THE BRAVOS

US, 1971, 100 minutes, Colour.
George Peppard, Pernell Roberts, Belinda Montgomery, L. Q. Jones, Bo Svenson.
Directed by Ted Post.

The Bravos is an entertaining, if conventional, western. George Peppard portrays the Commander of a fort ? whose son is taken by the Indians, who has to make a judgment to give up the leader of a wagon train who has killed some Indians, who has officers guilty of insubordination, but who finally rescue him. There is some detail of the life of the fort. Colour photography in Arizona locations is most attractive. Direction is by Ted Post, a veteran of many action movies (Hang 'Em High, Magnum Force) and telemovies.

1. Popularity of westerns? American heritage? Military and Indians?

2. Location colour photography, action sequences, spectacle? Musical score?

3. Conventional material: the establishing of life at the fort, the people on the wagon train and their obsessive leader, the relationship between father and rebellious son, the clashes amongst the wagon train members, romance? The intervention of trackers and the fights with the Indians? Average, above average?

4. The film as a piece of Americana? The opening up of the West? The role of the military? The clashes with the Indians? The attitudes of the white settlers and their despising of the Indians? Dangers? The establishing of law and order? military personnel and regulations?

5. George Peppard as hero: his control of the men, relationship with the various men on the fort, his attitude towards the wagon train, dealing with the Indians? The arrival of his son and their clash? His being taken, the rescue and the reconciliation? His attack on the officer - who later interpreted the rules to rescue him? A strong military portrait?

6. The portrayal of the leader of the wagon train, his obsessions, his inability to lead people, his racist attitudes towards the Indians? The various members of the wagon train, Garrett and his relationship with the girl, their clash, her reconciliation with him? The dreams of going to Oregon?

7. The military officers at the fort, loyalties, the Indian attack and the sentries leaving their post, the officers interpretation to go to the rescue of the officer, the Commander and his son?

8. Ben Lawler and his tracking, his relationship with the running soldier, their going to rescue the boy? The death of the escaping soldier?

9. The details of the clashes with the Indians, patrol parties, ambushes, the capture of the son from the fort, the siege in the mountains?

10. The memories of 19th century Americana and the West? The clash of white and red men? The hostile attitudes? Administration of law and order?