THE TALL T
US, 1957, 78 minutes. Colour.
Randolph Scott, Richard Boone, Maureen O'Sullivan, Arthur Hunnicutt, Skip Howeier, John Hubbard, Henry Silva.
Directed by Budd Boetticher.
The Tall T is a strong Randolph Scott western. It is one of many made during the '50s. The film has strong credits including a screenplay by Burt Kennedy who was to become writer director of many successful westerns during the '60s and '70s and is based on a story by acclaimed writer Elmore Leonard. Direction is by Budd Boetticher, who directed a number of westerns especially with Scott. His critical favour has increased over the decades.
The supporting cast is also strong and includes Richard Boone and Henry Silva (a type that he was to perfect for over 30 years). The heroine is Maureen O'Sullivan.
1. An interesting and enjoyable western? Popular ingredients of gunfighters, stagecoaches, sieges?
2. Colour photography, locations? Pace and action? Stunt work? Musical score?
3. The focus on Pat Brennan, a ramrod, a ranch-owner? His violence behind him? His being on board the stagecoach? The hold-up? His reaction? His being left with Doretta? His reaction to Usher? His shrewdness in undermining Chink and Billy Jack and their confidence in Usher? His,outwitting them in shootouts? The final confrontation with Usher? Doretta's suspicion? Her growing dependence on him? A hero of the West?
4. The hold-up of the stagecoach, the gang? Usher and his roughness, shrewdness, the death of the driver, the shrewdness with Willard Mims? Mims revealing Doretta's wealthy father? The possibility of a ransom? Usher and Willard's death? His despising him? His going to collect the ransom? The loyalty of his men? Their surviving his absence? The final confrontation with Pat Brennan?
5. Billy Jack and Chink following Usher, their cruelty, greed? The siege? The attitudes towards Doretta? Towards Brennan? Brennan's making them suspicious? Playing them off against each other? His outwitting them and killing them?
6. Willard Nims and Doretta? The proper couple in the West? Mims and his cowardice? His death? Doretta’s disillusionment? Her response to the hold-up? her dependence on Pat? The future with him?
7. The atmosphere of the western towns, Ed Rinton, Teenvoorde? The western background characters?
9. The picture of the American West? Violence? gunfighters? Law and order?
