BELLE STAR
US, 1941, 87 minutes, Colour.
Gene Tierney, Randolph Scott, Dana Andrews, Shepperd Strudwick, Elizabeth Patterson, Chill Wills, Louise Beavers.
Directed by Irving Cummings.
Belle Star is a colourful western and a star vehicle for the young Gene Tierney. She receives solid support from Randolph Scott, a veteran of westerns, and Dana Andrews who was at the beginning of his career. There is an interesting supporting cast including Elizabeth Patterson, Chill Wills and Louise Beavers as the Mammy.
The colour photography is very good. There is an evocation of the end of the Civil War and the defeat of the South. The film is reminiscent of Gone With the Wind and Belle Starr somewhat reminiscent of Scarlett O'Hara.
Critics have been unkind to the film. They say that it is slight, a bowdlerised version of the real Belle Starr (who seems to have lived a rather sensational outlaw life both in violence and in sexual relationships). Gene Tierney is the offended lady who takes to being an outlaw in defence of the South. In fact, Lamarr Trotti's screenplay highlights at beginning and end that this is the legend of Belle Starr (the legend being the prettiest part of the story). This was a period when Hollywood was making legends of outlaws e.g. Tyrone Power as Jesse James, Henry Fonda as Frank James, Robert Taylor as Billy the Kid. Later decades would debunk or present these characters more realistically. There was a telemovie of Belle Starr starring Elizabeth Montgomery. Alfred Newman contributes his typical orchestral score to make this a classy style western of the early '40s.
1. An interesting and entertaining western? The end of the Civil War and its impact on the South? The outlaws? The exploitation by the outlaws? Facts and legends?
2. Colour photography, the atmosphere of the South, the West? Costumes and decor? Action sequences? Alfred Newman's score and its moods? The use of traditional songs interwoven in the score?
3. The importance on cinema legends about the outlaws of the 19th century? The American frontier? Justice and its administration? The setting of the South in the 1860s, the southerners not wanting to admit the war was over and that they had lost, the reaction against rule from the North, the carpetbaggers and the exploiters coming in? The credibility of this theory of Belle Starr as outlaw? The importance of the remarks about the legend of Belle Starr ? the prettiest part of the story? The final black stories about foxes and Belle Starr turning into a fox? Giving an atmosphere to the film?
4. The suitability of Gene Tierney as Belle Starr? Her spirited performance as a southern belle? Her place in the South, mansion, her relationship with Ed? Her friendship with Tom Crail? The end of the war and her reaction? Ed's return? The hospitality of the South and her reaction against Tom? Her support of Sam Starr? His coming to dinner, her defying society and entertaining him? Helping him when wounded? Ed's arrest and her reaction, the burning of the house? Her defiance, her going to the hills, falling in love with Starr? Involved in the gun battles with him? Getting him out of prison? The friendship with Blue Duck and his wife? The reputation, the exploits. the rewards posted? The new members of the gang and the change of attitude? The wedding and yet her doubts? Ed's visit and warning her against the criminal element? His being shot, the pathos of his dying in Belle's arms, reconciled? Her wanting to give herself up? The irony of her being shot by the man from whom she took the horse originally? The arguments about her identification, Sam not wanting to identify her? The beginnings of the legend? Tom's love for her. Sam's love for her, Mammy Lou and her continued support? A legendary portrayal?
5. Randolph Scott as Sam Starr - the gentleman southerner. his reputation as a raider. his coming to the mansion. the stories at dinner. his eluding Crail, his being wounded. being looked after by Belle? Being rescued from prison? The exploits in the mountains? Falling in love, the wedding? Ambitions? The exploits with the carpetbaggers and the criminals? The final luring him to the town? Belle's death and his love and respect for her?
6. The contrast with Tom Crail? the North. the victors. the divisions between North and South? His love for Belle, his doing his duty even to burning the house? His final regard for her? Her locket?
7. Ed as a southern gentleman, accepting the end of the war, the hospitality to Starr, the friendship with Tom? His being put in prison. his visit to Belle, telling her the truth, his being shot and the sacrifice of his death?
8. The portrait of the various helpers: Blue Duck and his homespun wisdom, his wife? The singing of 'Bringing in the Sheaves' and the demonstration in the town and the rescue of Sam Starr? The rougher elements. the brothers from Texas and their brutality, killing Ed? The horse seller and his son. the deals with the authorities, his killing of Belle, wanting the reward and being deprived of it?
9. Mammy Lou and the treatment of African Americans in the film, the opening sequence and the discussion about the legend, the final stories about Belle as the fox, Mammy Lou and her love for Belle?
10. Themes of the West: justice, law, violence? The aftermath of the Civil War and its effect on Americans?
