STRANGER AT MY DOOR

US, 1956, 85 minutes, Black and white.
Macdonald Carey, Patricia Medina, Skip Homeier.
Directed by William Witney.

A B-grade Western, very pleasingly presented. It takes fairly conventional material of the gunfighter on the run but puts it in a religious setting. The film has action sequences but veers towards sentiment and ‘holy’ conversion. Mac Donald Carey is at home in the central role of the Minister in the West. Director is William Witney,
director of many Republic serials and action short films.

1. Comment on the quality of this supporting feature film. Its B-budget and scope? Brevity, black and white photography, musical score, locations, small number of characters? How interesting, enjoyable? Its strengths?

2. The conventions of the Western that It used? the outlaw and the robbery of the bank, the farmers and the peaceful way of life in the West? the villain being confronted by a minister, the various crises, the chase pattern? How well were they used, original or not?

3. The focus of the title and its significance? Religious overtones? How convincing a religious fable set in the American West?

4. The initial focus on Clay Anderson and his gang, the robbery and the violence? The breaking up of the group and Anderson's trouble with his horse? The chance encounter with the family? His threats, his changing his identity, his decisions to stay? His friendship with Dodie? The clash with Peg especially when she knew his identity? (and his telling the truth about her marriage?) The encounter with Hollis, Hollis’s telling him of the truth, his wanting to convert him? Their working together, going tor the buying of the timber, the buying of the unruly horse and Anderson's challenge to Hollis? The arrival of the Sheriff, the shooting and the chase? The importance of Dodie's being wounded, and Anderson's attitudes? Hollis riding the horse and persuading him to come back? The significance of his death and dying in the shadow of the cross? The symbolism of the wild horse and Anderson - how well presented, too obvious? How interesting a brief study of a young outlaw of the West?

5. The contrast with Hollis, his marriage and his building the church and the farm, buying the timber, details of the daily life in the household, love of his son, of Peg? The buying of the horse and its danger - threatening Peg, threatening Dodie? His ability to tame the horse especially in a time of need? His riding to save the Sheriff and to save Anderson? His prayers being answered? How convincing a man of the cloth in the West?

6. Peg as the heroine? As Hollis's wife of a brief time, stepmother to Dodie? Setting up house in the west? Devotion to her husband but her love being able to be questioned? Anderson’s challenge to her, her decision to leave? What made her stay? Her future with the family?

7. How attractive a boy was Dodie? his loyalty to his father, the first meeting with him, the confrontation with Andersont the growing friendship and their working together? The horse and the threat to Dodie? The bond between them? The irony of his being wounded and the effect on Anderson? his getting well again and a sign that Anderson should not be bitter or violent?

8. The picture of the Sheriff, his chasing of Anderson, the chase sequence and his shooting of Anderson, Anderson sparing his life?

9. The background. of characters, though few, for example the Doctor and his treatment of Dodie, the sequence with Ben and the buying of the timber and the discussion of the wild horse?

10. How well did the film give the feel of the West, the attention to detail in the house and on the farm? A blending of the pleasant aspects of the West and its settlement and the violence?

11. How religious a Western? Authentic religious themes, how convincingly and feelingly portrayed? Religion and the Western heritage in America?