RED MOUNTAIN

US, 1951, 84 minutes, Colour.
Alan Ladd, Lizabeth Scott, Arthur Kennedy, John Ireland, Jeff Corey, James Bell, Neville Brand, Jay Silverheels.
Directed by William Diertele.

Red Mountain is a standard western set after the end of the American civil war. Alan Ladd plays a southerner who goes to Colorado to work for Quantrell. Quantrell is played by John Ireland. However, he soon realises that Quantrell is not interested in causes but is interested in plundering and murder, the origin of Quantrell’s Raiders. There are also issues of mining, claims, claim-jumping – and also murder. The female star is Lizabeth Scott, a sultry blonde with a smoky voice who gives atmosphere to the film. The score was written by Franz Waxman.

Director is William Diertele, director of a number of biographies in the 1930s at Warner Bros as well as the classic Hunchback of Notre Dame with Charles Laughton. During the 1950s he made a number of standard westerns and action films including The Turning Point. He also directed Rita Hayworth as Salome.

1. The film as an Alan Ladd vehicle, a western of the early fifties, the conventional theme and treatment? Impact now?

2, The atmosphere of the opening killing, the unknown killer, the atmosphere of the lynching? Audience response to these issues in the west? The tone for the rest of the film?

3. The presentation of Civil War issues? The role of the North and its superiority, the South in defeat, the ideology of the South? The issues of loyalty to both sides? Change of loyalties?

4. The presentation of the angry men in the town, the lynch law attitudes, the administration of law and order, the background of the Civil War disorder?

5. The response to Waldron? A Southern rebel, amnesty, accused of murder, flight, his being hurt? The rescue by Sherwood? Waldron and his prospecting, his hopes, his love for Chris? His involvement with Quantrell and his raiders?

6. The presentation of Chris, heroine, her attitudes towards Waldron, helping him, her attitudes towards Sherwood, changing, the experience of the siege? A conventional heroine or something more?

7. Sherwood as hero? Alan Ladd's style, the rescue of Waldron, his attitudes to him, the mutual imprisonment, his taking them to Quantrell and his loyalties to the South and to Quantrell? His humanity, changing his attitudes, Quantrell helping Waldron and Chris? How strongly delineated were the ambiguities of his character and his situation?

8. Quantrell as a historic figure? His role at the end of the Civil War? His raids, his hold over people, power and cruelty, the use of torture?

9. The relationship of the Indians to Quantrell? His use of them? Their attitudes towards him?

10. The build-up to the siege of Waldron and Chris? The dangers, especially with the broken leg, lack of ammunition? The brutality of the soldiers? Sherwood going to the town for rescue? The atmosphere of the siege along with the ambush by Quantrell's raiders?

ll. Was Waldron's death expected? Was it merely convenient for the plot? Was it appropriate, especially in the understanding of Waldron's character? Chris's response to him?

12. The inevitable build-up to the clash between Quantrell and Sherwood? The picturing of the fight? Death?

13. The themes of patriotism, the heritage of the west within the western conventions?