WESTWARD THE WOMEN
US, 1952, 118 minutes, Black and white.
Robert Taylor, Denise Darcel, Hope Emerson, John Mc Intire, Julie Bishop.
Directed by William A. Wellman.
Westward the Women was a significant western of the early 1950s. It was directed by William A. Wellman, director of the first Oscar-winning film Wings in 1928. He directed a number of action films over the decades – and was particularly interested in aerial battles in World War One, making Lafayette Escadrille in the 1950s.
The film is a tribute to, as well as a portrait of the pioneering women of the west. Robert Taylor portrays a man hired to drive a wagon of potential brides to the settlers in the west. The point made is that women could not withstand the demands of such a rugged journey. The film is full of the hardships and the way the women handle it. Not all of them survive. There are murders, flash floods, a rape scene, runaway wagons. The range of women is extensive including immigrants, unwed pregnant girls, Hope Emerson as a big mother type.
The film is interesting in retrospect because of its portrait of the women as well as offering a different angle to the opening up of the west.
1. A good Western? Interesting entertaining? The background of American history in the West, its heritage? Pioneering of men and especially of women?
2. The use of the Western conventions? The wagon train itself, the particular difficulties, the episodic nature of the journey, the difficulties of the terrain, difficulties from within the group itself, love hate, Indian attack, deaths? How well treated, differently?
3. Black and white photography, locations of the West atmosphere? The special effects - especially with the Indian attacks, accidents during the journey?
4. The historical basis for the film? The journey to the West in the 1850s? The California Passage itself? The men in California and their need for wives and women? The women and their desire and motivation to go West? Whitman and his ranch? Buck Wyatt and the tough experienced scout? The credibility of their journey?
5. Robert Taylor's style in Westerns? Denise Darcel and her presence during the journey? The relationship between them - love and hate? Buck's attitude towards his work, responsibility towards Whitman, the crises that he had to handle during the trip and the way that he did this?
6. The portrait of Whitman as the rancher and his organizing of the trip? The various personnel on the wagon train? The huge widow with the sailor's vocabulary, the whimsical cook? Fifi - the French prostitute type? Jean and Maggie? Laurie? How well depicted were the women? Their motives for going, their ability to endure the trip, the clashes, the mutual support?
7. The particular crises as the journey moved along and audience involvement in these? Dangers, risks, heroism?
8. The achievement of this kind of journey, the need for it to be remembered and portrayed in Westerns like this, its influence on the American heritage and the American way of life values?
