SADDLE THE WIND
US, 1958, 84 minutes, Colour.
Robert Taylor, John Cassavetes, Julie London, Donald Crisp, Charles McGraw?, Royal Dano.
Directed by Robert Parrish.
Saddle the Wind is an excellent Western, directed by Robert Parrish. He was to go on to make Wonderful Country with the same leading lady, Julie London. Parrish, a writer-actor, has not made so many films. The strength of this film comes from Rod Serling's screenplay. Serling was a master of cinema and television writing with such scripts as Requiem for a Heavyweight, The Planet of the Apes and many socially conscious scripts. Robert Taylor in his middle-age, developed into a stronger character actor than the romantic hero of the past. He brings a grim seriousness to the central role and Julie London brings a dignified sense of self assertion. However John Cassavetes, early in his career, is very striking as the younger brother. Themes of the open range, settlers after the civil war, brothers' rivalry and the those of the American gunfighter are all very strongly to the fore in an intelligent Western.
1. An effective Western? Colour, Cinemascope, the use of the title and the lyrics of the song?
2. Conventions of the western about the range and the clash between the cattle and the sheepmen and the settlers? The background of the pioneers, the farmers, the land-owners?
3. The American West and the atmosphere of conflicts of interest, conflicts of prosperity, consequent violence? Audience familiarity with these themes and the way they were presented in this film? What insight?
4. The quality of the film's presentation of the town and its way of life, the range itself and the cattle grazing, the fencing? The gun-fighters? The importance of the introduction of the gun-fighter and the focus on Chris and Tony?
5. The structure of the film with the two brothers? The initial joy as they returned from the ride, the admiration of the younger brother, the older brother's protection? The bonds between the two and the younger brother being brought up by the older? The souring of the relationship. the influence of the environment and its atmosphere, of violence and guns, leading to death?
6. Chris as played by Robert Taylor, his style? The revelation about his past as a gunfighter, his building on the past and becoming an owner, his responsibility to Deneen? A sombre character, his relationship with his workmen? The impact of the girl and his right to disagree with her? The repercussions of her presence? His reaction to the squatters and his just attitude towards them? His reaction to death: the gun-fighter killed by Tony, the harassing of the settlers, the death of the settler? The build-up to the confrontation between himself and Tony? The importance of his decision and his sense of gratitude and responsibility towards Deneen? His leaving, his final staying? The romantic background to this?
7. Tony presented as the younger brash cattleman, bringing the girl from the saloon without knowing much about her, his courteous style, his background as a child. the modelling on his brother, the challenge and violence, drinking and showing off, shooting the gunfighter with minimum provocation.. taunting the squatters with his friend and burning their possessions? How was the change manifest in him? The rights and wrongs of his stances? Deneen's attitude.. the girls, Chris's? His wanting to take-over and his trying to get the men on side? Was he doomed to failure?
8. The character of the girl? The type, background, her taking the opportunity with Tony, her behaviour in the homestead, reaction to Chris, her standing up for her rights? The possibility of building a future? Her realisation of Tony's attitudes after the killing of the gunfighter? How did she become a focus for the two men and their choices? The peaceful riding the range with Chris? Tony's uncertainties?
9. The portrait of Deneen as a man of principle on the range? A cattleman, keen on fencing? Hoping to amass his fortune and build his empire by just means? His protection of the settlers? The irony of his being shot by Tony? His magnanimity at the end?
10. The portrait of the people in the town, Tony's friends, the workmen?
11. The importance of the squatters and their rights? The background of the Civil War, legal possession, settling, the clash with cattle movements? The build-up to the confrontation and the desperate burning by Tony? The confrontation in the town under the protection of Deneen? The squatter's death?
12. How important was the background of the Civil War and the way that it was used in conversation, in challenge, a symbol of hostility?
13. The atmosphere of gun-fights and death? The confrontation between Tony and Chris in the mountains? Audience expectation of Tony's killing himself and reaction to it? His motivation?
14. The building of the future with Chris? The picture of the West, the picture of the American heritage? The significance of the title?
