TROUBLE ALONG THE WAY
US, 1953, 110 minutes, Black and white.
John Wayne, Donna Reed, Charles Coburn, Tom Tully, Sherry Jackson, Marie Windsor.
Directed by Michael Curtiz.
Trouble Along the Way is a sentimental comedy drama. It is also a John Wayne vehicle. It presents him as the strong American hero - at the time of his '50s popularity with such films as Hondo, The High and the Mighty.
The film also has a religious background - St. Anthony's College which, like most Hollywood schools, has no money and has to be closed down. Charles Coburn enjoys himself as the genial and shrewd rector. Donna Reed is the social worker who is antagonistic towards Wayne but, naturally, falls in love with him. Sherry Jackson is Wayne's daughter.
The film is also a sports film - with the result that this is a popular '50s story combining romance, sport and religion. Direction is by Michael Curtiz who, from action adventures in the '30s and '40s, moved to musicals and comedies in the late '40s and '50s.
1. Entertaining sentimental comedy drama? John Wayne vehicle? Popular Hollywood ingredients, including religion?
2. Black and white photography, the life of St. Anthony's, the life of Steve Williams and his daughter? Musical score?
3. The focus on St Anthony's school, its financial problems, the students, the staff? Solutions via sport and endowments? Personality clashes? Family problems - an appropriate title?
4. Steve Williams and his coaching ability? Sports background? In need of a job? His relationship with his daughter and taking care of her? His ex-wife and her complaints? The approach of Father Burke? The pressure put on him? Financial needs and his taking the job? The clashes with the probation officer? His severity towards her? Attraction towards her? Moving into the school - and the comedy about their accommodation, the loft, the bells etc.? The poor athletic facilities? Getting his former players? The sports sequences and building up the team? The success? The victory? The clash with Father Burke? His ex-wife starting the proceedings in court? Alice's change of heart and.testifying for him? Carol moved to the Centre for Children? Father Burke's change-of heart. Promising the reference, promising the job again? The happy reconciliation with Carol, with Alice?
5. Carol and her life with her father, sharing his lifestyle, moving, accommodation, the school? Her response to the school? The priests and their treatment of her? Hec mother and her neglect? Official complaints? Alice and her concern? Relationship with her? The ups and downs of the coaching? Court case, Carol going to the Centre? The happy reconciliation?
6. Alice and her serious probation work, her attack on Steve, his attitude towards her iciness? Their clashes? Her taking official stances? The gradual change of heart? Liking for Carol? The trial and her speech - in his favour, in love with him? The finale -and future prospects?
7. Steve's ex-wife, her lifestyle, callousness, complaints, relationships? The court sequence?
8. Father Burke and the staff, the school, the authorities, means of keeping the school open, American'schools and sport, the poor facilities? The building up of the team, difficulties with Steve, Father Burke's giving him a reference? Hollywood style clergy?
9. The sports sequences and enjoyable action? The build-up to the final match? The competitiveness?
10. Hollywood religious themes - priests and their humour and holiness, shrewdness and money, using God's will as the reason for imposing their own will? Church scenes? The blend of religion and sentiment?
11. An enjoyable sentimental drama?
