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.
