THE DION BROTHERS (THE GRAVY TRAIN)

US, 1974, 94 minutes, Colour.
Stacey Keach, Margot Kidder, Frederic Forrest, Barry Primus, Richard Romanus.
Directed by Jack Starrett.

The Dion Brothers is a film directed by Jack Starrett, noted for brisk and action-filled adventures in the seventies, Cleopatra Jones, Slaughter, Race with the Devil. Starrett has an opportunity to blend social comment with action in this film.

The cast is very good indeed. Stacy Keach has a broad range of acting ability and is excellent in the title role. He is well matched by Frederic Forrest who was in such good films as When the Legends Die, The Conversation and Apocalypse Now. Margot Kidder is the heroine – in pre-Superman days. The music is by Fred Karlin. The film has social comment on America in the seventies - America is the gravy train. There is a Bonnie and Clyde tone about the exploits of the heroes, their attitude towards wealth and justice and violence. Unfortunately, the final siege while symbolic is rather prolonged in comparison with the rest of the film. However, it is an interesting example of action
and drama in the seventies, the violent touch and the social comment.

1. The title's focus on the two brothers as heroes. (The alternate title and its reference to America with social criticism?) The themes, the brothers as symbolic of the ordinary citizen of the United States in the seventies?

2. The opening and the factory work. Calvin Dion and his boredom? The indication of American themes, opportunities and oppression? The comparison with Russell and his work in the mine? His smashing the windows as he left his work? The comparison with the ending, and the smashed building'? Calvin emerging with the money - but what had he achieved?

3. The background of West Virginia, the factories and the mines, the poor homes - Calvin's gift and his mother not having electricity? Lack of opportunity? The transition to Washington and the use of Washington for the location of the film? The use of the political and historic buildings? A critique of American heritage? The significance of' the television programme and the interview with the businessman and his exploitive approach and his comments on the gravy train? The ugly world of the seventies, the inevitable Bonnie and Clyde reaction, robberies, the right to money, justice? The symbolism of the building at the end being demolished?

4. The small town background of the brothers, their pride in themselves. their vanity, their ignorance - for instance in the routines of the restaurant and the choice of sauces etc.? Their mother and the lack of electricity etc.?

5. Calvin and his joining up with the gang - the introduction to each of the characters at the meeting in the park, how well were their characters revealed in what they were doing? Tony and his business suit, Carlos and his playing the game, Rex and his family? Russell and his introduction to the group? Their motives for participating in the robbery?

6. The presentation of the robbery, the details of its execution, the talk with the security guards, the exhilaration at the robbery, the transferring of the money and holing up? Their glee in the aftermath? The transition to the heavy police siege, the violence and the shooting? The change of attitude? The brothers and their skill and their escape with the blasting and the police uniforms, the casual speaking to the police and driving off? Rex and his fears, his shooting in the corridor, his suicide? The later comment of the brothers about the reporting of Rex’s death? Where did audience sympathies lie at this stage?

7. The presentation of such violence, inherent in the American character, situations? Who were the victims? The visual and, cinematic presentation of the violence?

8. The humour of the restaurant sequence and the brothers acting like city swells? Their ignorance, the waiters despising them but waiting for the tips? The intercutting of Tony's wanting to dispose of the money? The build-up towards the confrontation?

9. The introduction to Margie at the park and the $50 for the cinema? The brothers deciding to find Tony's whereabouts through her? Her going home, dress, the encounter with the brothers and the pretence that they were police (after the humorous getting up the stairs by running and the lift)? The planting of the drugs? For outwitting them by phoning Tony? Leading them into the trap? Their taking her to the apartment and her calling out "Tony" and his shooting? Her change of attitude after the trap at the ferry? Her puzzle about the situation, advising them to withdraw? Her being left with the whistle outside the building to be demolished? her future?

10. The final siege and its length? The criminal in the bath and the threat by Russell with the razor? His giving in to nerves and being bashed by the demolishing block? Carlos and his betrayal, his being shot? Tony's strategies? The chase through the building and the incessant pounding? The death of Russell and his wanting vengeance? Tony and Calvin's fight, Tony's death and Calvin leaving with the money?

11. How well did the film draw the characters of the two brothers? Their hopes, ambitions, strengths and weaknesses? Audiences liking them, sympathies? Their values, their experience, violence? The inevitable destruction?

12. What had been achieved by the end of the film? A comment on America in the seventies?