THE BADLANDERS
US, 1958, 85 minutes, Colour.
Alan Ladd, Ernest Borgnine, Katy Jurado, Kent Smith.
Directed by Delmer Daves.
Screenwriter, Delmer Daves, was prolific with dramas during the 1940s. In 1950, he released Broken Arrow, a significant film of the time in re-in stating Native American Indians in movies with some dignity. During the 1950s he made a number of Western’s including 3:10 to Yuma as well as this film. It was based on the 1950 gangster film, The Asphalt Jungle.
After many years working for Paramount in a range of films from historical to gangster, Alan Ladd made a number of films at MGM. He is joined by Ernest Borgnine who had won an Oscar three years earlier for Marty. Katy Jurado portrays a prostitute in a border town. (Borgnine and Katy Jurado married soon after for several years.) Kent Smith is the villain.
An entertaining Western, rather low-key.
1. 1950s Western? The work of the director? An adaptation of the gangster film, The Asphalt Jungle?
2. Arizona, 1898, the prison, the towns and the mines, the open desert? Atmosphere? Musical score?
3. The title, the reference to the prisoners? The opening in the prison, Dutch and Mac, chained, in procession, the taunts, the prisoner being flogged, into the river, his drowning? The clash between Dutch and Mac? The authorities, Dutch released 10 months earlier because of his stopping Mac attacking the guard? Mac and his having served his sentence? Their getting out, the hostility?
4. Dutch, his geological background, working in the mine, his being framed for robbery? Serving his sentence? Going back to the town, the marshal wanting him out of town on the stagecoach? Allowed one day? His plan, going to the mine, getting the gold sample, the meeting with Lounsbeerry? The plan for getting the gold, getting the cash? Lounsberry and his thugs, setting up Ada and her being locked in the room and Dutch opening it and giving her the hat box? Creating a bond between them?
5. Mac, arriving in town, meeting up with Dutch, the marshal wanting him out? His agreeing to help Dutch?
6. The encounter with Anita, the pregnant woman, Mac helping with the birth? The bond between them? The men coming for Anita as a prostitute, Mac saying she was his wife? Her gratitude?
7. The help of the local man, going to the mine, going down, digging, the bags of gold, the other miners hearing the noise, their getting out? The explosion? The dust coming from the shaft? The local man breaking his leg? The getting out?
8. Lounsberry, breaking his trust, the marshal and his gun, the shooting?
9. Mac, wounded, treated by Anita, her coming to the rescue for the escape, rounding up the townspeople for the Festival, the fireworks, the noise, surrounding the villains?
10. The promise for sharing the gold, Mac staying in the town, Dutch, with Ada, going to his future?
