THE LUSTY MEN
US, 1952, 113 minutes, Black and white.
Robert Mitchum, Arthur Kennedy, Susan Hayward, Arthur Hunnicut.
Directed by Nicholas Ray.
The Lusty Men is a semi-documentary piece of Americana with the focus on the rodeo circuit. The film is crisply made by director Nicholas Ray. Ray had made his mark with They Live By Night and was to make such offbeat striking films as Johnny Guitar, Bigger Than Life before moving into such epics as King of Kings and Fifty-five Days at Peking. The screenplay was written by Horace Mc Coy, author of the novel They Shoot Horses, Don't They. Susan Hayward has a very good sturdy role, a part that she plays frequently and well. Robert Mitchum is himself as the laconic champion. Arthur Kennedy, at the beginning of a successful career in character roles, conveys the excitement of the ordinary man who discovers his ability on the rodeo circuit.
Actual rodeo sequences are inserted in the film to give an atmosphere of authenticity. This film might be compared with four films of the early '70s which focused on the same theme: Sam Peckinpah's Junior Bonner with Steve Mc Queen, J.W.Coop in which Cliff Robertson starred; he also directed. James Coburn appeared in The Honkers and Frederic Forrest and Richard Widmark appeared in When the Legends Die. A competent piece of Americana which shows the style of the '50s but transcends the decades.
1. Audience response to the rode. the emphasis on the lusty men and their prowess? Champions? The confrontations with horse and bull? The documentary tone of this film and the insertion of rodeo material?
2. How well did the film re-create the atmosphere of the rodeo: the people involved, skills, excitement, joy, money. reputation? The clash of professionalism with relationships and the building of a future? A particular feature of the American West?
3. Black and white photography. documentary style? The basic ingredients of the drama: home, future, ambitions, success, marriage? The portrayal of relationships and ambitions? Conventional material - well made?
4. Robert Mitchum as Jeff: as a champion, seeing him in action, his going under the house and recapturing his past, the long talk with the old nun and the filling in of his background, fairly, success? The passing of time? Wes and Louise and their meeting with Jeff? Wes and his idolising Jeff? Their work together, help, financial deals? Jeff’s detached attitude towards Wes and his success? His not being influenced by Louise? The gradual change, his looking after Wes, his silent admiration and love for Louise? Wes and his success and reaction against Jeff? Jeff’s continued protection? His trying to help him, the party and Wes making a fool of himself, the comments about Jeff's staying with the couple - and his love for Louise? The fight? The reason for his going into all the rodeo competitions? His success? Wes' admiration and their mending the rift? The accident and the pathos of his death? The symbol of the rodeo man of action, the loner, the lack of relationships, the lack of a future? The symbolic death?
5. Wes and Arthur Kennedy's enthusiasm in the role? Background, ambition, hopes? Decisions - without Louise's consultation? His great success and her acceptance of this? Her anxiety? His drinking, popularity, the girls especially Babs? Louise's reaction? Wes and his turning on Jeff? The fight? The reconciliation? The jolt of his death and his decision to return to the farm?
6. Louise as the strong American wife? Her view of herself and her marriage to Wes, controlling the money etc.? Wes and his saying that he was the making of the marriage? Her hopes, strength, the hard decisions, her decision to go with her husband, her anxiety, grief? Her reaction to Babs? The showdown at the party? Kissing Jeff? Her reaction to Jeff’s going into the competition? Her presence at his death? The possibility of making a new life on the farm with Wes?
7. The portrayal of the people in the rodeo circuit: skills, managers, commentators? The old man and his daughter and their friendship? The girls hanging around the successful, rodeo men? The old man in the house at the beginning and his memories? An authentic atmosphere?
8. Nostalgia for the past and the American frontier, the skills, the macho image and strength? An admiration for the lusty men?
9. How contrived the basic situations in the plot - and the strength of the film and characterisation breaking through? A satisfying piece of Americana?
