DAKOTA

US, 1954, 82 minutes, Black and white.
John Wayne, Vera Ralston, Walter Brennan, Ward Bond, Mike Mazurki, Paul Fix, Ona Munson.
Directed by Joseph Kane.

A conventional western, John Wayne vehicle of the mid-forties. Walter Brennan and Ward Bond amongst others are in regular competent support. The film, made by Republic, featured Vera Hruba Ralston, the wife of the owner of Republic, Herbert J. Yates, who featured her in many films. The story is by Carl Forman, the writer of many films over several decades ranging from High Noon to The Victors and Born Free.

1. The quality of this western, a John Wayne western? How original, conventional?

2. An example of the western of the 1940s, low-budget, western style and action, social issues?

3. The importance of the picture of pioneers in the nineteenth century, the Chicago world, the railroad chiefs, aims to move to California, Dakota, the wheat territory etc.? The issues involved in terms of pioneering, money, greed and exploitation, the necessary law and order and justice? Did the film present and explore these themes well?

4. The initial background of Chicago, the heroine's father, the attitudes of the railmen and the opening up of the west? John and his wife fitting into this background?

5. The humour of the initial marriage, the elopement, the farcical elements, the reality of this kind of marriage in the nineteenth century? The retired western man, the rich heroine? Did the film present these elements conventionally?

6. The early introduction of the exploiters? In the train, robberies, deaths, gunning down people, burning crops, deals as regards the land? How ugly was this aspect of the exploitation of the west?

7. The growing involvement of John and his wife? The fact that they were robbed, their encounter with the criminals on the boat, the appeal by the pioneers for help?

8. The dramatic importance of the various clashes, even to the wife being shot? The recklessness of those supposed to administer justice, the farcical aspects of law and order? The victimization of ordinary people?

9. The contribution of the captain of the boat to the action, to comedy? His assistant?

10. The build-up towards the showdown? How conventional and expected? How right for this kind of film?

11. Comment on this portrait of the nineteenth century heritage of the west, the past that America had to build on for the twentieth century.