TALL IN THE SADDLE

US, 1944, 87 minutes, Black and white.
John Wayne, Ella Raines, Ward Bond, George `Gabby' Hayes, Audrey Long, Elizabeth Risdon, Don Douglas, Paul Fix, Russell Wade.
Directed by Edwin L. Marin.

Tall in the Saddle is an enjoyable John Wayne western, typical enough of the films of the early '40s. He is matched by a rather vigorous Ella Raines as the heroine. George `Gabby' Hayes leads the supporting cast.

While the movie is one of the west, life in a western town, power-broking amongst the ranchers, it is also a murder mystery.

1.Enjoyable western? Murder mystery? John Wayne western?

2.Black and white photography, the old west? Special effects and stunts? Musical score?

3.The title, the western hero? Rockland as the western hero?

4.The popular western ingredients: the western town, the stagecoach, the coming to town, hero, vigorous heroine, attractive potential heroine, suspicious criminals, shootouts, gunfighters, double-dealings, the final revelation of the villains? Happy ending?

5.John Wayne as Rockland: the mysterious stranger, tough, on the stagecoach, with Dave, antagonism towards women? Arrival in the town? Gunfighters and shootouts? His more peaceful approach? The clash with Harley? The meeting will Haralday and his getting the job? The set-up? The attempted shooting, the clash with Clint? The antagonism towards Judge Garvey? Clara and the attraction, her aunt and her primness, complaints, conspiracy? The confrontation, the help from Dave? The fight with Judge Garvey? The truth about Haralday? The truth about his ownership of the ranch? The ending with Harley?

6.Harley, her stepfather, her looking after her brother Clint, the challenge to Rockland and shooting at him? Her angers, vigour? Falling in love? Meetings with Clara? The happy ending?

7.Clara, the city girl, attraction towards Rockland? Miss Martin as her chaperone? Complaints? Her being in league with Judge Garvey, the letters and the copies? The exposure of the truth? Her return to the city? Miss Martin and her defeat?

8.Judge Garvey, his position in town, playing cards? Clint? In league with Haralday? The cover-ups, the fight? The truth?

9.Dave and his gruffness, the coach, with Miss Martin? Attacked? His cranky manner?

10.Haralday, smooth style, the villain?

11.Clint, playing cards, angers and cheating, backing down? Harley and her dominance? His being killed?

12.Popular ingredients of the western? John Wayne making his mark on movies?