THE CASTAWAY COWBOY
US, 1974, 91 minutes, Colour.
James Garner, Vera Miles, Robert Culp, Eric Shea, Gregory Sierra.
Directed by Vincent Mc Eveety.
The Castaway Cowboy is the second film that James Garner made for the Disney studios in the early 1970s. The other one was One Little Indian. This film is about cattle ranching in Hawaii in the 19th century. The film was made on the island of Kaui(*?) which provides the setting for the plot.
James Garner portrays a cowboy adrift in Hawaii. Vera Miles plays a rancher who is looking after her son. The cattle run loose, the cowboy suggests that they ranch and organise themselves for the cattle industry. A jealous banker is the villain – played by Robert Culp.
The film is amusing – and has a clash between the ways of the cowboy from the mainland with the way of the farmers and the workers in Hawaii.
The film was directed by Disney regular, Vincent Mc Eveety.
1. Was this a good Disney adventure? The characteristics of Disney adventures? The qualities of this film? Comedy, excitement?
2. How enjoyable was the film: characters, the incidents, the humour, the excitement, the cowboy atmosphere?
3. Comment on the use of Hawaii as a setting. The 19th century background? These people and their relaxed attitudes, the difference of the setting, the 19th century? What did this add to the film?
4. How strong was the cowboy atmosphere of the film? The use of the western conventions, their being transferred and transformed in Hawaii?
5. How attractive a hero was Costain? James Garner's style, his heroism the laconic way of acting and talking, the Texas cowboy, his skill with the cattle, his father figure role for Booden, his love for Mrs Mc Evoy, his deciding to stay? Did audiences expect him to act like this? Were they satisfied when he did?
6. How attractive a character was Mrs Mc Evoy? As a mother, widow, her work on the farm, the threat of the cattle, her engaging Costain, her relationship with Bryson, her being victimised by him, her love for Booden, her relationship with Costain and the happy ending?
7. Booden: could children in the audience identify easily with him, his life in Hawaii, his finding Costain, his needing a father-figure, his rejection of Bryson, his learning to be a cowboy, his work with the cattle, the happy ending?
8, How much of a villain was Bryson? His assistant? Did audiences expect this? The nature of his double dealing? The villainy with the cattle? The importance of the final fight?
9. The importance of the cattle, as a menace, to be rounded-up? The Hawaiians and the humour of their learning, thrills as well as the spills?
10. How satisfying was the rounding up of the cattle? The impact of the stampede, the pulling down of the houses etc.?
11. Was the happy ending the best ending for the film? What values did the film presuppose and in its audience? What attitudes do Disney adventure films leave? As regards right and wrong, heroism? How successful an adventure was this?
