RANCHO NOTORIOUS
US, 1952, 89 minutes, Colour.
Marlene Dietrich, Arthur Kennedy, Mel Ferrer, Jack Elam.
Directed by Fritz Lang.
Rancho Notorious is a well-made Western, rather harsh in its presentation of the West. The only really pleasant character is brutally murdered at the opening of the film. It is designed as a 'Ballad Western'; the song during the credits, 'The Ballad of Chuck a-luck', recurs throughout the film as a chorus to the action. Its theme is "murder, hatred and revenge". Directed by Fritz Lang, famous refugee-German director (his earliest films date from the 1920's), the film traces a cowhand's search for his fiancee's murderer. This search leads him to dance-hall singer, ageing Altar, played by German refugee actress, Marlene Dietrich - and the film is something of a showcase for Miss Dietrich.
The tone of the film is severe, characterised by the snarl frequently on Arthur Kennedy's lips as he doggedly tracks down the killer for revenge. Western law also comes up for consideration, and the question of who is responsible for applying justice to criminals in a frontier west. There is plenty of action in this western with a difference.
1. What is the effect of the ballad with its refrain of "murder.. hatred and revenge".. as it is repeated during the whole film and as it ends it? How is this film a cinema ballad?
2. The murdered girl appears only momentarily at the beginning of the film. How does the director impress her and her goodness on the audience so that her fiance's seeking revenge will make sense?
3. Why did the hero seek revenge by himself? Was he entitled to do this according to law? What legal justification of his action did he think he had?
4. Were your feelings strangely aroused in his favour at the time of the killing? Why? Were you on his side for the revenge? Why?
5. Was Marlene Dietrich's role as Altar a typical Western cliche and a typical piece of Dietrich acting - (e.g. 'Go out of my life and come back ten years earlier') - or was Altar a well-presented and well-drawn character in the film?
6. What was the purpose of the scene in the saloon where Altar is fired and then tries her, fortune at the 'Chuck-a-luck' wheel?
7. Why did Altar run 'Chuck-a-luck'?
8. Did you believe that the hero really loved Altar at any stage?
9. What did you think of the hero's tactics at 'Chuck-a-luck' as he tried to trace down the killer?
10. Do you think the hero acted legally and morally as he challenged the murderer. and during the gun battle?
11. Did you believe in Altar's turning over a new leaf after the hero had thrown her life in her face; or was it artificial? What about her death?
12. It is said that the film was badly constructed; it started out as a story of a murder. hatred and revenge and then began to be interrupted by lengthy flashbacks about Altar which digressed from the main line of the film. Do you agree?
