RUN FOR COVER

US, 1955, 93 minutes, Colour.
James Cagney, Viveca Lindfors, John Derek, Jean Hersholt, Grant Withers, Ernest Borgnine.
Directed by Nicholas Ray.

Run for Cover is an entertaining western starring an ageing James Cagney. He is mistaken for a train robber and his associate, a young man played by John Derek, is shot. When Cagney is able to justify himself he actually ends up as the new sheriff of the town and romances a Swedish migrant, played by Viveca Lindfors. However, there is a twist in the revelation of the past of the young man.

The film was one of the earliest films made in the Vistavision process. The film was directed by Nicholas Ray. He had begun to direct films in the late 1940s with such striking films as They Live By Night. He made a number of conventional films like The Lusty Men but broke through with his version of Rebel Without a Cause. Other films include Bigger Than Life and he moved into some blockbusters with The Savage Innocents, The King of Kings and Fifty-Five? Days at Peking.

1. What are the qualities and appeal of westerns? What conventions were used here? how well?

2. The contribution of colour, scenery, the town itself, the Indian atmosphere? The song and its use as theme music?

3. The impact of the opening, the location, the two suspicious men, the train, the fearfulness and the throwing of the money, bad luck for the two and Davy’s temptation?

4. Comment on the picture of the townspeople. Their fearfulness, the fact that they were trigger-happy and ready to lynch without trial? Their blaming of the sheriff? The worry of a group? The violence of the shooting? Their response to Marty. Marty's answer to them? Their making him the sheriff?

5. Marty as hero: the later explanation of his past, his not wanting to be judged for crimes he did not commit, his capacity for work, his helping Davy, his accepting the office of sheriff, his fathering of Davy and making him deputy, his love, trust, bullying? What kind of strong character was he? How admirable?

6. Danny as a potential hero? Becoming a villain? His pleasantness, weakness, temptation to rob and to shoot? The grudge he bore because of his injuries? His forcing himself to recovery? His response to Marty? His fear and letting the criminals go? His accepting the payoff? His deceit in the robbery, betrayal? The final shootout? Was the final assessment of him as totally bad, accurate? What insight into a young man going bad?

7. The picture of the Swensons? Helga's explanation of their background, how real a family in this situation? How attractive was Helga as a heroine? Her Swedish background, her love of America, her delicacy and concerns, her response to Marty and love for him? Her making a difference to his life?

8. The importance of the portrayal of the town, its ups and downs, propensity for lynching, drinking, court-cases and fine church going?

9. How exciting were the portraits of the robberies? The posses and the chase?

10. The importance of the pursuit by the posse, the townspeople backing down, Davy using Marty? The confrontation between the two? The scene on the rapids, Davy's abandoning Marty and joining the criminals?

11. What was Marty's future in the town?

12. This western as a successful action film, as a humane story, as portraying the problems of the west?