SADDLE TRAMP

US, 1950, 90 minutes, Colour.
Joel Mc Crea, Wanda Hendrix.
Directed by Hugo Fregonese.

A very agreeable western with the perennial hero Joel Mc Crea. It is a family western with a focus on four orphans and a runaway niece. There are the conventional happenings on the range with the stealing of cattle and family feuds and showdowns. However, there is an enjoyable screenplay with homespun wisdom and a general charm about the west even though it is an action drama. Direction by Hugo Fregonese who made the interesting family Civil War western, The Raid.

1. An entertaining and satisfying western? Basic appeal of westerns? The family interest?

2. The expected conventions and their use? The title and the saddle tramp, Chuck and his narrative at the beginning, his change of attitudes about responsibilities at the end? Shootouts, cattle rustling, family feuds? The children as orphans? Della and her Uncle? The shootouts and betrayals? An average western, above average?

3. Colour photography, the atmosphere of the west? Cattle? The theme music and the Song of the Wild Geese and the image at beginning and end, geese wandering?

4. A credible western? Chuck as saddle tramp, care for friends and the children, work, strength, loyalty? His caring for the children, care for Della and marrying her? The ranchers? The double-dealing with cattle rustlers? An atmosphere of realism?

5. Chuck as hero? Joel McCrea's easy style? The opening with his wandering and reflecting, the encounter with the old man and his talking, the chases? his friend and his death, blaming his horse? The care for the boys and taking them? Seeking work, taking the food? His work on the ranch, friendship with the old man and his nephew, the clashes with Rocky, the visit to the Martinez ranch and his suspicions? The boys helping him with the work? Dellals running away and his attraction towards her, antagonism towards her uncle? The framing of Chuck for the stealing of the cattle, his fight with Rocky, the discovery of the truth - and the happy ending? A pleasant
western hero?

6. The picture of the boys at home with their father, his death, their coping, travelling with Chuck, the meals, taking in Della, the shooting of the cougar? The happy ending with a mother and father and the irony of going to school? The homesteader's wife and her Irish background and the talk about the leprechauns?

7. Della and her running away from her uncle, his being a harsh man and the ironic humour of his greediness and being caught in the trap? Her care for the children, her helping Chuck, worry about Butch and his illness, leading everyone to the truth at the end? Marriage?

8. Rocky as villain, his partner at the Martinez ranch, their plans for rustling the cattle, blaming Chuck? Fights?

9. The feud between the two homesteaders? Antagonism, reconciliation? The wife and her Irish background and care for Chuck?

10. Shootouts, cattle rustling sequences, fights? The blend of humour especially with the old man?

11. The American heritage in the west? Families, moving to California, cattle, law and order?