TEX
US, 1982, 95 minutes. Colour.
Matt Dillon, Meg Tilly, Emilio Estevez, Bill Mc Kinney, Ben Johnson. Frances Lee Mc Cain.
Directed by Tim Hunter.
The 1980s was a good period for filming the novels of S.E. Hinton. Francis Ford Coppola made Rumblefish and The Outsiders. Christopher Cain made That was Then, This is Now.
Tex was made by the Disney Studios, a bit more focus on adolescent issues rather than mere children’s issues. Matt Dillon, very early in his career, portrays Tex, one of two brothers whose father has left for rodeo clown work and they have to manage together outside Tulsa, Oklahoma. Matt Dillon plays the younger brother, at odds with older brother who sells his horse, playing pranks at school with his friend, Emilio Estevez, very good friends with Estevez’s sister, played by Meg Tilly, and falling foul of their father, played by Ben Johnson.
The film shows in some close-up detail, the life of Tex and his brother, life in the town, the problems of families, especially the two father figures and their sons. However, the film is one of hope rather than of dismissing problems or thinking that they are insuperable. Frances Lee Mc Cain plays a sympathetic vice-principal who finds a solution for Tex’s problems, getting him a summer job looking after horses – which he thrives in.
A sympathetic 20th century look at young people and their issues.
1. The 1980s and Susan Hinton films? Focusing on adolescents and their issues? With hope?
2. Teenagers in the 1980s, American, in Oklahoma, a farming community, the town community, the school? Prospects of college?
3. The Oklahoma settings, the poor farm, the countryside, Tulsa and the city buildings, streets and hotels? The musical score?
4. Tex as the focus, Matt Dillon and his performance, screen presence, age, in the light of his subsequent career? His appearance, his performance? Tex and his problems, coping and not coping, the lack of food in the house, his idolising of his absent father, the memory of his dead mother? His brother and the issue of food, paying the bills? His selling the horses? Tex and his fondness for his horse? His anger, going down the street, his brother pursuing him? Going home? The pranks at school? The firecrackers in the typewriter? His friends, hanging out with them? Talking with them? His love for horses?
5. Tex and Mason, the older brother, the bond between the two, their father, his absence, Mason’s anger with his father? Issues of money, food? Selling the horses? Going after Tex? Bringing the food home?
6. The Collins family, the stern father, his hold over his son and daughter, Johnny and his friendship with Tex, their getting up to mischief? Jamie, visits, Tex and his declaration of love, her wanting to wait? The younger generation causing trouble for their fathers? Tex’s father, Mason and his anger with his father? The two fathers coming in to see the vice-principal about their sons? The haughty attitude of Mr Collins? The carefree attitude of Tex’s father?
7. The absent father, his story, his return home, acting as clown in the rodeos? Mason’s reaction? Tex’s reaction? Mason and his anger, blurting out the fact about Tex not being the son of his father? Tex upset? The friendship with Lem, going for a ride with him, going to the apartment, the drugs, the gun, Tex and the attack, his being wounded, phoning from the street phone, to the Collins family, in hospital, the visitors?
8. Mason, his skill at basketball? The coach and his support? Play, his injury? Tex and his anger, taking the application? Tex’s change of heart, filling in the form, Jamie and her writing the essay? The favourite book – and horses? The joy of the family, Mason and his appreciation?
9. The issue of the horses, the father coming with money, going to buy the horse back, Tex and his encounter with the little girl, her changing the horse’s name, watching her ride? Giving the horse up?
10. The vice-principal, her concern, getting Tex the job with the horses?
11. Teenage troubles, a glimpse of characters coping and not coping? Family issues, parents, fathers, the future?
