FORT DOBBS

US, 1958, 93 minutes, Black and white.
Clint Walker, Virginia Mayo, Brian Keith.
Directed by Gordon Douglas.

Fort Dobbs is a pleasing, if fairly conventional, western. It has good credits including direction by action master Gordon Douglas, screenplay by Burt Kennedy who was to move into the direction of Westerns in the '60s and '70s, and photography by veteran William Clothier, photographer of many westerns and director of films like Monte Walsh. Clint Walker and Brian Keith were at the beginnings of successful careers, Virginia Mayo towards the end of hers. Nothing new, but quite well done.

1. The appeal of the western? Americana? Law, justice? The confrontation with the Indians?

2. The black and white photography, musical score? Action sequences?

3. The conventions of the western: the hero unjustly accused of murder, his disguise, the rescue of the mother and child, the journey towards the fort, the attack of the Indians, the rifle dealer who is prepared to betray the victims, the sheriff? The shoot-out? The happy and romantic ending? How well used?

4. Clint Walker and his strong presence as Gar Davis? The accusation of murder, his escape from Largo, changing his clothes with the Indians' victim? The encounter with the Grays? Celia and her hostility, going with Gar, taking Chad? The Comanche attack? The party journeying and Gar's leadership? The rescue by Clett? The arrival at Fort Dobbs and the sheriff of Largo? Davis acquitted? Davis and his attempt to get Clett for help? Wanting the rifles? The shoot-out? Davis coming with the rifles to save the group at Fort Dobbs? A solid western hero?

5. The contrast with Clett? His initially saving the group? His consignment of rifles? The dealings with the Indians? His refusal to help the group? The shoot-out? The western self-seeker?

6. Celia and her son? Their house? Survival in the west? The Comanche attack? Going to Fort Dobbs? The support of Gar? The happy ending? The conventional widow and son? The human touch and relationships?

7. The sheriff of Largo, the destruction of the town? The condemnation of Davis? His vindication and acquittal? The pooling of efforts to survive the Indian attack?

8. The traditional picture of the whites vs. the Indians? Western settlement? The towns? The Comanches and their attacks? The trading of weapons? The defeat of the Indians? Conventional picture of white and red fighting each other?

9. Westerns as portraying the American heritage? The outposts of the west? Racial themes? Law and order? Heroism?