FIVE CARD STUD

US, 103 minutes, Paramount, Colour.
Dean Martin, Robert Mitchum Inger Stevens, Roddy Mc Dowell, Katherine Justice, John Anderson, Ruth Springford, Yaphet Kotto, Denver Pyle.
Directed by Henry Hathaway.

Five Card Stud is one of Henry Hathaway's later westerns. Hathaway had quite a successful career from the 30s to the 40s and 50s and even into the early 70s. His later westerns include Sons of Katie Elder, Nevada Smith, True Grit and Shoot Out. The film is also interesting with the casting of Dean Martin and Robert Mitchum. With Martin as hero and Mitchum as rather insane villain (similar to his role in The Night of The Hunter) there is an interesting dramatic tension. In many ways the film is more of a drama and mystery rather than a western. However, it is interesting and entertaining.

1. Was this a good Western? What conventions of the West did it use best? The overtones of the title and the gambling?

2. The film was also a murder mystery. Was it a good murder mystery? How did the western style and the mystery conventions blend?

3. How important was the environment of Rincon for establishing the atmosphere of the film? The details of the town, the strike atmosphere, etc.?

4. What was the dramatic effect of the hanging? The confusion of the way it was filmed? The immediate impact about the characters concerned? Death and justice?

5. How did the audience identify with the character of Morgan? How was he meant to be the hero of the film? His attempts to save the victim? The anti-lynching atmosphere for an audience looking through Morgan's eyes?

6. Comment on the people involved in the town, especially Norah and the family. The Marshal and his problems about maintaining order? His investigations into the murder? What atmosphere did the murders give to the town? The uncertainty of who was to be murdered? The father offering the reward for the murderer?

7. How did the Reverend Rudd fit into this atmosphere? What were your initial impressions of him? Did he think he was God? What attitude did he have towards religion and the Church? Did you think that he was the murderer?

8. Why did Morgan return to the town? Was he courageous.. was he merely trying to avoid being murdered? What was the effect of the continual return to the table with the absent chairs? The particular councils of war held in the saloon?

9. What was the impact of the murders themselves? The style of the murders? The uncertainty as to who was doing them? The betrayer? What atmosphere of suspense and fear did they generate?

10. what kind of person was Nick? Did he seem mad to you? His attitude when he heard of the people's deaths? Did you expect him to be the betrayer? How mad was he? How shrewd at the end in confronting Rudd?

11. What was the final impact of the confrontation between Morgan and Rudd? Were you surprised when Rudd was the murderer? Could you understand why he was the murderer? Did he have any right to take justice into his own hands? How mad was he? What was the final impact between the two and the final shooting? Rudd's use of his Bible with the gun, Morgan seeing this?

12. Why was George murdered? Did he deserve death because of his non-involvement in the hanging? What was your impression of his sign of who was the murderer? What was the audience's sympathy as regards George's death?

13. What was the role of the women in the film? Lily and her setting up her shop? Did you suspect her of the murders at all? Why was Morgan attracted to her? Did they have any future together? How well dramatically was this point made at the end? Norah, why was she in love with Morgan? why did he not respond to her? The woman running the saloon? Her importance in the film? Housing Morgan? Her relationship with George?

14. What were the principal values of justice in this film? Comment on the theme of justice and the images of the dead men strangled. What was your final reaction to this film? was it summed up by Dean Martin's singing or not?