ROCKY MOUNTAIN

US, 1950, 83 minutes, Black and white.
Errol Flynn, Patrice Wymore, Scott Forbes, Bill Guinn Williams, Slim Pickens.
Directed by William Keighley.

Rocky Mountain is a routine but entertaining western with a Civil War setting. It focuses on a troop of Confederate soldiers on a mission in Mexico confronted by Indians as well as by Union soldiers. The focus is on a final siege in which hero Errol Flynn is killed. This is a later Flynn vehicle - although he acts with the verve expected of him. His wife of the time, Patrice Wymore, is the heroine. The black and white photography is quite vivid. Direction is by William Keighley who directed Flynn in a number of action adventures from The Adventures of Robin Hood to The Master of Ballantrae.

1. Entertaining western? The Civil War? The American heritage?

2. The vivid black and white photography, the use of location scenery? Action sequences? The final siege? The rousing musical score?

3. The title and the opening with the car and the 20th century monument? The transition to the Civil War? The voiceover commentary? The situation between North and South? The mission of the Confederates? The danger in Indian territory? With Union soldiers? The heroic siege at Rocky Mountain?

4. The Confederates and their mission, travelling west? Erro1 Flynn as Barstow? Leadership, relationship with the men? The encounter with the Indians? His shrewd strategies? The stagecoach and Miss Carter? her affecting what they were to do? The Union soldiers arriving? His using her to lure them in? His holding them captive? The Indian attack? Decisions? Sending off the Union leader£? Getting Miss Carter to safety? Leading his men with the Indians in pursuit? The siege and their deaths? The tribute paid to Barstow and his men? A western hero? Gallantry?

5. Miss Carter, the stagecoach and the Indian attack? Her being with the Confederates? Her Union loyalties? Attraction towards Barstow? Her fiance, her having to lure him in? her being led to safety?

6. The Union Captain, the Union men, their being captured, honour, going to lead the Army to the rescue?

7. The group of Confederates - the varying personalities and backgrounds from the southern states? The focus on Jim and his dog? The men friendly amongst themselves, clashes? Their final heroism?

8. Cole Smith and the Confederate spies, the westerners, the alias, the help?


9. Action sequences? The clash between the armies and the Indians?

10. Familiar material, competently treated? Whites and Indians? Western heroism? American heritage?