LUCY GALLANT

US, 1955, 104 minutes, Colour.
Jane Wyman, Charlton Heston, Claire Trevor, William Demarest, Wallace Ford, Thelma Ritter.
Directed by Robert Parrish.

A so-called women's film of the 50s. It is typical of the women's pictures of the fifties and, indeed, the films of Jane Wyman at the time. She had won an Oscar for Johnny Belinda in 1948 and was a versatile actress in serious drama as well as musicals and comedies. In 1954/55 she appeared with Rock Hudson in Magnificent Obsession and All That Heaven Allows, directed by Douglas Sirk. They were great commercial successes and this film in somewhat in this vein.

The leading man was on the rise at the time and was soon to make The Ten Commandments and within five years he was to be Ben Hur and has been a solid Hollywood lead for several decades, Charlton Heston. Claire Trevor does another one of her heart-of-gold types and Thelma Ritter is always enjoyable in her rags-to-riches wisecracking older woman. The film is reminiscent of all those stories of the American dream and opportunity, especially those of Texas. Oil and fashions in 1941 are not all that dissimilar from the opening up of the west in the 19th century. Giant and Raintree County were soon to appear on the screens of the fifties.

It was in the seventies that this kind of material became the bases for long-running and rather sensational histories of families in the State of Texas: Dallas and Texas. Direction is by Robert Parrish, a former actor and editor whose films are enjoyable but do not make great impact, for example Peter Sellers' The Bobo, Duffy.

1. The perennial appeal of the so-called woman's picture? The topic, themes? Treatment? The styles of the fifties and later decades?

2. Use of colour photography, romantic score, song? The vigorous world of Texas and boom towns, the discovery of oil? The contrast with the world of fashion and wealth?

3. Jane Wyman as heroine and her popularity at the time? How well is she matched by Charlton Heston?

4. The audience interest in Texas sagas and the fulfilment of the American dream? From almost rags to riches? Careers, wealth, opportunity, romance? How much realism in these stories? How well contrived for popular consumption?

5. Charlton Heston's solid presence as Casey? His representing Texas? the film's introduction to him at the railway, his background of cattle, questions about oil, his fascination with Lucy, taking her to the hotel, to Molly's, giving up his room? His interest in her, taking note about the colour of the boots, the continued meetings and watching her develop her shop? His love for her, attitudes towards her work? The lunch at the ranch and her refusal of his proposal? His anger with her and going to the war?

6. Lucy as quiet, the story of her being jilted because of her father, her reliance on herself? Getting off the train with its noise, reliance on Casey, the humour of the sequence in the hotel with Harry drunk, her going to Molly's? Her walking around the town and people reacting to her clothes? The decision about the sale? Her plans, persuasion of Charlie for the money, the building up of the shop? Her interest in Casey but her refusal of the proposal? His leaving her for the war?

7. Molly and her friendliness towards Casey and Lucy, her wisecracks and wisdom? Barney and his oil strike? The growing wealth and the change in their way of life but Molly remaining the same? Her criticisms of Casey, support of Lucy, her philosophy of giving up everything for the sake of her husband? The irony of Lucy's taking the note out of the fur coat for Molly?

8. The people in the town and their striking it rich - not knowing what to do with their wealth as seen with their clothes, for example Irma and Harry and their daughter? Fitting her out, sending her to schools, her engagement? The transformation of these Texas people in short years?

9. The presentation of the frontier boom town - like the western days? The red derrick and the wild hotel? Lucy selling her clothes, the building up of the shop, the transformation of the town? its name New City, the housing, the lavish ways of entertaining, buildings, banks, clothes and style? From frontier to elegant and wealthy town in a short period?

10. Charlie and his reliance on his wisdom for money. Lucy’s pressure, Casey's pressures over the years?

11. Mack and her girls, the Red Derrick, the quick closing of the deal, her place in the town, her gradual social acceptance, devotion to Casey, being on the board of Gallants and her support of Lucy? The heart of gold?

12. Pearl Harbor, the war, the collage of Casey’s involvement and his decorations, injury, the return of the hero? The passing of the years?

13. His return at night, the cold reception by Lucy, Molly's puzzle, his following Lucy and the declaration of love? The conflicts of ambitions and careers? The presumption of Casey that Lucy should give up? Lucy and her wanting the shop? Casey's oil gush and his giving Charlie the leave to supply Lucy with the money? For what purpose?

14. Casey and the passing of the years, the wealth, Paris and the engagement to the model, his return? Failure?

15. Lucy and her success with the shop, her executive and his taking over? The dramatics of the board room meeting and Mack's intervention?

16. The glamour of the show and the choreography of the fashions? The authentic governor, talking? The use of Edith Head for the commentary on the fashion show? Lucy’s achievement? Her willingness to give it up? Casey and his pressuring Charlie to give the money?

17. The happy ending ? Casey and his change of attitude, Lucy's change? The film's comment on women and their place in the home, careers and jobs, giving them up for love?

18. This kind of film as reinforcing the American dream? a land of opportunity, making something from nothing and succeeding?