SOMETHING FOR A LONELY MAN

US, 1968, 100 minutes, Colour.
Dan Blocker, Susan Clark, John Dehner, Warren Oates, Paul Petersen, Don Stroud, Henry Jones, Edgar Buchanan, Dub Taylor, Grady Sutton, Joan Shawlee.
Directed by Don Taylor.

Something for a Lonely Man is one of the earliest of Universal Studios’ television movies. It stars Dan Blocker from Bonanza. Susan Clark was emerging as a star of many films at this particular time, in this year with Clint Eastwood in Coogan’s Bluff. Warren Oates had also emerged as a star. There are also a number of veterans from Hollywood days including Edgar Buchanan, Henry Jones and Dub Taylor as well as comedian Grady Sutton.

The film is one about pioneering in the west. A group go west to a small town and are led by a blacksmith. However, there is a crisis when it is discovered that the railroad is to bypass the town. This raises a challenge for the blacksmith as well as a conflict with many of the people who want the town to develop. There is also a threat from Indians. However, this is quite a warm and humane western.

1. The meaning and implications of the title?

2. John Tillybrew as the central character. What kind of man was he? His regard in the town? His successes and his failures? The leadership that he had offered people? His natural shrewdness? Why did people not trust him? The responsive love from Mary? What changed him? The quotation from Emerson?

3. How much of a Western was this? conventions? Atmosphere?

4. The background of the credits and the atmosphere? The train and the engine? The Indians watching?

5. How did Rafe act as a chorus for the film and the commenentary of the action? His reactions as highlighting what John Tillybrew did and what he meant?

6. Mary's brothers? What values did they stand for? As a kind of chorus for the film? Their comments on Mary's behaviour? Their attitudes towards Tillybrew? How much of the impact was comedy?

7. What kind of a person was Mary? Why did she love John Tillybrew? Her relationship to her brothers? Why was she so desperate for his love?

8. The impact of John's visit to San Francisco? importance for the plot? Showing his determination? His shrewdness? What would success have meant to him?

9. What was the significance of the effort he put into racing the engine? What bonds did it create between himself and Mary? Her sharing his dreams? The exhiliaration of racing the engine and trying to move it? How did the engine become a symbol for what he wanted to achieve?

10. The importance of the sequences with the Indians and their stalking John Tillybrew? Their delight at the engine? His communicating with them to get the engine?

11. How surprising was the engine’s falling into the hole and being stuck? What was John's reaction to this? Mary’s? How did this bring about decisions about the whole thing? The various speeches about the use of the engine for the city and its industry? People’s hostility and reactions?

12. How glad were you when they were able to get the engine into the town and that John Tillygrew was vindicated, his detractors were thwarted? How dramatically was this put with the scene?

13. Why was this a successful film? Why was it so warm and humane? Why was it a successful human Western?