THE RAID
US, 1954, 83 minutes, Colour.
Van Heflin, Anne Bancroft, Richard Boone, Lee Marvin, Tommy Rettig.
Directed by Hugo Fregonese.
The Raid is a small budget western made in the mid-50s. It has stood the test of time quite well and is still impressive in its small way today. It is a different slant on the Civil War and shows a town near the Canadian border and the infiltration by spies from the south. The film focuses on a small family, a widow and child and the leader of the southern spies. This leads to a war confrontation and emotional conflict, all particularly well handled. Van Heflin is his usual strong self in this film. It is interesting to see Anne Bancroft in one of her earliest roles. Child star Tommy Rettig, who was most popular at the time, completes the main stars. The Raid is an
enjoyable small western and has values for the whole family.
1. What impact did this film have? How enjoyable, how interesting? As a war film, as a western? What did the film do to audience sympathies?
2. As a war film: the realities of war, revenge and retaliation, undefended towns and innocent people, relieving the pressures of armies etc.? Where were audience sympathies drawn? Questions of loyalty, right and wrong?
3. Comment on how the plans were communicated to the audience? The issues of destruction and retaliation? Audience judgment on these issues?
4. How well-conceived was the plan? The details of its execution? The risks for people, the soldiers involved, the emotional repercussions, personal involvement, suspense?
5. The film's focus on Benton: what kind of man, character, leader, the leadership in prison, leaving the dying soldier, the details of his plan, ingratiating himself in the town, earning respect, love, business skill, shooting his own man, the reality of his being a double-agent - especially when discovered by Larry? Audience sympathies and reaction via Kathy and Larry?
6. The complex sequence in the church: the atmosphere of the service, the irony of the sermon, the people present. Benton's worrying about Keating, Keating's praying, his reaction to the sermon, the shooting. the congratulations of the townspeople? How did this sequence focus the issues of the film?
7. The impact of the raid itself and its violence? The tactics and their justification? The amount of destruction?
8. The contribution to the plot and its complexities of Keating and his aggressiveness, his going mad and his death? The subordinate soldiers? Captain Foster and his role at the house, the truth about his cowardice, his heroism in the shooting, his death? The townspeople and their support of Benton?
9. What is the value of presenting such a complex film for popular audiences? The American heritage and the Civil War?
