychological Western. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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bruce F @bruce999 Aug 14 enjoyable, but slow paced. maybe its over-rated. why do i keep falling asleep, watching it ? but it is worth watching. See more Wayne H @RT53381083 May 2 Great movie - can't say enough. Modern movie makers could learn a lot from this movie. Love the music score. See more thiago S @Thiagostone Mar 1 Filme fraco, o roteiro é fraco, as cenas são fracas, a história é fraca, o elenco é fraco, e ninguém ajuda a melhorar o filme, os personagens são fracos, e o filme deveria ter cenas bem melhores e relevantes, para fazer o filme ser bom See more Lanfranco C @Lanfrancobz 08/02/2025 A classic western movie still worth to watch See more Jace T @CineChamber 07/28/2025 You know, it's hard to believe this movie was "remade" as 'Four Brothers' with Mark Wahlberg. I can see only really see the theme through the two movies with the mom dying, and the four brothers mourning in a violent way. However, The Sons of Katie Elder is more wholesome, and has more mystery intertwined into the plot for the sons to figure out to avenge. As to where in Four Brothers, when the mom is murdered, the sons know from the start, and go on a revenge tour to find out who the killer was. Also, it has been a long time since I have seen a John Wayne movie. Probably since I was a little kid with my grandparents. He just has one of those dynamic and engaging voices that is instantly recognizable. I can understand why he was such a legend in his time. See more Steven M @RT67981172 07/04/2025 My favorite John Wayne film. Yeah, it tops Rio Bravo, El Dorado and True Grit, in my opinion. See more Read all reviews
The Sons of Katie Elder

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Cast & Crew

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Henry Hathaway

Director

John Wayne

John Elder

Dean Martin

Tom Elder

Martha Hyer

Mary Gordon

Michael Anderson Jr.

Bud Elder

Earl Holliman

Matt Elder

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The Sons of Katie Elder

The Sons of Katie Elder (1965) The Sons of Katie Elder (1965) The Sons of Katie Elder (1965) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis Four ne'er-do-well sons reunite in their Texas hometown to attend their mother's funeral. Led by older brothers John (John Wayne), a gunfighter, and Tom (Dean Martin), a gambler, the four soon learn that their father gambled away the family ranch, which was the cause of his murder. The brothers decide to avenge their father's death and win back the ranch, a situation that quickly leads to trouble with the local sheriff and violent conflict with the rival Hastings clan.
Director
Henry Hathaway
Screenwriter
William H. Wright, Allan Weiss, Harry Essex
Production Co
Paramount Pictures, Hal Wallis Productions
Genre
Western
Original Language
English
Release Date (Streaming)
Jan 21, 2010
Runtime
2h 2m
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