CAHILL

US, 1973, 102 minutes, Colour.
John Wayne, George Kennedy, Gary Grimes, Neville Brand, Clay O'Brien.
Directed by Andrew V. Mc Laglen.

John Wayne must be taking note of critics of his might is right attitudes - here he is sympathetic to Indians and negroes and criticises himself for being a neglectful father. This makes him and the Western styles and violence more acceptable than usual. In fact, Cahill is a typical enough John Wayne western (with George Kennedy as a snarly villain), but slightly better. There is a strong story-line to keep interest involving Cahill's two sons, a bank robbery, a chase and questions of conscience and honesty. Gary Grimes has a good role as the elder boy. If you like Wayne, you will have no complaints; anti-Wayne fans should have few complaints.

1. Was this a good and enjoyable Western? Why? Conventional Western? Was it a typical John Wayne film portraying his values? How?

2. How good was John Wayne in this film? Was he his normal self? As a marshall? As upholder of law and order? Did he uphold law and order in a just way? Was he an admirable marshall?

3. What kind of father was he? Why was he a neglectful father? Did he explain himself and his love for being a marshall well? Why did he not excuse himself?

4. Why did his sons react against him? How did they experience his absence? Why did Danny get drunk and disorderly? why was Billie Joe afraid of his father? Why did they join the robbery plan? How was this to be a rebellion against their father?

5. How interestingly was the robbery filmed? Was it a good plan, the escape, the return to prison, involvement of Danny and Billie Joe? why did it go wrong?

6. How did the death of the sheriff and the other murder change the tone of the robbery and involve the boys in something they had not expected? How did they react to the deaths? How courageous were they as boys? How did they face up to the reality of death?

7. Was Frazer too villainous? Or was he a convincing villain? Was he just a greedy, murderous criminal? How did he cope with the boys? How clever was he in frightening them? Were the scenes with the boys and Frazer frightening?

8. Did the film present the boys dilemma well? Their not wanting to be involved in the robbery afterwards? Fear for the men who had been arrested unjustly? What were they to do? Comment on the sequence where Frazer frightened them; Billie was chased and got pneumonia? The sequence when they went fishing? Their digging up of the money in the graveyard? Their taking the money to Frazer? Their determination to solve the question themselves? what should they have done?

9. The relationship between Cahill and Lightfoot? Lightfoot in himself, as an Indian, as a friend to Cahill? His statement about Cahill to Danny? His death?

10. How interesting were the chases? The chase of the men in the mountain? The chase of Cahill and Lightfoot, of Frazer and his gang?

11. How effective was Cahill in frightening the boys? Of exposing them to danger against Frazer?

12. Was justice done? Violently? Or justly?

13. What future did Cahill have with his sons? Was this a satisfying ending?