RIDE, VAQUERO
US, 1953, 90 minutes, Colour.
Robert Taylor, Ava Gardner, Howard Keel, Anthony Quinn, Charlita.
Directed by John Farrow.
Ride, Vaquero is an interesting, if somewhat dated, western from M.G.M. of the early '50s. It teamed Robert Taylor and Ava Gardner (also appearing in such films as The Bribe, Knights of the Round Table) and gives Howard Keel one of several serious roles. He handles it well. Anthony Quinn, in early days as a star (though late in his character acting days) is a vigorous Mexican bandit. Kurt Kasznar has some religious lines - a bit overly done and Jack Elam. shows that he did this kind of western role for many decades. Music is by Bronislau Kaper, direction by John Farrow - who directed so many action adventures in the Paramount Studios in the '40s, so often with Alan Ladd. He was to move to some Cinemascope spectacles as The Sea Chase, Blood Alley and John Paul Jones.
1. An entertaining and interesting western? In the western tradition? Gunfighters, Mexicans, landowners? Clashes? Heroes? Law and lawlessness?
2. Colour photography, locations? Special effects? Battles? The musical score and its atmosphere?
3. The familiarity of the conventions - and audience acceptance? The background of the Mexicans and the Civil War, the bandits and their control of the towns, the sheriff and law and order? The ranchers and their property being destroyed? The gunfighter for sale? Bonds between Mexicans and Americans? Loyalties? Romance? The confrontation? Better than average, average?
4. The build-up of the atmosphere and plot for plausibility? The American heritage of the West?
5. The focus on Rio? Robert Taylor's screen presence - in the '50s? The background of his upbringing? Being brother to Jose Esqueda? The United States territory, the Civil War? The ranchers and the dispossessed local populations? Bandits? Rio as mysterious? His clash with King Cameron? The encounters with Cordelia? Cordelia's approaching him and his leaving? His deal with Cameron? Fighting against Esqueda? The final confrontation between Rio and Esqueda - and both dying? The irony of the gunfighter hero of the West?
6. Jose Esqueda and Anthony Quinn's style? The reason for his being a bandit, control? Clash with the ranchers? Behaviour in the village? Boisterous? Falling out with Rio? The growing up together, blood brothers? The sense of betrayal? His confidence in Rio - and their final confrontation?
7. The Camerons - the ranchers from the East, their house being burnt? Their dispossessing the local population? Determination to build again? Cameron and his strength, calling meetings, persuading the locals - and those who were afraid? Cordelia and her love for her husband, her eye for Rio, approaching him? Cameron's fight, his being shot? The final resolution?
8. Father Antonio - the role of the friars in the West, supporting the villagers, the link with Esqueda and the bandits? A device for the townspeople? The meeting? The pious words and preaching given to him?
9. The detailing of the people in the town, the sheriff and his weakness, the singers in the bar, the young settlers, the associates of Esqueda? Conventional types? issues of the opening up of the land, land rights? Possession and dispossession? The expansion of United States territory? The American heritage? - and the Cavalry coming in to save at the end?
