THE SIEGE AT RED RIVER
US, 1954, 86 minutes, Colour.
Van Johnson, Joanne Dru, Richard Boone.
Directed by Rudolph Mate.
The Siege At Red River is an average entertaining western, set in the Civil War with its atmosphere, also incorporating cavalry and Indians and problems with gattling guns. Directed by former photographer, Rudolph Mate, who made at this time such adventures as the Black Shield of Falworth. It has Van Johnson in an unusual western role. Richard Boone, later to be a villain in so many films and television series, plays a very mannered villain. Entertaining and quite interesting popular western material.
1. How interesting and entertaining a Western? The west itself, the background of the Civil War and espionage, ammunition and guns for the Indians, cavalry and Indian clashes?
2. How much did the film rely on the conventions of the western; sides in the Civil War, the pursuit of the cavalry, hero being ambiguous, heroine? Comedy sidekick? Scowling villain, Indians, sieges?
3. The importance of colour photography? Locations, sets, music? The special effects especially in the initial robbery, the songs and dances as the code for the spies, the final siege especially with the machine gun?
4. How credible was the plot? As a Civil War story. story of the American West? Jim Farraday and hie background in the Southern Army, posing as a salesman, his mission to get the Gatling gun to the army? His disguises and his techniques? The encounter with Nora and their falling in love and her attitudes towards cowards? The military pursuit? Manning and his double dealing? Ordinary story of the American Weet?
5. Van Johnson’s style as Jim Farraday? An engaging hero, the ambiguity of his staging the robbery at the beginning, his style as a salesman, his codes? Audience sympathy for the North instead of the South? His explanation of himeelf? The discussions about war, loyalties, right and wrong? His attraction towards Nora? His working well with Benji and his reaction to Benji’s death? The clashes with Manning yet relying on him? Pursuit of Manning, the capture by the militaryy his, helping them in the recuperation of the gun, his final escape? A credible western hero, his values?
6. The presentation of the military? Kelso and his pursuit of Farraday and his carrying out of his duty? His assistance? The expresentation of the military, their loyalties, techniques? The final siege? The contrast with Manning and his lack of loyalties, his brutality to the saloon girl, his deals with Farraday, his gambling and violence, his betrayal of Benji and killing him, his betrayal to the Indians? A violent ugly man of the west?
7. Nora as a vigorous heroine? The initial presentation with the wagon. her work as a doctor, place in the town, attitudes towards Farraday, disgust with him, his using her wagon for transportation of the gun, the adventures with him and beginning to trust him, the finale? The satisfying heroine?
8. The minor characters, Benji and his style, comedy? The people in the towns, the contacts - the note in the song, the buying of the bottle, the particular personalities spying? The picture of the ordinary people of the west buying the medicine?
9. Themes of loyalties, the Civil War and its issues, the effect on people and their clashes? The violence of one American against the other especially the memories of battles and death? The uniting against the Indians?
10. The portrayal of the Indians - how fairly, representing the times, understanding the Indians and the conflicts with the whites?
11. How satisfying a western, a picture of an aspect of America, understanding America and its heritage?
