THE TIN STAR
US, 1957, 93 minutes, Black and white.
Henry Fonda, Anthony Perkins, Neville Brand, John McIntire?, Betsy Palmer.
Directed by Anthony Mann.
The Tin Star is an Anthony Mann western in black and white Vistavision. During the '50s Mann made a number of significant westerns, especially with James Stewart: these include Winchester 73, Bend of the River, Far Country, Man from Laramie. At this period Mann also made the Korean war study, Men in War. He was then to move into epics including E1 Cid and The Fall of the Roman Empire.
Henry Fonda is at home in the role of the bounty hunter who trains the young sheriff, played with eagerness by Anthony Perkins. Villains include Neville Brand and Lee Van Cleef. The film is a modest western. It is also fairly predictable - but nevertheless is impressive in its way of working out familiar themes in familiar characters.
1. Interesting and entertaining western? Its use of conventions? The work of Anthony Mann and his exploring of western genres?
2. Black and white photography, the picture of the town, action sequences, locations? A oicture of the West?
3. The title and its focus on the sheriff, law and order, justice and responsibilitp, danger? The young sheriff learning from experience? The West and American heritage?
4. The picture of the town and its growth, the businessmen and the Mayor? Bogardus and his wanting to be sheriff? His outlaw connections? The town and its society? The sheriff and Mary? The outcast family? The cross-section of a western town - needing a hero?
5. Henry Fonda as Morgan: bounty hunter, bringing in his man, the hostile reaction.:of the town, the ousting from the hotel, the young sheriff and his ignoring him? His friendliness with Kim and being taken in by Kimls mother? The Indian background? His concern about the reward? Talking things over with Ben, the friendship, instructing him, technioues? Ben's clash with Bogardus in the street and Morgan's shooting? Ben's shooting practice', listening to Morgan's philosophy of life? Morgan at homein the family, the deaths? Doc and his friendship, the celebration of his birthday, his death? The search for Kim, Ben and his brashness and being shot, Morgan taking the brothers alive? His helping Ben in confronting Bogardus? His leaving the town with a new family? The hero figure, the change from bitterness? Learning and teaching? A new future?
6. The contrast and comparison with Anthong Perkins and his youthfulness? His being the temporary sheriff? His love for Mary, her not wanting him to be sheriff, the argument with the slammed door? His paying Morgan? The confrontation with Bogardus on the street, Morgan's intervention? Practising, learning, timing? The friendship with Doc? The celebrations? The posse and their separating from Ben?
The confrontation with the brothers, his being shot? His promise of a fair trial? The final shoot-out with Bogardus? The apprentice who had become sheriff? Mary's support?
7. The family and Morgan staying with them, the mother and her upbringing in sympathy with Indians, her son, outcast in the town, her being insultea by Morgan, reconciliation, her concern? Kim and his playing With Morgan, the pigeons, the horse? Friendship? His pursuing the dog, his being shot at, rescue?
8. The future of Morgan with this? Doc and his wisdom, his advice, help, the birth of the child, his birthday, the diary, his death? Bogardus and his hostility towards Morgan, his place in the town, wanting to be sheriff, exercising power, prejudice against Indians, the confrontation with Ben in the street, Morgan's shooting? The final confrontation and his missing?
9. The portrait of the posses: lynch-law and hostility? The sheriff taking a stance against lynch-law?
10. The brothers, outlaws, the killing, the death of Doc, the chase, the snoot-out and their being outwitted, in prison, the preparations for their hanging, the need for a fair trial versus lynch-law?
11. Predictable material and characters - but a good exploration of the values of the West?
