STAND UP AND FIGHT

US, 1939, 99 minutes, Black and white.
Wallace Beery, Robert Taylor, Florence Rice, Helen Broderick, Charles Bickford, Barton Mac Lane, Charlie Grapewin, John Qualen
Directed by W.S. Van Dyke II.

Stand Up and Fight is an enjoyable action adventure set in the 1840s, concerning American slavery before the Civil War. It is a Robert Taylor vehicle. He is a pampered aristocrat who becomes bankrupt and must work for his living. He is confronted by the issue of slavery and takes a stand. Wallace Beery also stars - in a not untypical role as the organiser of the opening up of the railroads. The supporting cast includes Charles Bickford as the slave runner.

The film was directed by Woody Van Dyke in an efficient MGM action way. One of the contributors to the script was novelist James M. Cain (The Postman Always Rings Twice).

1. Entertaining piece of Americana? The perspective of the '30s?

2. MGM production values, stars, black and white photography, period settings, the musical score?

3. The title, the action stance, physical violence, the American way - but the issue of slavery?

4. Robert Taylor as Blake, riding to hounds? His relationship with Susan? Money, bankruptcy? Susan and Amanda and their attitude towards him? The slave and the devotion to Blake? The auction, his lacking money? His searching for a job? His naivety? The offer of becoming a spy for the railroads? The issue of slavery? Meeting Starkey, gambling, the set-up, the fight, his being jailed, released to Starkey? His having to work for the wagon trains? The encounter with Susan as owner? His wanting to stand on his own feet? The work, the fights with Starkey? Getting on with people? The change in his character? Morgan and the slaves? The encounter with his own slave, the racket, Susan and her covering for him? The bond with her? Her demands on him? The death of the slave? His buying off his time, confronting Starkey, going to the railroad, prepared to discover the truth? The encounter with Morgan, his daring? Going into the camp? The courts, the prosecution? His going back to rescue Starkey, the confrontation with Morgan, the fight in the snow, the rescue? His redeeming himself?

5. Starkey, the tough type, running the men, gambling and drinking? Relationship with Susan and Amanda - and the typical Wallace Beery romance with the older woman? The clash with Blake, prison, having him under surveillance? The work, the fights? The deals about the slaves, his covering up? The escape of the slave, Morgan and the clash, the court case? In the snow, the possibility of death, the rescue? His deal for buying up the stock, going out West - with Amanda?

6. Susan and Amanda, coming from the North, the visit to Blake, the hunting, the aristocracy? Her wanting Blake to be a stronger character? Her rejecting him? Owner of the coach company, her trying to get control and understanding? Seeing Blake, rejecting him? The issue of the slaves, her being responsible? The court case? Blake vindicating her - and the happy ending? Amanda, the chaperone, her sharp tongue, attitude towards Blake, towards Starkey?

7. Morgan, the racket with the slaves, the status of slaves in the South, the escape routes to the North? The betrayal, selling them off, the murders? The suave gentlemen? The deals with Starkey? The railroad and their investigations? The encounter with Blake, his daring? The ultimate confrontation and shoot-out?

8. The slaves, their status in the South, the background? The service of the white families? Loyalties? Their being auctioned - the family auctioned? The escape route, Blake's slave and his escape, being saved, the horse - and his being killed? The anti-slave stance?

9. Blake's helper, their meeting, the work, his helping Blake, covering for him? The interrogation and the torture? His staying faithful?

10. Popular action ingredients of the late '30s - with the implications of the social themes of slavery and the place of blacks in American society?