BAD BASCOMB

US, 1946, 112 black and white
Wallace Beery, Margaret O’ Brien, Marjorie Main, J. Carrol Naish, Frances Rafferty, Marshall Thompson, Russell Simpson.
Directed by S. Sylvan Simon.

Bad Bascomb is an entertaining western with a combination of grizzled Wallace Beery with the young Margaret O’ Brien. Wallace Beery had won an Oscar for The Champ in 1932 and portrayed a range of tough characters including Long John Silver in Treasure Island. Margaret O’ Brien had made an impression on many films in the mid-1940s, especially Meet Me in St Louis. Marjorie Main gives her regular kind of support – which was to develop into her series as Ma Kettle. J. Carrol Naish is the villain and a young Marshall Thompson is the romantic hero.

The film shows a band of outlaws who are being pursued by the law after the civil war. The setting is in the states around the Rocky Mountains. When J. Carrol Naish murders a Mormon elder, Bascomb and he take refuge in a Mormon trek towards Utah. The humanity of Bascomb comes out, he finds himself at home with the group, and encounters Emmy, played with her usual wide-eyed charm by Margaret O’Brien?. However, there is gold in the wagons and the two plan to rob the Mormons. There are complications with Indians, the arrival of the law, a change of heart by Bascomb.

On the whole, a throwback to the golden days of MGM’s Hollywood.

1. An entertaining western? Western with a difference? Western with a heart?

2. MGM production values, the cast, the western settings, the Rockies, the trek, the plains and rivers, mountains? Musical score?

3. The title, the focus on Zeb Bascomb, his career as an outlaw, his gang? The meetings, the pursuit by the law? Zeb Bascomb and his friendship with Yancy? With Jimmy? Helping Jimmy because of his father? On the track, the encounter with the Mormon elder, Bascomb’s reaction to Yancy killing him? The decision to hide with the Mormon group? The arrival, Bascomb’s aplomb, the names, the meals, adapting to the situation? Hungry, eating the meat, encountering Emmy? Their friendship? Her devotion to him? Elijah Walker, his leadership, the women, Bascomb going with Abbey because of Emmy? The work in the camp? Participation in the activities, singing, dancing? The plan to rob the gold, the singing of the song, Wait? Yancy and the robbery, the shooting? The confrontation with Yancy and his escape? The Indians, the previous advice about avoiding Indian territory and crossing the river? The Indian siege, his decision to ride through the Indians? Hitting Jimmy and riding instead? Going to the camp? Getting the troops? The meeting with Fulton, the previous meeting, Fulton realising his identity, the burn marks on his neck, being left-handed? His final speech, farewell, going with Fulton and the law?

4. Emmy, Margaret O’ Brien’s style, screen presence? On the trek, no mother and father, with Abbey? Seeing Bascomb eat the meat, telling stories, her hold over him, shrewd? Their encounters together, taking his jokes literally, her running away, Bascomb finding her, his explanations, the reconciliation, her love for him? During the siege, the farewell?

5. Abbey, Marjorie Main’s tough style, on the trek, hard work, the interplay with Bascomb? The clashes with Annie Freemont?

6. Yancy, thug, his killing of the elder, hiding with Bascomb, wanting to leave? The two women, their pampering him? His deal with the Indians? Attempting to rob the gold, the clash with Bascomb, the escape, setting the Indians against the Mormons? The attack, his death?

7. Jimmy, with the outlaws, not wanting to be an outlaw? Being shot, taken in by the Mormons? The friendship with Dora? Her falling in love? His wanting to help, his covering for Bascomb? The happy ending and his leadership of the group?

8. Elijah Walker, the Mormon elder, his wisdom, the welcome, leadership of the group, Yancy shooting him, his bequest to Bascomb to lead the group?

9. John Fulton, the law, the background of the governors, wanting Bascomb and his gang? With the military, taking Bascomb back to the law?

10. An entertaining variation on western themes?