TEXAS LADY

US, 1955, 85 minutes, Colour.
Claudette Colbert, Barry Sullivan, Grey Walcott, James Bell, Horace Mc Mahon, Ray Collins, Walter Sande, Douglas Fowley.
Directed by Tim Whelan.

Texas Lady is a pleasant, "old fashioned" western comedy drama. It was one of Claudette Colbert's last films and she is paired pleasingly with Barry Sullivan. The film is one of many R.K.O. minor westerns of the time,

1. An enjoyable low-key western?

2. Superscope, colour photography. the atmosphere of New Orleans and Texas? Colour photography and locations? Musical score and the title song?

3. Expectations of the western: the gambling background of New Orleans and the pioneering in Texas? The newspaper? The domination of the town by ranchers? Money deals? Hired gunmen? The life of the town and the eruption of violence? Elections? The blockade of the town? The Texas Rangers and the happy ending? Audience enjoyment and acceptance of these conventions?

4. The basic ingredients of the plot: gambling, romance, enterprise, the threat of violence? The American heritage?

5. Claudette Colbert's style as Prudence? The intensity of the opening poker game? The move to Texas? Her setting up the paper? The clashes with Chris? Jess Foley and his tough stances? The encounters with Ralston and Sturdy? Their wanting to get the paper? Foley's death? Chris Mooney and her initial antagonism because of her father? Having defeated him in New Orleans, unwilling to join with him in Texas? The reuniting with Chris? His helping her? The conquering American heroine?

6. Chris as the gambler, success on the riverboats, the defeat by Prudence? His arrival in Texas, the clashes with Ralston and Sturdy, shooting the gun from Foley etc.? The persuading of the townspeople to react? The ranchers' men surrounding the town? The end of the siege? The election? Chris working with Prudence?

7. The sketch of the villains: Ralston and Sturdy as the arrogant ranchers, their pressure on the paper, on Prudence? Foley as the hired gunman? The irony of his death by the widow?

8. The sketch of the town? The contrast with the easy way of New Orleans? The pioneering of the Texas forts? The use of newspapers, moral persuasion, elections, violence? Authority and the Texas Rangers?

9. A satisfying blend of action and romance? American know-how and success - for the middle-aged and older audiences?