ROUGH NIGHT IN JERICHO

US, 1967, 97 minutes, Colour.
George Peppard, Dean Martin, Jean Simmons, John Mc Intire, Slim Pickens, Don Galloway, Brad Weston.
Directed by Arnold Laven.

Rough Night in Jericho is a strong western movie of the late '60s, a period when violence was becoming more explicit on the screen. George Peppard appeared in many such westerns at the period, as did Dean Martin. Jean Simmons is the surprising heroine. The supporting cast includes regulars like John Mc Intire and Slim Pickens.

It has the familiar ingredients: the western town, corrupt authority, the stranger-hero, stagecoaches, cattle ranches. The film was directed by Arnold Laven, producer and director of many action films.

1. Interesting and entertaining western? Familiar material? '60s style? Tough?

2. Wide screen photography, locations? Musical score? The stars?

3. The title and expectations? Jericho as the town, the inhabitants, their conflicts? The violence?

4. Dean Martin as Flood: the shooting of the marshal, his place in the town, his henchmen, cattle? Relationship with Molly? The conflict with Dolan? Justice, hangings? Henchmen? Fights? The final cattle roundup? The final confrontation? Flood as the self-made man, the ambitious villain?

5. George Peppard as Dolan: the quiet hero, travelling in the town, relationship with Flood, with Molly? With the marshal? The gambler? His involvement, the final confrontation? The hero?

6. Molly, her position in the town, past relationship with Flood, antagonism? Attraction towards Dolan? Looking after the marshal? Issues and confrontations? The drunk scene? The next morning? The final battle?

7. The marshal, the ambush, his being wounded, in the town, conflict with Flood? Friendship with Dolan? His death?

8. The various men in the town, their stances, loyalties? Flood and Dolan? Double-dealings? The cattle?

9. The background of justice in the western towns? Official law and order? Ambitions? Violence? The cattlemen? The gamblers? The American heritage?