RUN, SIMON, RUN

US, 1970, 73 minutes, Colour.
Burt Reynolds, Inger Stevens, Royal Dano, James Best.
Directed by George Mc Cowan.

Run, Simon, Run is one of the earliest of the American telemovies. Burt Reynolds, who had emerged during the 1960s as a strong leading man but was to consolidate this even more during the 1970s, appears as an Indian who goes back to the reservation having served a prison term for a crime he did not commit. He then goes on a revenge search for the murderer of his brother.

The film is familiar material – but designed for a home audience and presented in a brisk and brief manner.

1. Was this a good telemovie? Comment on the television techniques and style. The use of close-ups, commercial pauses etc?

2. The tone and significance of the title for the theme? The irony of the title and the plot? The urgency of the title?

3. Comment on the effectiveness of the structure of the film; the prison, the sense of pursuit, the flashbacks interspersed?

4. How important was the theme of the Indians for the film? The role of the chief amongst modern Indians, the quality of life on the reservations, American social work, justice for the Indians, prison life, the victimisation of the Indians, the segregation, the rodeo sequence and the veiling of their heads in shame, the Indian dances? What points were being made? With what impact?

5. What comment did the film make about white attitudes? White superior attitudes? Prison justice, Wanting Simon to dance, the behaviour at the party, the curiosity at the rodeo and the virgin's dance, the segregation of the buses?

6. How interesting was the character of Simon? Burt Reynolds' portrayal and style? His role amongst the Indians, his role in the past, his love for his brother (the effectiveness of the flashbacks), the prison life, his aims for the future? The quality of the chips on the shoulder? His pursuit of the murderer? The irony of his relationship with Carol? His non-involvement, his growing dependence on her? His emergence into a new world? The effect on him? The relentlessness of his pursuit? Was his death inevitable? Did he have the right, according to the justice of America, to pursue to death? What insight into modern people and modern victims of society was given?

7. How attractive was the character of Carol? As a contrast with Simon? Her society background, her conscience, her wanting to work for the Indians, her social work? Her pursuit of Simon? The quality of their relationship? Her being hurt? Why was she willing to help him in the pursuit? The importance of the party? The response of her friends? Her role at the end? What was audience response to the injustice, the protection by sheriff’s of criminal white men? The importance of the trial sequences?

9. The dramatic impact of the execution and Simon's death? Audience response in favour of this? Against it?

10. The symbolism of the ending with Carol entering the Indians' bus?

11. What value has a television film like this? As entertainment? As social conscience?