TOM HORN

US, 1980, 93 minutes, Colour.
Steve McQueen?, Linda Evans, Richard Farnsworth, Billy Green Bush, Slim Pickens.
Directed by William Wiard.

Tom Horn is in the classic western mould: a blend of fact and legend, an ambiguous hero (gunman and man true to himself) who saw the passing of the old West and was crushed by the 20th. century world and the men whose interests he protected. Beautifully photographed, with fine sense of screen composition and incorporating sequences of the cattle ranges, the muddy towns, gunfights, romance, prisons and hangings, the film is also a fine vehicle for Steve McQueen's return to the screen, older, unglamorous and with a sense of conviction in his portrayal of Horn. A serious western, violent, uncomfortable, well acted throughout and echoing the American heritage disillusionment of the '70s.

1. A satisfying western? The few westerns of the late '70s - why their subject, treatment? The heroes of the West, the passing of the west, disillusionment with heroes?

2. The film's presentation of the transition from old West to the 20th. century: the opening lines. the description of Tom Horn's career, his various activities and serving in action? The memories of the old West and Horn's achievements, his loneliness? The action, the range of employment? The man ageing and becoming an anachronism? Past heroism with its violence, its paving the way for people who would forget their debt? The prospect of the 20th. century and its way of dealing with heroes? The indication of themes of the American heritage, 19th. century hopes, the ignoring of the individual. betrayal?

3. The colour photography, the beauty of the West, the seasons? The screen composition, the various tableaux? The set pieces expected from a western, their being placed in location photography? The styles of action, more intimate sequences? The editing? The place of flashbacks about Glendolene from prison? The chapter endings with the strong fade-outs? The score and its atmosphere? A satisfying presentation of the West?

4. The introduction to Tom Horn? Steve McQueen? and his presence, style, manner? Riding in at the beginning of the film, the audience knowing his background? A seedy character, his shuffling gait, an anachronism in the early 20th. century? His love for his horse and caring for it, stabling it? Drinking, the encounter with Gentleman Jim and the fight ? with its ironic result? Insight into Horn at this stage of his life?

5. John Coble and his response to Horn's reputation., his deal and hiring of Horn, the Cattlemen's Association and their needs? The picture of rustlers? The meetings, the hiring of Horn, the conditions, the rules? The violence implicit in his hiring? Horn's bond to these men? The character of Coble ? an honourable man of the West, his liking of Horn.. supporting him., his regrets at the trial? His final signed statement at the end of the film?

6. The build-up to the clashes? Horn as a man of fight? The initial encounter with Gentleman Jim, Horn and his cheekiness, Jim Corbett and his anger, the fight? The travelling with Coble and the encounter with rustlers, the banjo players, the violence and the later killings? Horn and his ability with horse riding, cattle handling? The confrontation with the rustlers? around the campfire, the man in the house who had shot his horse, Horn's violent emptying his gun into him? The build-up to the shoot-out in the town street? The man approaching on horseback who was shot. with his horse turning over? Images of physical violence and death? Tom Horn and his gun practice, work with the horses and cattle? His norms for killing? How cold-blooded? The repercussions in a society where the administration of law was becoming more organised?

7. Tom Horn seeing himself as a man of integrity, doing his job? His success and his becoming a target for betrayal?

8. Glendolene and the presence of the woman in the West? Her style, husky voice, her pleasant manner? The outdoor party and its atmosphere, the humour of Horn and the eating of the lobster? Their talk and getting to know one another, her teaching and the intimacy of the sequence in the classroom with the kiddies looking through the window? Her origins in Hawaii, her search for adventure? The significance of the flashbacks and their being placed in the context of the prison? Her riding the range with Tom, the talk about the old West, their lovemaking? The choices she had to make and her considering him a bad man? Her renouncing him or else she would be caught up in his world? A portrait of a woman in the West?

9. The Cattlemen's Association and their reaction to Horn's violence, the role of the sheriff, their wanting to dissociate themselves from Horn? The ugliness the plan, John Coble and his presence but his loyalty to Tom? The visuals of the shooting of the boy? The way that the frame-up was established, the arrest of Horn, discussion about his gun? People accepting the fact that he had killed the boy? His own integrity, innocence and his not pushing it?

10. The character of Joe Belle? rivalling Horn in his work in the West, his settling down and becoming a deputy? The rivalry in comparisons with Tom? The possibility of his being an ally? Jealousy? His handling the situation for the cattlemen? His place in the framing of Tom? His using him? Visiting him in prison. the court sequence, Tom's hanging?

11. Tom and the arrest, the experience of prison, the close-ups of the cell, the taking away of his freedom and his feeling this? The flashbacks indicating his experience of prison? His behaviour at the trial. his not comprehending legal method? His faith in himself? His meekness and lack of self defence? The attitudes of the prosecutor and the tyring to trick him? The interrogations and the reaction on Tom?

12. Sam and his guarding of Tom, Earl and his being knocked out, Tom's attempt to escape. his simply running away and his being caught? The National Guardsmen and their vindictiveness taking him back?

13. The lyrical aspects of the flashbacks, especially in the visuals and yet their serious consequences and the inevitability of Tom's death?

14. The hangman and his explanation of his machinery, the use of water, the ugliness of hanging and the audience appreciating this? Sam and Earl and their reaction? Tom's final night and his being led out?

15. Tom on the gallows, the people standing round, John Coble and his visit to the cell, his inability to help? The chaplain and the discussions with him? Tom's final statement on the gallows. the suspense of waiting for the water to work, his death?

16. The classic western mould, the type of hero, the transition world, the stock items from the western tradition, the 1970s perception of the West, the atmosphere of disillusionment?