CHARRO

US, 1969, 98 minutes, Colour.
Elvis Presley, Ina Balin, Barbara Werle, Victor French.
Directed by Charles Marquis Warren.

Charro is a routine western. It is of interest as a vehicle for Elvis Presley, late in his film career. It was written and directed by Charles Marquis Warren, a veteran of many westerns of the '50s - here directing his most ambitious film. The cast is conventional, with James Sikking (of Hill Street Blues) as the gunner. Preston Sturges' son Solomon Sturges has a chance to emote as the bad Billy Roy. Presley sings a song over the credits.

1. Interesting and entertaining western? In the western tradition? Outlaws? The Mexican border?

2. Panavision photography, the use of locations, the western town? Action sequences - especially with the cannon? Musical score? Presley's song?

3. The title and the focus? Jess Wade? cannon? The outlaw gang?

4. The focus on Jess? Elvis Presley's presence and style? His being lured by the message? Taken by the gang? His former companions? The Victory Gun? Vince and his anger with Jess? Framing him for the theft? Scarring his neck? The 'Wanted' posters? Jesse going to the town, the meeting again with Tracy after a year? The friendship with Sheriff Ramsay who has educated him? The scenes in the town, the reaction of the people? Billy Roy's arrival, the wounding of the Sheriff? Jess being willing to be Deputy? Tracy's faith in him? Vince's threats, the bombardment of the town? The Mexican cavalry arriving? The irony of the Sheriff killed by the cannon? The anger of his wife and her exposing Jess as wanted? His strategy with Billy Roy and the gun? Billy Roy's death? His beating Vince? The gunfight? His returning the cannon? His plans for Tracy? Conventional hero?

5. The villains: Vince and his leadership, anger at Jess, branding him? The gun and travelling with it? The bombarding of the town? His love for Billy Roy? Anger at his imprisonment? The siege? The members of the gang, his callousness against those to disagreed? Billy Roy's death? His luring of the Mexican cavalry and massacring them? His final defeat?

6. Billy Roy and his madness, coming into town, the imprisonment, his being tied up, his death under the cannon? The various members of the gang, loyalty to Vince, his turning on them? Gunner and his callousness, firing on the town?

7. Tracy and her owning the saloon, her love for Jesse, not believing in him, the life in the saloon, her doubts, the empty jail, her faith in him restored?

8. The Sheriff and his support, training of Jesse? His injury? His deputising Jesse? His being killed? His wife and her anger, turning the people against Jesse? Her apologies?

9. Widescreen action sequences? The credibility of the plot - especially with the cannon firing on the town? The gallery of minor characters in the town, the saloon people, Marcy and the girls in the saloon, the authorities?

10. The American heritage, law and order, justice in the West?