LONE STAR

US, 1952, 90 minutes, Black and white.
Clark Gable, Ava Gardner, Lionel Barrymore, Broderick Crawford, Ed Begley, Beulah Bondi, Lowell Gilmore, Moroni Olsen, Russell Simpson, William Conrad.
Directed by Vincent Sherman.

Lone Star is a Texas story. It focuses on the question of Texas belonging to the United States or being an independent republic. There is a focus on Andrew Jackson (Lionel Barrymore) and his efforts to persuade the famous Sam Houston to endorse annexation.

While the film has a western setting, it is something of a political drama - however, there are scenes with the Apaches as well as a brawl outside the congress in Austin.

Clark Gable is strong in the central role. Ava Gardner is a newspaper publisher in Houston. The supporting cast includes Broderick Crawford as the man against annexation, Beulah Bondi and Ed Begley. Direction is by Vincent Sherman, better known as a director of dramas and romances at Warner Bros during the '40s.

1.Interesting piece of Americana? History of Texas? The West?

2.MGM production, black and white photography, the Texas settings? Score? Stars?

3.The title, the focus on Texas, its history, part of the United States?

4.The political background? The republic of Texas and its president, congress, senators? The move to annexation? The relationship with Mexico? Andrew Jackson and his presidency, his concerns?

5.Dev and his working for Jackson, travelling to Texas? False name? The encounter with Tom Craden? The Indians? With Martha? The loyalties and disloyalties in Austin? The clash with Tom Craden? Getting the senators out of his house? In love with Martha, clashes with her? The visit to Houston, the Indians, the pursuit by Craden? Going to the governor, the letter and its ink flowing? His seeming defeat? Martha supporting him in the paper? The clash with Craden? The siege outside the congress house? The personal fight with Craden? Victory, Houston's arrival? The riding south to Mexico? Western hero?

6.Tom Craden, his stances and ambitions, meeting Dev, deceived by him, hospitality and the dinner, holding the senators in his house? The pursuit of Dev, hearing Houston's words, confirming them to Martha? His clash with Dev, the fight, changing his heart and going to Mexico?

7.Martha, running the paper, her relationship with Craden? At the dinner? Hospitality, avoiding politics? The power of her paper? In love with Dev? Disgusted with him, the influence with the governor? Her printing the true story? With Minerva, the fight, the vindication?

8.Minerva, friendship with Dev, concern about him, with Martha, at the finale? Some humour?

9.Sam Houston, his reputation, treaties with the Indians, his roundabout diplomacy? Supporting annexation?

10.The senators and the congress of Texas? Their stances, political divisions? Military? Threats of war? Kept by Craden? The session in the congress with the siege outside?

11.The picture of the West? The history of Texas?