THE KING AND FOUR QUEENS

US, 1956, 86 minutes, Colour.
Clark Gable, Eleanor Parker, Jo Van Fleet.
Directed by Raoul Walsh.

A King and Four Queens is a genially sardonic comedy western. Critics have likened it to a western version of Bluebeard. It is a star vehicle for Clark Gable, then in his fifties - starring in a group of films directed by action director Raoul Walsh: The Tall Men with Jane Russell and Band of Angels with Yvonne de Carlo. Gable's last films were generally light comedies with Doris Day, Carroll Baker, Sophia Loren. In five years he was to make his last film The Misfits, with Marilyn Monroe. This is an easy film for him - playing his usual charm but with edge, since he wants to rob a group of women of gold. He is pleasantly matched by Eleanor Parker as a vigorous heroine. The film is stolen by Jo Van Fleet as the tough matriarch. She had just won an Oscar for her performance in East of Eden. Not a particularly outstanding film, but entertaining.

1. The film as western - the traditions of the western in setting, characters, law and order? The influence of the growth of the psychological western in the '50s? The battle of men and women? The battle of wits? The overtones of the Bluebeard story - the man capitalising on his charm to trick his wives and gain money from them? The film as a pleasant Clark Gable vehicle?

2. Colour photography, Cinemascope, the western setting, the town, the homestead? Musical score - a blend of melodies and hymns? Song and dance?

3. The title and its tone? Comedy, sex, gambling? Clark Gable's nickname as The King?

4. The opening with the stranger being chased? The enigma of his identity? The gentleman in the West? The visit to the bar? Discussion? His getting the idea about the gold and his going in pursuit of it? His being shot by Ma? The build-up to his insinuating himself into the household -with the intention of stealing and leaving? The introduction to the charming cad hero?

5. The character of Dan Kehoe: his story and its credibility, his aims? His convalescence? His smooth talk e.g. with the Sheriff confronting him? His behaviour in the house: watching each of the women, capitalising on the tension, assessing the character of each one, pitting wits against Ma? His decision to ally himself with Sabina? His manoeuvres in the house, bringing the women out of themselves, enjoying his stay? The final plan and its execution? His meeting the friar and discovering Sabina had taken his goods? The happy ending and the appropriate pairing off? The blend of the subtle and the unsubtle?

6. Jo Van Fleet's portrait of Ma? Strong character, strong performance? The initial shooting? Her treatment of Dan? Her hold on the women? Devoted to her sons whom she saw as no good but yet loved them? Waiting for the son to return? Her Bible morality - yet her participation in the robberies and receiving the money? Her knowing where the gold was? Her moral standards? Her hold over the four girls? Her dislike of them? Her relying on Sabina for the management of the house? Her suspicions? Her attacks on Dan? Her response to the hymn-singing, the dancing? Her letting Dan stay? Her reaction to being deceived? An interesting character?

7. Sabina as heroine: plain, good sensed, seemingly prim, keeping the accounts, her capacity for talk, seeing through Dan, her own lies, her challenge to Dan, her control of Ma? The dance? Her final plan, revealing her true colours and true story? The escape and the ending? Her having a hold over Dan? Sabina and Dan - two of a kind?

8. The other girls: Ruby and her sensuality and seductive manner with Dan, yet his comments about her fears? Birdie and the background of the dance hall, the stage, the swimming, enjoying the hymns and the dancing? The prim bride and the deep smouldering fires, the encounter at the spring? Their being tricked by Dan and Sabina? Their attitude towards their husbands, reasons for their marriage, their hopes, staying for the gold? The film's ironic comment on their greed?

9. The confined cast, the limited setting for action? The shrewd psychological insights and Dan playing one person off against the other? The encounter with the Sheriff - at the house, at the finale and Dan's devious winning?

10. The amoral tone of the screenplay - audiences identifying with the characters, hopes? Relationships, one-upmanship, greed? An entertaining amoral western comedy?