TYCOON

US, 1947, 129 minutes, Colour.
John Wayne, Cedric Hardwicke, Laraine Day, James Gleason, Judith Anderson, Anthony Quinn, Grant Withers.
Directed by Richard Wallace.

Tycoon is a John Wayne starring vehicle. Set in South America, it show engineers blasting a tunnel through the Andes for a railroad. It has a contemporary '40s setting, post-war when the film was made.

The film was in colour, has studio sets as well as Californian locations standing in for the Andes. The situations and characters are as expected - and the film is very long.

Wayne is his usual self, blend of hero and hero suffering decline before redemption. Laraine Day is heroine, Cedric Hardwicke stern as her father, Judith Anderson rather more mellow as the companion. There is a good supporting cast led by Paul Fix and Anthony Quinn.

Colourful, but rather tedious and drawn out at times to watch.

1.John Wayne action adventure? Wayne as a star? Tough situations, characters, decisions?

2.Colour photography, use of studio sets, locations? Musical score? Echoes of Latin America?

3.The title, the focus on Frederick Alexander? His influence on Johnny Munro? The behaviour of tycoons? Money, investment, corner-cutting, decisions?

4.South America, engineering progress, railroads, tunnels, bridges? The mountains and the rivers? Weather? The towns and the cities? Americans in South America? The locals, their lifestyles, work, festivities? Authentic colour?

5.John Wayne as Johnny Munro, his work, engineering skill, loyalty of the men? The clashes with Alexander? With Ricky? The attraction towards Maura, following her into the church, the conversation, at home, her father's reaction? Getting lost with her? Alexander forcing them to marry? Love, the clashes at the tunnel site? His impatience, concern? The men, the collapses, injuries and hospitals? Growing cynicism towards Alexander? The final collapse of the tunnel? Maura's leaving him? His drinking? Plan for the bridge, cutting corners, the reactions of the men, Pop and his telling him the truth? Punches? The crisis with the water, reinforcing the bridge, saving the bridge? Driving the train? Munro coming to his senses? Reconciliations?

6.Frederick Alexander as the severe tycoon, his presence in South America, his dead wife, his daughter? His severity with her? Rules, his house? Criticisms of Johnny as an engineer, as courting his daughter? His forcing them to marry, hoping they would separate? His relationship with his secretary? The clash about the tunnel, the meetings, costs? The decision about the bridge, admiring Johnny? The crisis with the water, withstanding the storm? Success? Reconciliation with his daughter?

7.Maura, the narrow upbringing with her father, the companion? Church, discussions with Johnny, lost, in love? The marriage? On the site and her trying her best, finding it difficult, relating with the men? The tragedies? The young boy, Pop? Her leaving, the social evening? Supporting Johnny at the end, reconciliation?

8.Ricky, place in the family, engineering, deals, extravagant? His introducing Johnny and Maura yet his criticism? His involvement in the work? The crisis with the water?

9.Pop and the other men? As characters, Americans in South America, work, skills? Loyal to Johnny? Turning against him, clashes, fights? Injuries? Deaths? The young boy and his support?

10.Memories of those days of engineering and building? Tunnels and bridges? The pioneers of the past? And the conventional stories that dramatised those days?