STAR IN THE DUST

US, 1956, 80 minutes, Colour.
John Agar, Mamie Van Doren, Richard Boone, Colleen Gray, Lief Erickson, James Gleeson, Paul Fix, Harry Morgan.
Directed by Charles F. Haas.

Star in the Dust is a small and routine western. It has a strong cast of character actors.

The film focuses on Sam Hall, in prison for shooting three farmers. The sheriff wants him hanged. So do the farmers. Others want him out – and Hall himself is plotting with his girlfriend to get him out while taunting the sheriff.

Meanwhile, in the saloon, men are betting whether he will be hanged or not.

The film has the expected action – and was directed by Charles F. Haas, prolific director of television material between 1950 and 1967 with a few small-budget cinema features like this and Showdown in Abilene.

1. The significance and tone of the title? Indication of themes of the law, the west? The focus on the character of the Sheriff and his antagonists?

2. How good a western was this? It is a ‘B’ western but has some pretensions to reputation. The contribution of colour, the fact that it took place on one day, the hanging framework of the screenplay, the creation of atmosphere
of the town, the variety of characters within the town? The contribution of the ballad and the fact that it punctuates the action?

3. The immediate introduction to the situation, the hanging and the preparations, the focus on Sam Hall and his imprisonment, the focus on the Sheriff and his clash with Sam Hall? The background of Hall’s employment and his murders, the background of the Sheriff living In the light and reputation of his father?

4. The characterization of Hall as evil, a murderer, lawless and without conscience? His attitude towards the Sheriff, his arrogance, attitude towards Nellie and help from her, his almost escaping, the irony of his being recaptured by Orval? The inevitability of his hanging and his acceptance of this? Did the ballad in any way glorify him? The exploration of this kind of gunman killer of the 19th century?

5. The character of Bill Jordan? The son of his father, his role as Sheriff, his reliance on his authority and doing his job according to the letter of the law? His wanting to remain unaligned in the clash between the ranchers
and the small farmers? The various manoeuvres which he tried? His encounter with the teacher at the classroom and their fight, the clash with the small farmers and yet their support? The complication of his engagement to Ellen, relationship to her, a lack of suspicions of George Ballard? His attitude towards justice, towards negotiation? The effect on him of being tricked be Ellen? His attitude towards confronting the various parties and the achievement of his purpose in hanging Hall? A credible western hero and upholder of the law?

6. The plot relied much on women and their influence. Comment on the three women and their roles.

7. Ellen as the attractive heroine, sister of the villain, the inevitability of her having to take sides, her love for bill, her regard for her brother? The motivation for her entering into the tricking of Jordan? Her final disillusionment with her brother and the clash with him on the roof? A saviour-figure? The contrast with Nellie? Nellie's strict upbringing, her reaction, her infatuation for Sam Hall? Her devotion to his, her desperation, especially in attempts to save him, encounters with Ellen and Nan Hogan? The background of Nan Hogan and her relationship to Ballard, her devotion to her husband and her fears for his safety, her entering into the plot to release Hall in order to save her husband? Her co-operation with the Sheriff and witness to the identification of Ballard's letters? The influence of women in the western town and these situations?

8. The characterisation of Orval and the Deputy? Their work on the scaffold, Orval wanting to help, his skill in recapturing Hall, the irony of the Deputy’s imprisonment? The fact that Orval was killed and the point that was made? These as the ordinary supporters of law and order?

9. The presentation of Ballard as the smooth-talking villain, his hold over his sister, his presumption in dealing with Jordan, his hold over Hall and his manipulations to get him? His relationship with the ranchers? The ranchers going to Hall and Hall being violent with them?

10. The presentation of the small farmers? The teacher and his power struggle to hold them? The contrast with Hogan and his impetuosity in leading the cattle men? Their converging on the town, Jordan’s facing the dilemma, the emerging of the truth?

11. The build-up to the climax In the town square, the two parties, the discovery of the truth, Ballard and his death? The hanging of Sam Hall?

12. How well were the typical western themes of law and order, good and evil, relationships worked out in this film?