LAW AND ORDER

US, 1953, 80 minutes, Colour.
Ronald Reagan, Dorothy Malone, Preston Foster, Alex Nicol, Russell Johnson.
Directed by Nathan Juran.

Law and Order is a routine western from Universal Studios of the early '50s. It is straightforward in its plot and characterisation - and quite enjoyable in its way. It was a star vehicle for Ronald Reagan as he moved from stardom to appearing in B-movies, westerns and adventures in the '50s, prior to his political career. It is interesting to look at the movie and listen to the dialogue in the retrospect of his career.

1.Entertaining western? The frontier? American heritage? Violence, law and order?

2.Colour photography, the western settings? The town? Musical score?

3.The title, the focus, the western towns, the criminals, the marshals? Violence and dangers?

4.The focus on Frame Johnson as marshal? Getting the Durango Kid, the fistfight, bringing him to town, stopping the lynching parties? His relationship with his brothers? The relationship Jenny and his retirement? Moving from the town, meeting the Durlings? The past, clashes? Lute becoming marshal, his death? The judge and Frame taking the job? The confrontations, shoot-outs? His moving on to the house? With Jenny? A western figure? Ronald Reagan's style?

5.Jenny, the saloon, relationship with Frame, love, hoping he would move from law and order? Coming to the town, support, happy ending?

6.Lute and Jim, their relationship with their brother, moving, law and order, Jim in the jail, the shoot-out, the arranged escape, Frame pursuing him and bringing him back? Lute's death?

7.The Durlings, owning the town, gambling, confrontations? Frank, his bitterness? His sister? Love for Jim, Jim shooting Frank?

8.Denver, the funerals, support of Frame? Going back to his job? The judge and the people in the town, trying to administer law and order?

9.Impact of this kind of western in its time? Now? Picturing of the American heritage?