KATE BLISS AND THE TICKER TAPE KID

US, 1978, 100 minutes, Colour.
Suzanne Pleshette, Don Meredith, Henry Morgan, David Huddleston, Burgess Meredith, Tony Randall.
Directed by Burt Kennedy.

Kate Bliss And The Ticker Tape Kid is a very enjoyable and humorous western telemovie. It was directed by Burt Kennedy, director of numerous serious westerns as well as comic westerns like The Rounders, The War Wagon and Support Your Local Sheriff. This film is in the latter vein. It presents many almost cliche western situations with a humorous touch and also has serious implications in its treatment of greedy ranch owners confronting small ranch owners. There is a touch of the detective story with the easterners coming to the West for detection purposes. Suzanne Pleshette is a very vigorous and enjoyable heroine. Don Meredith is amiable in a James Garner kind of way as the hero. There is very good support with character acting from Harry Morgan and Burgess Meredith. The scenery is attractive, the action well done and the comedy appealing.

1. The appeal of a western? Conventions, expected situations? The American heritage? The comic presentation of such situations - satire, mockery, good humour?

2. The title, the focus on Kate, the focus on Clint? Humorous tone? A nice western?

3. The director and his reputation, his abilities with comic westerns? The serious undertone of the thews, the spoof, ironies? The attractive settings of the west? The film satisfying at serious and comic levels?

4. New York and the East, the expectations of easterners going west? Medicine Hat and the raucous times and places in Texas? The distance between the two? The humorous side of going west?

5. The Blackstone Agency and its parallel with the Pinkerton Agency? The New York office, Mr. Blackstone.. employment of women detectives, the skill of the detectives and their dedication? Mr. Blackstone and his Irish background, his hat? His decision to go west and propose to Kate? His upset secretary and her suing? Kate and her skill in detection. Peavey and his humourless resourcefulness? Mr. Peavey's hat? The work of detection, company loyalties, skill? The need for humanity in detection?

6. Lord Devery and the opening of the film and the dragging of the bull into his house? The satire on his English manner? Lord Devery's hat? His speaking manner, clipped impersonation of English style - and Tony Randall's skill in impersonation? His bank, his money. his greed, his method in gaining the small ranches, his henchmen, his having the sheriff in his power, his attitude towards Kate, kissing and proposing, his ruthlessness in killing, his ultimate cowardice? The serious undertone of what he was doing - and his being mocked? The build-up to the wedding sequence - and his henchmen, the girls from the brothel?

7. The contrast with Clint and company - bringing in the bull, the confrontation of Devery, their having good cause? The various personalities within the group -especially Fred and company? The baddies really being goodies? Clint and his ordinariness, his ranch background, his being knowledgeable? His nice drawling manner? His saying it's always possible? His decision to lead the group of ranchers, the collage of their robberies? The audience being on-side with him?

8. Kate and her attractiveness - the woman detective at the turn of the century, her efficiency, her charm, her women's wiles? Her presence on the train., the robbery, her falling off? The confrontation with Clint and discussions about snakes and thirst? Her going quickly to Clint's headquarters? Her return to Medicine Hat? Her surprising Lord Devery and the sheriff? Her agreeing to do her job with Devery and returning to Clint? Feeding him the false information? Her change of heart when she knew the truth? Falling in love with Clint? Her reaction to the various proposals? Her working with Mr. Peavey, her being kidnapped? Her luring Lord Devery and preparing for the wedding, her needing to be rescued at the last moment? A feminine heroine and a feminist?

9. Mr. Peavey, his skill and integrity, Mr. Peavey's hat? His skill in detection, his not taking moral stances, his change of heart? The clash with Mr. Blackstone?

10. The humour of the various hold-ups and Pred being nervous, the bank robbery, the awkward kidnapping, the taking the bull into the mansion, the farcical aspects of the wedding?

11. The satire on the sheriff - his ineptness, being under Lord Devery's thumb, asserting his influence, his skill in playing the organ? His being sacked at the end?

12. The humorous presentation of good and evil? The clash of issues and people's rights? The happy ending - fulfilment of expectations, points made, values reasserted, the audience pleased?