CATLOW

US, 1971, 108 minutes, Colour.
Yul Brynner, Richard Crenna, Leonard Nimoy, Jo Ann Pflug, Dahlia Lavi, Jeff Corey, David Ladd.
Directed by Sam Wanamaker.

Catlow is a typical western of the early 1970s. It has a great deal of violence – although it also combines a sense of humour.

The film is a star vehicle for Leonard Nimoy – who had made such an impact as Mr Spock in the Star Trek series and was to continue to do so over many decades. Nimoy also became a film director with such films as Three Men and a Little Lady.

1. How enjoyable a western was this? a typical western? In what way? Characters, situations, conventions, cliches?

2. Was the film too violent or did it integrate its violence? How humorous was the film? Did it take itself seriously enough? The peculiar blend of violence, humour, western traditions?

3. Were the characters and their situations real? Were they too conventional? Types of heroes, villains, heroines? Cowboys and individuals, the Mexicans?

4. How well did the film use the chase convention? Jed as continually being chased? Ben as a pursuer? Miller as a pursuer? the Indians pursuing, the Mexicans pursuing? How interesting are chase films? how did the screenplay use variations of, the chase genre?

5. The opening with cowboys and Indians? Were the Indians well integrated into the film? Was there anything about the Indian situation and the relation to the cowboys? The danger of Indians , Bent, being wounded?

6. What made Jed Catlow tick? His role in the war, his confrontation of villains, his success with guns, his outwitting others? His relationship with Bent, his love for Rovita? being tricked, his continued sense of humour?

7. What made Bent tick? His sense of justice, the law, right and wrong, his gratitude to Catlow for help? His pursuit of Catlow? How sympathetic a person was he? Was he a well-rounded figure in the film?

8. How successful a villain was Miller? His sneers and snarls? Was this overdone? Why do such villains as exist in the West ? Did he suffer too much violence? In his death?

9. How conventional a character was Rosita? Were you surprised at her robbery?

10. Was Christine an interesting character? Just for the romance?

11. Which incidents made the most impression? Why? The use of western locations and conventions?

12. What were the implications of this westem for the situations of the West? For audiences’ appreciation of westerns?