NIGHT PASSAGE
US, 1957, 90 minutes, Colour.
James Stewart, Audie Murphy, Dan Duryea, Diane Foster, Elaine Stewart, Brandon de Wilde.
Directed by James Neilson.
A above-average James Stewart western from the late fifties,
a period when he had appeared in many westerns especially for director Anthony Mann, from Winchester 73 to The Man From Laramie. The villain of the film is Audie Murphy in one of his better serious roles. He had made a number of successful small-budget westerns at Universal. He teams well with Stewart. Dan Duryea is again a snarling villain.
The film is colourful but is also an intelligent presentation of the railroads in Colorado, the miners, train robberies and heroism The director is James Neilson, a television director who made a number of the Disney films.
Above average western material. Music and song is by Dmitri Tiomkin, who had written the music for such films as High Noon, The High and the Mighty and Friendly Persuasion.
1. An interesting, enjoyable and well-acclaimed Western? James Stewart and his Western appearances, Audie Murphy? A satisfying dramatic Western blend of acting styles?
2. Colour and wide screen photography, the atmosphere of Colorado and the mountains, railheads and towns? The musical score, the dancing song, the song and the theme of following the river? James Stewart singing them? The emotional overtones of these songs and themes?
3. Audience presuppositions and appreciating the situation of the building of the railroads, the people in outlying areas of the United States, Colorado and its mountains, the men and the Irish working there, the wives, the girls? The significance of the robbery of payrolls? The bosses keeping the people pacified? The railroad authorities and their predicaments? Hostilities, riots? The way of life of the West? The towns, bars, people working for the railroads? Law and its administration? The film's attention to detail for example the potential riots, Grant playing the accordion and the people dancing and then fighting, the women at the railhead, the old lady and her donkeys, the mines, the train and the lavish carriages, the robbers and their hideout? An authentic Western?
4. James Stewart's character of Grant? Seeing him during the credits, his arrival, playing the accordion, the reception by the railroad people, his capacity with people, the mystery of his five years and the suspicion? His going to Kimble? The significance in revealing his character and for emotional response in his saving Joey from Concho? The intimacy between himself and Charlie in their discussion at the cafe, the omelette, the background of the Kid and their relationship to him?
5. The contrast of the world of Kimble and Verna, Verna and her memories of love for Grant and her choice of wealth with Kimble? The reaction of Grant in seeing her again? Kimble's power, past accusations, Jeff and his hostilities and the dramatic clash? Their decision to use him? The involvement for Kimble, the kidnapping of Verna? Kimble and his reactions, anxiety at the end and Grant saving his money for him and the people at the railhead? Credible people of the West?
6. Grant and his bitterness, memories of the railroad firm, Verna and her abandoning him, Charley and her devotion to his brother, his bitter memories of his brother and his criminal activities? His growing devotion to Charley, his care for Joey? Contrast of Joey with his brother?
7. The build-up to the train ride, the presentation of the train, the carriage, Grant and the money, the Kimbles travelling? The background to the robbers, the ambush, the robbery, the fighting, the lies, the kidnap of Verna? The role of Whitey, of the Kid?
8. The dramatic presentation of the robbery and the kidnap? The background to the clashes between Whitey and the Utica Kid? The aftermath?
9. The robbers' headquarters and Joey's presence and his carrying the money, his helping the situation? Charley and her following and her plea to the Kid to go away for the marriage, her helping Grant? Grant and his bluffing, Whitey and his being needled and accepting him?
10. The importance of the sequences between the two brothers? The background to their hostility? Grant's manner, the older brother, the reaction of the younger, the sermons? The money and temptation? The shoot-out and the Kid's decision to help his brother, dying, expected, how well handled? Grant and his saving of the two women? His skill as a gunfighter?
11. The dramatics of the final shoot-out, those who were saved? Grant's role? Verna and her bringing Kimble back? The payment of the railroad people?
12. A satisfying ending for basic conventional Western material? How did the film transcend its conventions? Present Western themes, pioneer themes, law and order themes, family relationships?
