TRACK OF THE CAT

US, 1954, 102 minutes, Colour.
Robert Mitchum, Diana Lynn, Beulah Bond!, Teresa Wright, Tab Hunter, Philip Tonge, William Hopper, Carl Switzer.
Directed by William A. Wellman.

Track of the Cat is an offbeat western by William Wellman. Wellman, an action director with Wings and other films about flying, was also a specialist in westerns. This is a psychological western ? more Freud than action. Set in isolated community in Northern California at the end of last century, it shows a family and its tensions very vividly. The situation is an animal attacking stock and Curt, the active son, going out to stalk it. However, there are clashes amongst the brothers and the sister, the prospective bride of the younger brother and the dominating mother and the alcoholic father.

The performances are very interesting, especially that of Beulah Bondi as the dominating mother. Teresa Wright also has an interesting role as the spinster sister. Robert Mitchum is the dominating brother. (He was to act in a similar style in the following year's The Night of the Hunter, directed by Charles Laughton). The film was made in Cinemascope and by special processes of bleached colour devised by Wellman and photographer William Clothier. There is a strong use of blacks and whites especially in the snow situations. The original novel was by Walter Van Tilburg Clark who wrote The Oxbow Incident, also filmed by Wellman. The Track of the Cat is not a satisfying western for action fans but for those who like drama.

1. An interesting western? Entertaining? Experimental techniques? The work of its director and his interest in westerns over many decades? The author of the original novel and the background of The Oxbow Incident and other westerns?

2. The significance of the techniques for colour photography? The muted colours? The restriction almost to blacks and whites? The dramatic and emotional effect? The use of the Cinemascope screen? The special effects? Musical score?

3. Audience expectations of the western? The psychological western from the '40s? Experimental western? The use of conventions? Going against audience expectations for dramatic effect?

4. The basic plot and its familiarity? The dramatising of the ranch? The family? Californian pioneers? Interfamily relationships? The stranger entering into the established way of life, this time a woman? The eruption within the household? The repercussions for life on the ranch? The focus on northern Californian pioneering? The American western heritage?

5. The focus on the three sons? Robert Mitchum and his surly reticence as Curt? Tab Hunter's youthfulness as Harold? William Hopper as the young frightened Arthur? The relationship between the three sons? The dominance of their mother? The drunken father? Their sister? the faded spinster? Gwen Williams arriving and the repercussions for the three? The resentment of the mother? The symbol and realism of the mountain lion? The brothers going out to track the beast? Arthur's death? Curt continuing the hunt? His growing fear and death? Harold as the ordinary brother? His setting out to avenge his brothers? The confrontation with the mountain lion? His confident killing of the beast? The return to Gwen and the ranch? An interesting study of three American men?

6. The symbolism of the men? Curt and his discontent, sadism, cowardice, his insolence and propositioning Gwen? His ultimate terror and death? Arthur and his being the cowed and defeated brother? Harold breaking through from the family pressures and background and asserting himself?

7. Their father and his drunkenness? The film's comment on the influence of father on sons? Counterbalanced by the dominant mother? Her appearance, presence? Her rigid background? Her resentment towards Gwen? Dominance of Grace? The tension within the house? The burial service for Arthur? Her having to accept the change in Harold?

8. The comparisons between Grace and Gwen? Grace and her presence in the home, subservience to her mother, relationship to her brothers? Teresa Wright's ability to suggest the faded spinster? The contrast with Gwen ? her ordinariness? Her love for Harold? Her reaction to Curt's advances? Influenced by the tensions within the house? The mountain lion and its threat? The reuniting with Harold?

9. The supporting characters e.g. Joe Sam and his age, presence on the ranch?

10. The symbolism of the mountain lion? The menacing and threatening evil? Its effect on the household? The threatening of the brothers? Killing two and being killed by the third? The background of tales of heroism confronting gigantic evil?

11. A successful western in its time? Its place among experimental westerns and interpretation of the genre and its conventions?