THE MAN FROM COLORADO

US, 1949, 99 minutes, Colour.
Glenn Ford, William Holden, Ellen Drew, Ray Collins, Edgar Buchanan, Jerome Courtland.
Directed by Henry Levin.

The Man From Colorado is an above average western. It is a good vehicle for Glenn Ford, giving an intense performance as a lawyer-become-military officer during the Civil War and being affected by it brutality. He is well supported by Wilier Holden (they had appeared together in Texas in
1940). There is a good supporting cast led by Edgar Buchanan and Ellen Drew.

The film focuses on the Colorado gold town after the Civil War, the men returning and seeking their gold claims, the exploiters in the town. It also focuses on law and justice and the man of law obsessed with it. Better than might be expected.

1. A western of the '40s? Style? Issues?

2. The contribution of the stars?

3. Colorado scenery, the Civil War, the western town? Action sequences? The finale? Musical score?

4. The Civil War, its effect on the men, before and after? Careers, the effect of the army, brutality? Affecting people's emotions and minds? The men with their property, gold claims, the return and the businessmen holding it over them? The rebellion of the veterans? Violence, robberies? Law and the administration of justice?

5. The initial encounter in the war. the white flag. Owen Devereaux and his decision to fire, the massacre of the enemy? The repercussions and the attack of the Rebel commander?

6. Glenn Ford's portrait of Owen Devereaux: a lawyer, his work in the town before the Civil War, love for Caroline? In war, obsessed, the decision to ignore the white flag? Return. his appointment as judge? The Rebel confronting him? His diary and his sanity? The law, taking the side of Carter and the businessmen against the veterans? His friendship with Del, wanting him to be Marshall? The marriage? The pursuing of the veterans, the hanging of Johnny, the further hangings? His being taunted in the desert but let go? Confronted by Del? Del's leaving? Caroline seeing the truth, taking the diary? His being goaded. taking Del? His decision to burn the
town? The clash with Jericho and his death?

7. The contrast with Del, his deputy, love for Caroline, protests during the war, his becoming Marshall, his friendship, ? with the men, the appeal to Johnny and to Jericho. his confrontation with Owen, his being taken to jail, the doctor letting him out, the final confrontation?

8. Caroline and her friendship with the two men. needing time for choices, decision to marry Owen? His attacks on her? her reading his diary? Helping Del escape?

9. Doc, his place in the town. relationship to Owen, his wisdom in helping with the jailbreak?

10. Carter, appointments of judges, wealth, hiring the veterans who own the claims? Decision that Owen had gone too far?

11. Jericho and the veterans, in the war, their work, claims, the forming of gangs, the robberies and the killings? Johnny and his imprisonment and hanging, Jericho and his final fight with Owen, saving Del?

12. A piece of Americana, the history of Colorado, the gold claims, the effect of the war, the establishment of law and order?

11. Jericho and the veterans, in the war, their work, claims, the forming of gangs, the robberies and the killings? Johnny and his imprisonment and hanging, Jericho and his final fight with Owen, saving Del?

12. A piece of Americana, the history of Colorado, the gold claims, the effect of the war, the establishment of law and order?