DRAW

US, 1981, 98 minutes, Colour.
Kirk Douglas, James Coburn, Alexandra Bastedo.
Directed by Steven Hilliard Stern.

Draw is a humorous western, a telemovie made for American cable television. It is an upmarket movie, a star vehicle for Kirk Douglas with support from James Coburn. It is one of those reminiscent movies, the good old days of the western legends and the aftermath. Kirk Douglas is a retired gunfighter. James Coburn is a retired, alcoholic sheriff. An anxious town pits one against the other. Alexandra Bastedo is in support as an English Shakespearian actress on tour in the West. The film pokes fun at the various legends, the gunfights and the shootouts at high noon. It is done with tongue in cheek style by director of many telemovies, Steven Hilliard Stern.

1. Entertaining western? The legends of the West? Gentle spoof? Tongue in cheek?

2. The western town, the familiar streets, saloons, hotels, sheriffs' offices? The Mexican sequences? The terrain of the old West? The musical score? The stars and their western traditions in movies?

3. The title, expectations, gunfighters and shootouts, high noon?

4. Harry, Kirk Douglas in his 70s, fit, the old legend? The novels written about him? His retirement, his young friend? Going into town, the playing cards, beating Reggie? Reggie and his mean minded response? Harry going to the bank, people suspicious, the sheriff - the shootout and the sheriff's death? Harry the victim of injustice, getting his money, going to the hotel? The arrival of the Shakespearian troupe? Bess and her being the hostage? His relationship with Bess, reminiscing, talking things over, the sexual encounter? The arrival of Sam, the confrontation, Sam's visit to the room, their talking things over, the need for a showdown? The officials and their reaction? Wanting justice done, wanting Harry out of the room, afraid for the town? Harry and the build-up to the shootout, high noon? Harry shot? The humorous ending with Harry and the makeup, Sam and their all getting out of town on the stagecoach? Kirk Douglas's vigorous portrayal of an ageing western legend?

5. The contrast with James Coburn as Sam? In Mexico, drinking? The deputy searching him out, trying to get him back to the United States? Dragging him through the desert, the bandits and their attack, his drinking? Tying him to the donkey? Bringing him back to town, propping him up at the window? The townspeople and the discussions, his wanting to uphold the law? Going to the hotel room, friendship, clash with Harry? The talking with the townspeople, the preparation for the gunfight? His winning? But getting out of town with Harry?

6. Bess and the Shakespearian troupe, the pretentiousness of the Shakespearian actor, his performances in the saloon? Bess, the encounter with Harry, her story, her rehearsals, his reading with her, performance? Relationship? Helping him to escape? The makeup?

7. Reggie and his place in the town, wealthy, acting like a spoilt brat, the confrontation with Harry, his fears? Wanting to shoot? The siege, the officials? His comeuppance?

8. The sheriff, the confrontation with Harry, his death? The deputy and his officiousness, his plan to get Sam, going to Mexico, bringing him back? The marshal, the other officials? Preparation for trial? The watching of the shootout? Their being tricked as Harry and Sam escaped?

9. The presentation of the western town, law and order, the old traditions, the gunfighters and their violence, the townspeople and their trying to become respectable, getting rid of the gunfighters, their aggression, the marshal and justice to be done, the courts? Watching the shootout - as do audiences of western movies?