A GUNFIGHT
US, 1971, 99 minutes, Colour.
Kirk Douglas, Johnny Cash, Jane Alexander, Karen Black, Raf Vallone, Keith Carradine.
Directed by Lamont Johnson.
A Gunfight is a modest, short western that is quite successful and should satisfy most action fans. It is the story of two ageing gunfighters who are encouraged by the townspeople to stage a gunfight, even if it means to the death.
On the level of message, A Gunfight is also successful, especially since the very obvious message intentions of the film do not obtrude. In fact, the film is quite an effective criticism of western violence, its mindlessness, ugliness and capture of the imagination of people by death. It shows too the spirit of the gunfighters - "shooting-drunk" -so that they prefer to risk dying rather than having no gunfight at all.
Kirk Douglas and Johnny Cash have no trouble with the main roles. There is an especially strong supporting cast.
Director Lamont Johnson has made some small, but effective films like The Mc Kenzie Break, The Groundstar Conspiracy and Stock Car Hero.
1. The meaning and irony of the title of the film?
2. The film as a genuine picture of the west? It presented itself realistically - was it a heightened picture of the west? Why?
3. How did the film change its tone from being a western about gunfighters, retired, and the life of a town, to a moral parable about death in the west? How subtle was the change in the film? Was this handled well and convincingly? Was the film entertaining as well as educational?
4. Will Tennery - a retired gunfighter, his role and work at the bar, relationship with his wife (the fact that he had left her for many years), his pride in his son? Did the film show convincingly the Kind of man Tennery was and what motivated him? Why was he dissatisfied in the town? Was audience sympathy with Tennery?
5. Abe Cross - was he a typical gunfighter? His background in searching for gold? His appearances in the film and audience response to this type of person? The town's fear of him as a gunfighter? Cross's relationship to the girl? Did he love her, did they relate well?
6. The atmosphere of the town wanting a fight. Your impression of this? Why did the two men avoid a fight, and what comment on the west did this make?
7. Why did Tennery propose the gunfight? Did you think that his reasons made sense?
8. Was it ambition or did he just want to see some life in the town?
9. Why did Cross refuse to accept and then change his mind?
10. The importance of the betting sequences in the town on the fight? How much regard for human life did the townspeople have?
11. Was the bullfight a week before the gunfight a significant sequence? Was the point well made?
12. The significance of Tannery's wife truing to shoot Cross? Did this make any impact in the town, Cross or Tennery? Comment on the sequence where the Sheriff tried to intervene but failed,
13. The role of Alvarez in the film - his position in the town with his shop? The fact that Tennery's wife had lived with him? His organisation of the fight and the betting? The consequences of Tennery's death for him and the wife going back to him?
14. How powerful was the sequence of the fight - the arena with its overtones (shades of the Roman Empire), the bells?
15. The significance of the two endings? How interesting was it to have visualised the consequences of both people dying? How did the imagined second ending help the wife to decide what she would do for the future?
