You are here:

The Sunday Round-Up

Name: The Sunday Round-Up
Director: William Clemens
Released: 1936
Duration: 19 min

Representation Score

1.9/10

Minimal

1936

Approved

Director

William Clemens

Runtime

19 minutes

Average Rating

No ratings yet

New Showbiz Analysis

The film is a classic 1930s Western that prioritizes traditional genre clichés over social complexity. The narrative structure centers around masculine power dynamics and institutional conflicts between the church and the saloon. Since the story focuses on male-dominated institutions and class-based archetypes, it lacks depth in representing diverse identities or challenging social hierarchies. Ultimately, the film reinforces the social norms of its era, offering a narrow view of community life that excludes significant representation of gender, race, or sexual orientation.

Watch this, not that →

Category Breakdown

Does The Sunday Round-Up have LGBTQ+ representation?

Minimal

The film does not include any LGBTQ+ characters or non-cisgender identities. It follows the traditional heterosexual social norms typical of 1930s Western cinema.

How does The Sunday Round-Up portray gender?

Limited

The plot is driven exclusively by male characters and masculine competition. The central conflict between the church and the saloon does not feature any visible female influence or challenges to gender hierarchies.

How racially and ethnically diverse is The Sunday Round-Up?

Limited

The setting relies on traditional Western stereotypes and homogeneous casting. There is no mention of diverse casting, suggesting adherence to the era's standard practices.

How does The Sunday Round-Up represent religion and culture?

Fair

The story examines the tension between religious and secular interests. However, it frames this as a struggle for community survival rather than a critical look at these institutions.

Does The Sunday Round-Up include disability representation?

Minimal

There is no indication of characters with visible or invisible disabilities within the narrative.

Present on Screen

Explores the cultural tension between religious institutions and secular capitalist interests.
Uses recognizable class-based archetypes like vaudeville performers and town rowdies.

Limited or Absent

Lacks female influence, as the plot is driven entirely by male-dominated conflicts.
Does not represent LGBTQ+ identities or diverse racial backgrounds.
Does not address disability or provide multi-layered depth to its characters.

Official Synopsis

The small church, pastored by Ted Burke, in a western town is struggling to stay alive as all the men gather at Jack Higgins' Mustang Saloon every Sunday. Burke decides to ask Higgins to close his business on Sunday, but Higgins only concern is to find a baritone to sing in the saloon's quartet, and has his henchies toss Ted out into the street. Ted decides to fight fire with fire, so he gathers up the down-and-out vaudeville act of Chase & Chase (who don't take long to show why they are down and out) and knife-thrower Steve Clemente, and a dozen or so western musicians from Gower Gulch as the before-the-sermon at his tabernacle. Higgins sends his rowdies over to bust up the Sunday morning competition.

How are these scores produced? →