THE YOUNGER BROTHERS

US, 1949, 78 minutes, Colour.
Robert Hutton, Wayne Morris, Janis Paige, Bruce Bennett, Geraldine Brooks, Fred Clark, Alan Hale.
Directed by Edward L. Marin.

In so many films, the Younger Brothers are seen as villains. They are linked in the American legends of the West with outlaws like the James brothers and the Fords.

This is a brief film from the 1940s, the late 1940s, 10 years or so after the spate of outlaw films on Billy the Kid as well as the Jameses, with stars like Robert Taylor, Tyrone Power and Henry Fonda.

This is a more modest film. The Younger Brothers served their time in jail and are on parole until they receive a pardon, not allowed to cross the State line. They try to come to some towns and settle but are turned away. They camped outside the town, trying to avoid all trouble. The younger brother arrives by stagecoach with Cole Younger’s girlfriend. He hears criticisms of his brothers in a bar, starts a fight and shoots an assailant. The brothers help him out of town. In the meantime, there is a tough woman in the town who plans robberies and tries to persuade the Younger Brothers to work with her, eventually betraying them.

There is also an ex-Pinkerton man, Fred Clark, who lost his job because of a previous encounter with them and is determined to find them, incorporating the help of the tough woman, but ultimately failing. Because this film is favourable to the Younger Bros, they ride off happily at the end.

1. The popularity of films about American outlaws of the 19th century?

2. The Younger Brothers and the stories, as outlaws, the burning of their farms, their reactions, their violence, arrests, serving time? This film in favour of them?

3. The American West, the Missouri territory, the towns? The musical score?

4. John Younger, coming with the girl, the stagecoach, settling in town, his going to the bar, the badmouthing of his brothers, his challenge, the gun, shooting, escape? Jail? His brothers coming to free him? The ride out of town, the bridge across the State line, their getting him across?

5. The girl, Jim Younger coming to see her, his pulling the gun, their escape and evading arrest? The humour of their relaxing within the state line and not crossing the bridge?

6. The Pinkerton man, his wife upset, his decision to stay, his obsession, watching the Youngers, goading the conversation in the bar, his escaping out of the bar after the shooting? His going to see Kate Shepherd? His hold over her? Her taking him to see the Youngers, their staying within the state boundaries?

7. The woman, her plans, tough, going to see Cole Younger, his not wanting to work with her?

8. The brothers themselves, personalities, working together, their past, memories, the plans for the future?

9. A small film in favour of the Youngers?