TENNESSEE'S PARTNER

US, 1955, 87 minutes, Colour.
John Payne, Ronald Reagan, Rhonda Fleming.
Directed by Alan Dwan.

Tennessee's Partner is an enjoyable if routine western. It is based on a popular short story by Brett Harte. The film is interesting in retrospect because of the performance of Ronald Reagan. He plays a good-hearted cowboy, duped by a gold-digging woman, finally giving his life for his friend. John Payne is the star, a solid, sometimes stolid, hero. Rhonda Fleming provides the glamour. The film was directed by Alan Dwan, who directed John Payne and Rhonda Fleming in the thriller, Slightly Scarlet, at this time. A piece of modest Americana.

1. Interesting and enjoyable western? The West, gamblers, cowpokes, miners, women and gold-diggers?

2. Colour photography, the atmosphere of the town, the mines, the river? Musical score?

3. The work of Brett Harte? The picture of the goldfields? The focus of the title on Tennessee himself, on Cowpoke?

4. Tennessee as a gambler, the clashes in the town, his wealth, his attraction towards Duchess? The encounter with Cowpoke and Cowpoke saving his life? The friendship, the partnership in the mine? The arrival of Goldie? The clash with Tennessee, his trying to warn her against marrying Cowpoke, tricking her into leaving, taking the money? suspicions of Duchess? Antagonism of Cowpoke? His letting Cowpoke knock him down? Returning the money? The murder of Grubstake? The arrest, in prison, the escape? The confrontation with the murderer? ustifying himself? Cowpoke saving his life? His return to Duchess? The strong bond of buddies in the West? Tennessee's attitude towards women being women, his relationship with men, especially Cowpoke? The gambling figure of the West?

5. The contrast with Cowpoke, ambling into town, intervening in the shootout, the reaction of the townspeople, his being allowed to stay and get married, his love for Goldie and seeing only good in her, gifts for her, the preparation for the wedding, finding out that Tennessee had gone with her, going back to the mine, helping Grubstake with the map, the fight with Tennessee, the reconciliation, in prison, the escape, the final shootout, his death?

6. Duchess and her running the establishment with the women in the town? Stylish? Gambling? Her control of the gambling saloon? Her love for Tennessee? Anger with him? Regard for Cowpoke? Going out to warn them?

7. The contrast with Goldie, her demure appearance, gold-digging, the past relationship with Tennessee, wanting to get Cowpoke's money, easily being able to be bought off, her being abandoned by Tennessee?

8. Grubstake and the miners, the claims, the map, his death? The men of the town, murder and plots, wanting easy money, shootouts? The picture of the law in the town?

9. The familiar material of the mining town and its characters? The American heritage?