BUCHANAN RIDES ALONE
US, 1958, 78 minutes, Colour.
Randolph Scott, L.Q. Jones, Craig Stevens.
Directed by Budd Boetticher.
Buchanan Rides Alone is one of several westerns made by Randolph Scott and Budd Boetticher. Boetticher has a reputation for the tough genre action films that he made in the 50s e.g. Seminole, City Beneath the Sea, Ride Lonesome.
The ageing Randolph Scott is pleasant in the heroic role - though not too heroic (he might have been killed several times during the film). The film shows a power-hungry group of brothers in a town on the Texas border - and comments on corruption, greed, law and order. Within its brief running time there is plenty of action.
1. The popularity of the western? In the '50s? The brief western action, social issues, the American heritage?
2. Location photography, the Mexican-Texas? border, the western town? Action sequences? Musical score?
3. The focus on Buchanan, the stranger who rides into town, the mysterious past, his money, his ambitions to buy property in West Texas? The stranger in town, the reaction of the townspeople, crises and dangers?
4. Buchanan as a man of the West, ageing, experience in Mexico, gold, property in Texas? Suspicions on his arrival in the town? His nonchalant air, meeting the members of the family? The clash with Roy, Juan killing Roy and the townspeople blaming Buchanan for being in league with him? In prison, the lynching party, almost being hanged? Jail - and the change of fortune with the deal for the money? Letting Buchanan go free after the trial and his innocence? Lou and his wanting Buchanan killed - and the irony of Pecos killing the killer? Their being pursued? Buchanan's decision to return and get his money? The irony of Juan and himself ending up in prison again? The escape with the help of the Marshall? The shoot-out in the street? His going off to buy his property? An ageing heroic man of the West?
5. The brothers and their hold over the town - Amos as the busybody, overhearing things, cruel, having information, easily terrified? Simon and his bid for Senator? The Marshall and his aid? The clash with his brother about the lynching party? His deals, the Mexican coming with the money? The shoot-out - and the irony of Lou shooting him, his being able to shoot Lou before he died? Lou as the callous sheriff, his henchmen, ordering killings, greed, double-dealings, death?
6. Juan de la Vega, the clash with Roy, Roy's presumption as an Angry? Juan in jail, about to be killed, the deal, his Mexican associate? His going with Pecos, Lou's henchmen catching up, the death of Pecos? Back in jail? The final shoot-out - and the happy ending?
7. Pecos and the friendly Texan, his being asked to shoot Buchanan, his shooting the killer, his devout and prayerful burial service, revelations about himself, pleased to work with Buchanan, the irony of his death and final words?
8. The Marshal and his advice to Simon, holding the town together, doing the deals - and owning the town at the end?
9. The atmosphere of lynching parties, their violence, law and order and justice and the abuses of justice?
10. Western themes - western heritage, the outpost towns, the need for law and order, the stranger, the gunfighter, the violent heroics of the west?
