THE COWBOY AND THE LADY
US, 1938, 91 Minutes, Black and White.
Gary Cooper, Merle Oberon, Patsy Kelly, Walter Brennan, Harry Davenport.
Directed by H.C. Potter.
The Cowboy and the Lady was a title popular in the 30s as is illustrated in Garson Kanin's Hollywood and his story of the origins of this film. It is a Samuel Goldwyn production and very entertaining in a nice 30s American fairy-tale kind of way. The casting of ladylike Merle Oberon with nice laconic cowboy Gary Cooper does very well and gives strength to the film. Walter Brennan performs his perennial cowboy role and Harry Davenport
1. Significance and tone of the title, appeal? A piece of Americana? A reflection of the American interests and film presentation of the 30s?
2. The conventions of the 30s romantic comedy? The stars and the contrast of their styles? American locations, black and white photography? Musical score, songs? The ingredients of popular entertainment?
3. The background of the romantic comedies of the 30s - the Depression and its influence (or lack of influence)? Political themes add background? The presentation of class distinctions in the United States? The snobbery of wealthy society? The presentation of the integrity of the working class? How well did this reflect attitudes in the United States at the time? How does it seem in retrospect?
4. Mary Smith as the lady? The impact of her being in the raid on the gambling den? The transition to her place in the family, her father's preoccupation with his presidential nomination, the pressures on her to be with her father? Her disgrace, being sent to Palm Beach? Her idleness at Palm Beach, her desire to go out, the transition from lady to lady's maid and her enjoyment of flirting? Setting the scene for the marriage which was to follow?
5. The contrast with the world of the cowboy's, the rodeos, manners, interests, style? A night out with the girls, blind dates, eating, singing and dancing? Going back to the hotel and discovering all the modern gadgets? Setting for the contrast between the world of the cowboy and that of the lady?
6. Merle Oberon's ladylike style as the lady? Her personality, enjoyment of the outing, her using of her friends' techniques for romance? Her liking for Stretch, sitting next to him, going back to the hotel, changing the dress? Her story and its plausibility? Her becoming involved with him? His return and her trying to fob him off, hurting him? Her change of heart and going to the wharf and on to the ship?
7. Gary Cooper's style as Stretch? The typical laconic Cooper hero, the nice cowboy? His skill at the rodeo and the way this was illustrated, his dreams of his range and house and family? His attraction towards Mary after not wanting to go out? The sequences at the hotel? His decision about proposing to her, the proposal and his being hurt at the refusal?
8. The romantic comedy with the outing of the cowboys and the maids? The cafe, the chilli, the dancing? The tangles in the hiding of the truth? Mary's story? The transition to the boat, the decision about the marriage after wandering the decks? (The unromantic marriage and their reaffirmation of it on the deck?)
9. The telegram after Mary's trying to be a cowboy's wife? How well did she fare with all the cleaning up and the accidents in the tent, to her dress etc.? Her ability to cope? Her facing her father, her uncle's support of her? The compromise in her remaining for the dinner?
10. Stretch and his anticipation of Mary's arrival, his landlady and her attitudes towards him, his teasing her? The planning of the house, his friends looking on and inviting them to imagine the meal? His disappointment at the telegram?
11. The elaborate setting of the dinner, the build-up to getting the backing for the presidential nomination? The clash of Mary's father with Uncle Benjamin - and his being responsible for the gambling outing at the beginning, his dancing, freer attitude, the truth that he told to his brother? Stretch's arrival at the dinner and the snobbish reception and making fool of him? His long speech criticising their pretensions?
12. The happy resolution with Mr. Smith giving up the nomination, Mary being back at the ranch, Stretch's return? The support of his friends?
13. The minor characterizations and their importance for this kind of romantic comedy? The judge, Uncle Benjamin? Stretch's cowboy friends? His landlady? The maids at the hotel at Palm Beach?
14. The conventional values represented in this film and the way they were illustrated? Their perennial popularity with audiences?
