FRENCHIE

US, 1950, 81 minutes, Colour.
Joel Mc Crea, Shelley Winters, Marie Windsor, Paul Kelly, Elsa Lanchester.
Directed by Louis King.

Frenchie is one of those entertaining westerns that care from Universal Studios in the '50s. Small-budget, it nevertheless tells a straightforward western story well and colourfully. It is a remake, adaptation of The Spoilers (filmed in the '30s with Randolph Scott and Marlene Dietrich, in the '50s with Anne Baxter and Rory Calhoun).

The film comes from the days when Shelley Winters was a glamour girl -very much so in this film. However, this did not last long and she moved to character roles. The film is also a Joel Mc Crea western - and he is always pleasantly the same. There is good support from Elsa Lanchester as a fake Countess, Paul Kelly as a snarling villain and Marie Windsor as an allegedly prim wife.

It has the usual western ingredients - but still entertaining.

1. An enjoyable western? The western towns, law and order, gambling? A revenge western?

2. Universal production, colour photography, locations, the atmosphere of the western town, action sequences? Rousing score?

3. The title and the focus on Frenchie - her narrative, the death of her father, the years in the orphanage, the decision for revenge on Pete Lambert and his associate? Her arrival in the town? Glamour, the attention of the Mayor, the men? The friendship of the Countess? Her reputation in new Orleans? Her staff coming to Bottleneck? Her persuading Jim Dobbs to sell her the saloon, winning at cards, setting up a thriving business? The encounter with Ton Banning in the coach, discovering that he was the sheriff? His presence, protecting her? The jealousy of her boyfriend? Diane and her jealousy? The confrontation with Pete Lambert, Banning's protection? The disapproval of the upright citizens of the town - and the later revelation of-the hypocrisy of Clyde and his wife? Action in the town? The build-up to Lambert's confrontation, Clyde's death, the arrest of Banning, the righteous members of the town, Frenchie letting Banning escape, suspicions of mutual guilt? The revelation of the truth, the ironic shootout, a happy ending? The lyrical sequences with Frenchie at the cemetery, the story of her father, changing attitudes towards revenge? Shelley Winters as a glamorous western heroine?

4. Joel Mc Crea as the pleasantly laconic sheriff? Asleep in the coach, handy with the gun? Protecting Frenchie? His literal up-holding of the law? The importance of his stories - telling fables to make a point, sermons for Frenchie? Protecting her against Lambert? The sequence at the cemetery? Falling in love with her? His suspicion of her killing Clyde? The arrest, the escape, the confrontation, happy ending? Typical movie western Marshal?

5. Pete Lambert and his killing of Frank Dawson, running to Chuckaluck Saloon, the confrontation at the stagecoach, the confrontation with Frenchie, enmity with Banning, the negotiations with Frenchie, the death of Clyde, his coming into the town, the shootout - and his not knowing that he was shot? His keeping face in front of his men?

6. Clyde as the secret partner, the murder of Frank Dawson? His jealousy of his wife? His death? Diane and her choosing money, trying to regain Tom, her visit, the funeral and her grief, the shooting of Clyde and her confession? The clash with Frenchie and the fight in the saloon?

7. The citizens of the town - the righteous against the saloon, the Mayor and his friendship with Tom, believing him? Jim Dobbs and his selling of the saloon?

8. Themes of law and order, the wild frontier, human suffering, vengeance? Law and order, romance and a happy ending?