ROAD HOUSE
US, 1989, 114 minutes, Colour.
Patrick Swayze, Kelly Lynch, Sam Elliot, Ben Gazzara.
Directed by Rowdy Herrington.
Road House is a big, colourful action drama designed as a star vehicle for Patrick Swayze, after his success in Dirty Dancing. His character is a bit hard to believe, but he does his best in the role. He is a Ph.D. who is a great success as a controlling bouncer, cleaning up road houses and nightclubs.
He comes up against the powerful boss of the town, played with his usual sinister smile, by Ben Gazzara. In fact, the film is really a western set in the late '80s. Swayze is the gunfighter brought in to clean up the town. The townspeople are impotent against the wealthy man. He has his henchmen. The development of the plot parallels so many westerns until the final shoot-out. In this sense, Road House is an interesting example of how genres can parallel each other. The film was directed by Rowdy Herrington (Jack's Back) - and the film lives up to the director's name.
1. Interesting and enjoyable action drama? Justice? A 20th century western?
2. Panavision photography, the road house, the town, the countryside? Action?
3. The importance of the stunts, the bar-room brawls, special effects for violence?
4. The musical score, the range of music, the songs? The playing of music in the road houses? Dancing?
5. The film following the western outline: the town in need of cleaning up, the road house as the saloon, the owner and his gang of henchmen, violence, romance, deaths, the townspeople banding against the powerful owner, the shoot-out?
6. Swayze as Dalton, his western name? A man of action, his reputation, seeing him at work, the owner of the Double Deuce as persuading him to come, his stylish way of talking, his philosophical training and reading? Arrival in the town, watching people in the Double Deuce, his sardonic raising of eyebrows? Taking over, going into action, the dismissal of the unsuitable staff? Their hostility? The fight, the stitches, going to see Doc? Infatuated by her, the dates, falling in love? His car and his concealing it, getting the room in the barn, practising his martial arts, his lifestyle? Watching Wesley, meeting him, discovering the truth about him? Phone call to Wade, their friendship? The clashes in the Double Deuce, getting rid of unwanted people? The place being tidied up and improved? The fights out back with Wesley's henchmen? Their wanting revenge? The explosion in Red's store? Wesley confronting people in the Double Deuce? The truth about Doc and Wesley? The hold-up of the liquor and getting help? The fight after the burning of the farmer's house? Killing his opponent? Doc's reaction? The build-up to the confrontation, in the car, his revenge for Wade's death, going into the house, destroying the henchmen, the confrontation with Wesley? Reconciliation with Doc?
7. Wesley, his home, the parties, his power, meeting with Dalton? At Red's store? Holding up the liquor? His henchmen and his brutal treatment of them? His girl - and her doing the strip in the bar? The fires, the explosions? The build-up to the confrontation? In his own home, his callous presumption? His death?
8. Doc, her help in the hospital, relationship with Wesley, dates with Dalton, talking and communicating, in love, the sexual relationship, the disgust at the fight and his killing his opponent, in the final confrontation?
9. Wade, friendship, age, reputation, help, coming to the road house, participating in the fights, his being killed?
10. Red, friendship, his shop, protection money, the shop being burnt? The car dealer and the ruining of his cars? The farmer, the helicopter frightening the horses, his house burnt down? The owner of the Double Deuces and Wesley trying to put him out of business? The meeting, their arrival and shooting Wesley, their denials to the police? (The police in Wesley's pocket?)
11. The owner of the Double Deuces, his getting Dalton to come, the rules, sacking unsuitable staff, Wesley and his standover, at the end?
12. The sacked staff and their bitterness, Wesley's nephew, the return? Those who stayed, the girl and her singing, wisecracks? the fat man and the other bouncers loyal to Dalton?
13. The sketch of Wesley's men, his tough treatment of them, their viciousness, the fights? Jimmy and the confrontation and his death?
14. The modern actioner set in the American West paralleling the character and plots of the western?
