ONCE UPON A TEXAS TRAIN
US, 1988, 100 minutes, Colour.
Willie Nelson, Richard Widmark, Angie Dickenson, Stuart Whitman, Chuck Connors, Kevin Mc Carthy, Shaun Cassidy, Royal Dano, Jack Elam, Harry Carey Jr, Dub Taylor.
Directed by Burt Kennedy.
Once Upon a Texas Train is an enjoyable comedy western spoof, written and directed by veteran Burt Kennedy. Some of his successful films include Support Your Local Sheriff, The Good Guys and the Bad Guys.
He has assembled an interesting cast of oldies: Willie Nelson and Richard Widmark lead with such actors as Stuart Whitman, Dub Taylor and, especially, stealing the show, Jack Elam. There is also a group of young guns led by Sean Cassidy.
As the title indicates, the film is a fantasy, a spoof on the legends. It is humorous, enjoyable - and Angie Dickinson is there as well to remember the past.
1. Enjoyable western? The west and the ageing west? The legends?
2. Burt Kennedy and his westerns, the veteran stars? The Texas locations? Musical score?
3. The robbery opening the film, Johnny's failure, 20 years later getting out of jail?
4. Johnny and Willie Nelson and his style? Laconic, wisdom? Singing? Charlie's assistance? Robbing the bank? Reassembling the old team, their plan, travel? The personalities of the group and Johnny's relationship with them? Ambushed by Cotton and company? The clash, the discussions, the card games and the bluffs? Johnny and his memories of Maggie? The clash with the young guns, the shoot-out, giving his word to Hayes? The Texas Train and the ending?
5. Orin Hayes and his age, talking to the governor, the parole board, reassembling his group, the telegrams? The meeting with Maggie, memories? The arrival of the group, the pursuit through the desert, the fight with the young guns? Maggie's arrival? The happy ending?
6. Jason and his being blind, his glasses, his lack of hearing? Riding a bicycle? The humour of his character? George, the fights, joining the group? The sergeant training the old men to be gunfighters in the old age home? On the mission?
7. The decrepit group that Johnny got around him, their past skills, getting old and their being sent up?
8. The young guns, their smugness and attitudes, greed for the gold, confrontation of the old men? Their being wounded in the gunfight - old men get that way by surviving?
9. Maggie, the relationship with Johnny, with Orin? Her arrival at the end?
10. The conventions of the American western, the spoof of the legends? A piece of Americana?
