BRANDED

US, 1950, 104 minutes, Colour.
Alan Ladd, Charles Bickford, Mona Freeman, Robert Keith, Joseph Calleia, Peter Hansen, Selena Royle, Tom Tully.
Directed by Rudolph Mate.

Branded is an enjoyable routine Alan Ladd western of the late '40s. For ten years Ladd was a box office success with Paramount in adventure vehicles such as these. Direction is by Rudolph Mate, former cinematographer and then director of numerous adventure films including westerns like Rough Company. A portion of Branded was used to effect in Robert Aldrich's 1975 Hustle.

1. An interesting and entertaining western? Conventional material? The Hollywood western, its conventions and picture of the American heritage?

2. The conventions of the Texas western, the ranches and the wide open spaces, cattle? Lost sons, families? Mexican raiders and bandits? Fights, doublecrossing, gunfights? How different was this film? Similar?

3. Colour photography, the atmosphere of Texas, Mexico? The score?

4. Audience interest in the plot: identification with Choya, disgust at the plot? The Lavery family and their situation? Choya's work, Leffingwell and his turning up? El Paso and the possibility of betrayal? The truth. Choya's visit to Mexico and his taking Tonio away? The build-up to the climax at the ranch? The happy ending? A credible story of the American west?

5. Alan Ladd as Choya? Laconic personality, strength,, charm? The gunfighter and his escape at the beginning? Leffingwell and the bargain, his allowing himself to be branded? His going along with the plan? The attraction to Ruth. the attitude towards the Laverys? His being accepted, the joy he gave to the parents? Leffingwell and his pressure? Choya's disgust at his killing? The decisions at El Paso? Choya's telling Ruth the truth? The approach to Rubriz? Tonio's helping him to escape., the long chase and its violence and strategies? Being found by Lavery? The challenge to Rubriz? The happy ending, love for Ruth? A conventional western hero?

6. Ruth and her place in the house, her love for Choya as a brother, her reaction to the truth, her support of her parents, the happy ending?

7. Lavery and his ownership of the ranch, strength, cattle and wealth? Attitude towards Choya, his long lost son? His anger at Choya's betrayal? The final confrontation and acceptance? Mrs Lavery and her belief in her son's living. her reaction to Choya's story especially about the rocking horse?

8. Leffingwell and villain - his plan. his companion and the branding and then his being shot? Leffingwell's presence on the ranch? His approach to Rubriz? His death?

9. Tonio and the reality of his parenthood, his love for Rubriz, his helping Choya? His injury? Recovery? Rubriz and his violence, care for his son, code of honour, the pursuit?

10. The ranch sequences, the various hands on the ranch and their loyalty to Lavery, fighting Choya? The moving of the cattle? The confrontation in Mexico? The pursuit and the strategies. the crossing of the Rio Grande?

11. The violence of the West, relationships, heritage? Images of the American man and the traditions of the 19th century into the 20th?