THE GLORY GUYS
US, 1965, 112 Minutes, Colour,
Tom Tryon, Harve Presnell, Senta Berger, Andrew Duggan, James Caan, Slim Pickens, Michael Anderson Jnr.
Directed by Arnold Laven.
The Glory Guys is a western written by Sam Peckinpah, after the had directed Ride the High Country. It preceded his own film Major Dundee, which, in part, it resembles.
It has echoes also of John Ford's cavalry films. It focuses on a troop, their training, their having to go out and clash with the Indians - and the echoes of a Little Big Horn campaign. (In this it is reminiscent of Fort Apache - although Tom Tryon hasn't the presence of a Henry Fonda, Harve Presnell hasn't the presence of a John Wayne.) James Caan in a comic role (like that of Victor Mc Laglen) is quite effective at the beginning of his career. The leading lady is Senta Berger and Andrew Duggan is quite effective as the obsessive cavalry leader.
The film has the elements of the old westerns as well as an opening up to-the westerns of the late 1960s and early '70s which Peckinpah himself was to direct. One of Peckinpah's regulars, Slim Pickens, also appears. Direction is by Arnold Laven, director of a number of action films at this period.
1. Interesting and enjoyable western? The American cavalry? The clash with the Indians? The arrogance of the cavalry?
2. The title of the film and its reference to the cavalry, the trainees, their fighting, their deaths?
3. Wide screen and colour photography, western locations, action? Stunt work? The rousing score?
4. The familiarity of the plot, the structure: the commander, the recruits, the tough training, the romance, the triangle and the clash, the arrogant commander - his jealous and arrogant wife), the training, the missions, the confrontation with the Indians, the defeat?
5. Tom Tryon as the leader: stern, devoted to his men, gallant, his relationship with the officers? With the commander?, His relationship with the widow, his devotion to her, not wanting her hurt and therefore his distance from her? His relationship with Sol Rogers, their clash over the widow? Their work together? The final fight?
6. Sol Rogers as scout, his devotion to the widow, more genial, his advice to the cavalry, the clash with the commander? His going on the expedition, the advice, his staying to fight? Death?
7. The comic style, the Irish background, tin mischief, having to do all the work, his smart cracks? His experience of the battles?
8. The widow, her place in the town, her relationships with men, torn between. the commander and Sol? Her being humiliated by the wife? her devotion to the men? A conventional woman of the west? The contrast with the officers' wives and their behaviour, manners, treatment of her?
9. McCabe? and his authority, his past career, his ambitions, the leading of the expedition? His reliance on the scout? His coming a day early, wanting to engage the Indians, the massacre? His trying to escape and the Indians catching up with his troop?
10. The characters of the cavalry, the training, the difficulties, in action, the fighting, their deaths?
11. The portrait of the Indians, the clash with the cavalry, their treatment by thee whites
12. An enjoyable western of the '60s, the traditions of the past western - and indications of the more serious themes to be treated in later westerns?
