THE TIN STAR
US, 1957, 93 Minutes, Black and White.
Henry Fonda, Anthony Perkins, Betsy Palmer, Michel Ray, Neville Brand.
Directed by Anthony Mann.
The Tin Star is a noted Western by Anthony Mann, who has become renowned for his vision of men of action in the west from Winchester 73 through a series of films in the 50s with James Stewart to Man of the West with Gary Cooper. This film is more explicitly didactic than some of the other action films. It treats of the generations with the focus on Henry Fonda instructing Anthony Perkins on how to be a sheriff in the West. The film is fairly straightforward in its screenplay which was written by Dudley Nichols, the author of Stage Coach and other films e.g. Sister Kenny. In stark black and white photography, the film shows the portrait of a town and ordinary people turned into a prejudiced and violent mob. There are underlying themes of racism. There is an ultra-rousing musical score by Elmer Bernstein the composer of the scores for The Magnificent Seven, The Great Escape etc. The Tin Star is a brief and thoughtful Western.
1. The reputation of the film and its director, insights into the West and its heritage? The impact of the film and its presentation of the basic themes of the West?
2. The black and white photography, the portrait of the town, the ultra intrusive score and its appropriateness?
3. The importance of the stars and the difference of generations? The small boy ? with the background of Indian and white? A portrait of the American heritage of the West in the 19th century? Its influence on contemporary America?
4. The title and symbol of the Sheriff's authority? Themes of law and the meaning and application and administration of law in the West? The importance of law and order and how it was to be obtained? The bounty hunter working beside the law? What justifies law? Themes of justice and its administration? Authority in a town, responsibility, the maturity required? A serious side of the West?
5. The portrait of the town's situation: the young Sheriff learning how to draw in the mirror, the challenge of the bounty hunter, the robbers, the challenge of power hungry men in the town with their lack of scruple? The patriarchal doctor and his influence, the town's celebration for him and the irony of his death? The bankers, the respectable citizens and their attitudes? The sullen and arrogant saloon men like Beaudine ? his reaction to Mort in sending him away and of the boy searching for eggs? Would-be robbers and killers? Families and the underlying themes of racism? The potential of a mob for violence? Fear? The righteousness of the town's establishing law and order? How detailed and rounded a portrait? Portraying it in a short time, and the variation of moods within this brevity of time, the truth about the West and the town?
6. Anthony Perkins as Ben ? young, his relationship with his girlfriend and the doctor's influence, his trying to cope with being Sheriff, persuasion against it and his idealistic hanging on to authority? The confrontation with Beaudine in the street and Mort's helping him? The bond between the two men, Mort's training him for shooting etc.? His learning authority, especially by his mistakes in the siege for the two robbers? What had he learnt from his experience and from Mort? What authority role would he take in the town and influence the West?
7. What did Ben mainly learn, that the Doc could be wrong in his estimations, the truth about Mort when he told his story of his wife and child and their deaths? His learning of trust and the possibilities of a less violent administration of law and order?
8. The focus on Mort and Henry Fonda's style and authority? The immediate impact of the bounty hunter and people disliking him and being suspicious? No room at the saloon? Beaudine's hostility? His encounter with Kip and his being welcomed into the family and his lack of prejudice? The pony for Kip? Getting a new family and going off with them at the end? His decision to help Ben but also to avoid responsibility for the town? His decisions? Searching for Kip and yet being led to the men and showing Ben how non-violent methods were possible? His decision to move away with the mother and her boy? A portrait of an older man of an older West?
9. The importance of the mother and her son? Their being ostracised from the town, racist themes, her gratitude for Mort's interest, her working for the ladies of the town, the danger to Kip as he went off on the horse, leading Mort to the robbers?
10. The portrait of Doc, his medical skills and helping so many people, a genial man, suspicious of the bounty hunter and the irony of his being wrong? The humour of his birthday, delivering the twelfth child, a boy after eleven daughters? His going to the brothers and the inevitability of his death? The impact of the town's singing for Mc and his being dead in the sulky? The town's reaction and violence?
11. The two brothers and their robbing the stage coach, violence? Amateurs? The doctor's visit, the escape and the siege?
12. The presentation of the ordinary people, Beaudine as leader and taking over from Ben, turning the group into a mob and setting fire to the house etc.?
13. The presentation of the ordinary life in the West, the Western pioneers, settlers, heritage, heroism and the truth?
