THE MAN WHO LOVED CAT DANCING

US, 1973, 121 minutes, Colour.
Burt Reynolds, Sarah Miles, Lee J. Cobb, Jack Warden, George Hamilton.
Directed by Richard C. Sarafian.

The title refers not to a kind of light-footed four step dance but the hero's Indian wife, Cat Dancing, The title is not only misleading in referring to the Indian wife, but probably also in referring to the man. It would seem that the central character is Cathy, who suddenly comes into the life of a troop of train robbers. Forced to accompany them, she changes their lives, even to the point of death for all of them, as well as having her own life changed. The film is, thus, a western with a difference - although the film contains many of the western conventions - robbery, chases, fights, shooting, Indians.

The screenplay is by Eleanor Perry, who has shown a flair for creating women characters for the screen (especially - David and Lisa; Last Summer; Diary of a Mad Housewife). Her women have been harassed women, under moral strain. The heroine of this film is no exception. Having led an empty, brittle, loveless kind of life, she is forced to defend herself, survive and depend on a man. She realises her capacity for love. Richard C. Sarafian is an interesting director (although his films are often more interesting in retrospect). He was a T.V. director and made such movies as the family film - Run Wild, Run Free; and the thriller - Fragment of Fear. Since 1970 his films have become more challenging. His film of the middle-aged easy car-rider - Vanishing Point - has become something of a cult film. After this he made the Richard Harris story of survival - Man in the Wilderness; then he directed a story of pointless feuds - The Lolly Madonna War. The present film echoes his last two works. The themes of the film are presented within the framework of the traditional western.

1. Was this a good western with the usual western conventions?

2. It is suggested that this is a western from a woman's point of view. It is written by a woman and the main character is a woman. Do you agree with its interpretation? Why?

3. Catherine's presence gives the framework to the film. What was the impact of her presence at the robbery? How incongruous was her arrival? How did it change her attitude - the suffering she underwent, the pursuit, greed and lust of the men? The fact that she was kept prisoner? Did her presence change their lives?

4. How well was the robbery filmed? Did the shooting and deaths alter the tone of the film?

5. What kind of a person was Catherine? Why did she marry Docker? Why had she run away and of what was she afraid?

6. Give your impressions of - Jay Grobart, Dawes, Billy, Crocker, Lapchance.

7. How was the interlude at Rally's farm a relief for the film? The loyalty of the Kellys towards Grobart? The encounter between Mrs Kelly and Catherine - their sympathy and understanding?

8. The impact of the brutality of the fight between Dawes and Billy?

9. What did the Indian sequence add to the film?

10. What was the emotional response to Dawes stealing the money and leaving Catherine? Did his death alter the nature of the chase and the pursuit? How did this lead into the final phase of the film?

11. Why did Grobart return for Catherine?

12. Did the companionship and the help develop into love? Why did Grobart love Catherine? (Especially in terms of his previous marriage to Cat Dancing?). How hesitant was Catherine in falling in love? How did the home, the remoteness, the mutual help make her realise the meaning of love?

13. The importance of the sequence with the Indians and Grobart - trying to get his son back? Did this redeem the reason for the train robbery - because he needed the money?

14. How important was Cat Dancing for the film, apart from giving it the title? The parallel between Cat and Cat Dancing? The contrast between the two?

15. What alternatives did Catherine have?

16. Here you surprised that Catherine shot her husband? Was it the result of her emotional involvement?

17. What themes did the film pursue in its presentation of justice in the west?

18. How did the film explore values? Was this a good film?

19. Details of characters:
a) Jay Grobart: What were your first impressions of him? As a villain? As a possible hero? The fact that he was robbing the train? His antipathy towards the villains? Towards violence? His protection of Catherine? How did he change during the film? Did you understand why he was robbing the train? Did this excuse him at all? (especially with his past war hero's record?)
b) Dawes: How utterly a villain was Dawes? Why was he so brutal? In the murder? In his greed? In his lust for Catherine? In his disregard for all human values? How evil was he?
c) Billy: How mindless? How average a villain? Was he all bad? Why did he pursue Catherine and attempt to rape her? Did he deserve the beating from Dawes? How did he redeem himself finally?
d) Crocker: Was he in any way sympathetic or attractive? How proud and vengeful? Did you at all hope that he would recover his wife? Why?
e) Lapchance: How well did he understand Grobart? Why was he pursuing them? What was his attitude towards Crocker? Towards Grobart? How well did we understand Grobart through Lapchance's point of view?

20. The interlude at the Kelly's farm: How was this a relief for the film? The loyalty of the Kellys towards Grobart? Our sympathy towards Grobart because of this? The others seemed more villainous because of this? The encounter between Mrs. Kelly and Catherine; their sympathy and understanding?

21. The impact of the brutality of the fight between Dawes and Billy? How ugly was this? Your sympathy towards Billy?

22. What did the Indian sequence add to the film? In terms of violence, pursuit, fear, lust, greed? Our sympathy towards Catherine? Her fear? Billy's revealing himself by helping Catherine?

23. What was the emotional response to Dawes stealing the money and leaving Catherine? Did his death alter the nature of the chase and the pursuit? How did this lead into the final phase of the film?

24. Why did Grobart return for Catherine? Was it just a good nature? Was it love?

25. Did the companionship and the help develop into love?