HOT LEAD AND COLD FEET
US, 1978, 90 minutes, Colour.
Jim Dale, Karen Valentine, Don Knotts, Jack Elam, Darren Mc Gavin, John Williams.
Directed by Robert Butler.
An entertaining modest Disney film. It is an unusual western, another Disney western at this time was The Apple Dumpling Gang with Bill Bixby and Susan Clark. Star of this film is English comedian Jim Dale who appeared in Disney's Pete's Dragon and The Unidentified Flying Odd Ball. He is excellent in this film, portraying Old Man Blood Shy and his wild son Billy and his evangelist son Ely. Karen Valentine who appeared in several Disney films. is the attractive leading lady.
A lot of Disney and western regulars like Darren Mc Gavin as the bad mayor, Don Knotts and Jack Elam as Denver and Rattlesnake give good comic support. It is quite a good picture of the west as well as humorous satire on it. An engaging Disney film.
1. The Disney portrayal of the west? the presentation of the rough town, pioneering, the evangelist? Humour and serious tones, satire?
2. The use of western locations, the atmosphere of the dingy town, the scenery and the use of it for the race? Special effects especially for the details of the race, for comedy? The enjoyable score and opening song?
3. The satire in the title and the reference to the two brothers, the ballad song during the credits?
4. The town and its origins? The presentation of Blood Shy as an eccentric old man and his English manservant, Mansfield? Their presence in the town, their continued arguments? Mansfield's very British manner? Blood Shy falling everywhere? Elu's death and then the revelation that this was a fake? The establishing of the test with the will for the two brothers? The two of them watching everywhere and continually falling and having accidents? The laughter in the accidents? Blood Shy's attitudes towards his two sons and then deciding to help? His happiness at the end, his sentiment about the peaceful town and going off to find his daughters? Jim Dale's skill in portraying the old man ? and as a contrast to his portrayal of the two sons?
5. Billy as the conventional wild shoot-em-up man - the fear that he instilled in all the people in the town, his fights, shooting glasses off people's heads etc? The prospect of the will, the encounter with Eli and spurning him? Shooting at him in the hotel? The race and the presumption that he would win? His devices to keep ahead? His combining finally with Eli and taking his clothes at the end to deceive the mayor? How credible was his reform and sentimentality at the end?
6. Jim Dale's contrast in presenting the two brothers? Eli and his preaching in the city, the bag thrown at him and the children, his bonds with the children, their going on the trip and the children's looking forward to all the violent aspects of the west? His mouthing Christian sentiments? His being mistaken for Billy and people's reaction, the humour with the Gatling gun etc.? The encounter with Jenny and her help? His taking his place in the town, challenging Billy, the rally and its failure? The build-up to the race, his being sabotaged and the comedy consequent upon this, his surviving and catching up to Billy? The humour in his drinking, crossing the bridge and being cut down? The children and Jenny helping, his father and Mansfield helping? The arrangement with Billy at the end?
7. The humour of Denver and Rattlesnake and the aging gunfighters, the High Noon music and their confrontations, their accidents? Comedy relief?
8. The smugness of the mayor, his gang and their sabotage, the mayor and his confidence that he would get the money, his gloating, his being foiled at the end by the children, his thinking that he had seen a ghost? His comeuppance and imprisonment? The rounding up of the gang?
9. Jenny as heroine? attractive teacher, attraction towards Eli, her love for the children, helping at the bridge, at the end?
10. The children and their love of the west, mischief, overhearing crucial remarks, helping out, the happy ending with a mother and father?
11. The portrait of the western town and the satire,. the people shooting and fighting everywhere? The contrast with the group at the revival meeting and their response to Eli? The mocking of the conventions of the West?
12. Themes of religion and goodness, the sentimental touch and the optimistic ending? The blend of American toughness and sentiment Disney style?
