HELLER IN PINK TIGHTS
US, 1960,100 minutes, Colour.
Sophia Loren, Anthony Quinn, Steve Forrest, Eileen Heckart, Margaret O'Brien.
Directed by George Cukor.
Heller in Pink Tights is a rather unusual title for a Western. This is quite an unusual Western about a theatre troupe moving around the West. The various adventure conventions and ingredients are present but the focus is on the troupe and on the personalities involved. George Cukor, a veteran director from the 30s to the 70s of a great number of excellent films and Oscar-winning performances, directs his one and only Western. The colour processes and set design are also meant to be striking - with echoes of theatricality. Sophia Loren was at the beginning of her popularity on the international screen. She was teamed with Anthony Quinn in The Black Orchid in 1959 and works well with him again here. The supporting cast includes such veterans as Eileen Heckart and has one of the rare adult performances by the excellent child-star Margaret O'Brien.
Heller in Pink Tights is a very interesting, off-beat Western.
1. How enjoyable and popular a film is this?
2. The characteristics of the film as a Western: the introduction and comparison with the outlaws, the focus on a heroine, the picture of life in the towns, the state borders and chases, the shootouts, the deals and the gambling, the gunfighters, the town-owners, the Indians? What Western conventions were used and how well?
3. The film as a film about theatre: actors, their making a living, their art, acting, costumes, stage, publicity, rehearsals, performances, the theatres of the West?
4. How well did the film blend the theatre themes with western themes? How did it create a unique atmosphere?
5. The use of colour and contrasts in style, the musical accompaniment?
6. The atmosphere of legend about Angela? Sophia Loren and her style, her blonde wig, as a heroine? Her teasing and flirting? Her dependence on Tom? Her capacity for acting? For making money and deals, gambling, exerting her charm? The escape, relationship with Mabry? The dangers of the Indians? Her getting the money and buying the theatre? A happy ending for her? Was she worth looking into as a Western character?
7. Tom Healey: Anthony Quinn's subdued performance? His managing of the theatre? His beliefs in acting, having to run away, relationship with Angela and the rest of the troop? The clash with Mabry, Angela? His being wounded? His happiness at the ending? How interesting a Western character?
8. How humorous were the characters of Lorna and Della? Their role in the troop, in the acting, the poses, the flirting, the exploiting of the workers etc? The human touches, the humorous touches? Were these too developed as characters?
9. Mabry as a gunfighter? Shooting, employed by the boss. being doublecrossed, gambling for Angela, protecting the party, being helped to escape and receiving his money back?
10. De Leon and his owning the town? Typical Western town owner? Doublecrossing?
11. Comment on the types of the West that inhabited this film: in the bars and theatres, sheriffs, creditors, gunmen, Indians?
12. How enjoyable were the theatre scenes, their staging, the impact of the West? The use of the horse in the play and its use at the end? The Indians rifling the theatre stock?
13. What made this film entertaining? As more than a Western?
