FIRE ON THE MOUNTAIN

US, 1981, 100 minutes, Colour.
Buddy Ebsen, Ron Howard, Julie Carmen.
Directed by Donald Wrye.

Fire On The Mountain is a sincere piece of Americana that would be most persuasive to American audiences. It celebrates the old ranch style of life in New Mexico in the person of Buddy Ebsen as a grandfather who is threatened by the American military with the taking of his property. He fights them but is doomed to lose. Ron Howard represents the next generation, the wanderers - believing in the past but knowing that the future is coming. There is also a focus on the new generation in the young grandson who is faced with his grandfather's dilemma. There is also a focus on the young Mexican-American? girl and her place in American society.

There is a build-up showing the way of life on the New Mexico ranch and in the mountains which leads then into an elegy for a style that must go. There is a critical presentation of military and government officials in their handling of the takeover and their belief in national defence. The mountain is needed as a missile site.

The story is based on fact, written by John Sacret Young and directed by Donald Wrye.

1. The impact of the film for an American audience? Its sincerity? Celebration of the past? Critique of American authorities and defence expansion? For overseas audiences?

2. The telemovie style - for the widest possible audience? The use of the beautiful New Mexico mountain locations? The lyrical quality of the opening? The contrast with the coming of the military? The musical score?

3. The title and the irony of its focus on the future? The funeral pyre for the grandfather in lament at the end?

4. The focus on the grandfather, Buddy Ebsen's style and presence? The long tradition of his living in new Mexico, the ranch, his past reputation? The arrival of his Grandson and his sharing the ranch with him? The girl and her loyalty to the grandfather? Keeping house? The arrival of Lee, the contrast with his wandering way of life? His friendship, cutting the log? The confrontation of the officials, the grandfather's not understanding their English, refusing their offers? The build-up to confrontation? The military personnel, Christmas, coming onto the land, the explosions? The violent confrontation - the grandfather with the gun? The loyalty of the boy and the girl? Lee and his support? Gaining time? The final confrontation and Lee's walking against the gun? The grandfather's breakdown? His grief, his going to the mountain to die? The funeral pyre for him?

5. Lee and his background, ownership of the land, friendship with the grandfather and the boy, the clashes with the girl, the vigour of their fights, their love? His trying to do deals with the army? Buying up the land? Gaining time? Profit? His trying to persuade the grandfather? Billy's running away and his finding him? The girl in prison and his getting her out? The clashes with the official personnel? The final confrontation, the grandfather with the gun, his walking towards the loaded gun and the grandfather's collapse? His future?

6. The boy and his heritage, sharing with his heritage, sharing with his grandfather, running away, his finding his grandfather, their burning the hut? The burial on the mountain?

7. The girl and her place in the family, clashes with Lee, resisting the officers, jail, her clashes, the future?

8. The presentation of the military, officialdom behind them, land laws, the military and their installations? Their aggressive attitude?

9. The change in New Mexico? The government needing the mountain for a missile site? The emphasis on national defence in contrast with national heritage?

10. Contemporary American themes? Relevant for universal audiences?