MAIL ORDER BRIDE
US, 1964, 90 minutes, Colour.
Buddy Ebsen, Keir Dullea, Lois Nettleton, Warren Oates, Kathleen Freeman, Marie Windsor, Paul Fix.
Directed by Burt Kennedy.
Writer-director, especially with westerns, Burt Kennedy, came into his own in the 1960s with a range of westerns like Welcome to Hard Times, The Rounders, Dirty Dingus Magee. He also directed a number of dramas like The Money Trap.
This is a slight and generally cheerful western, with veteran actor, Buddy Ebsen, a long way from his zany song and dance routines from the musicals of the 1930s and even from his stint on The Beverley Hillbillies, coming into town to look for the son of his friend who owned a property outside the town. The young man, played by Keir Dullea in an early role, spends his time drinking, playing cards and womanising. He does not welcome the arrival of the old man.
However, his father had left the property to the old man to be handed on when he thought the son was responsible. This is rather hard task as the young man resists him. The good idea is that he should marry, settle down, take responsibility. So the old man travels, looking up a catalogue where women advertise as mail-order brides, testing some out including Kathleen Freeman and a sympathetic Marie Windsor. She recommends the maid, Lois Nettleton, who has a son, and they go back from Kansas City to Montana.
Despite some resistance, the young man does fall in love with his bride, takes some responsibility for her son. But he still gets irritated with the old man and listens to his friends, including Warren Oates in an early role in urging him back to gambling and drinking, while the girl at the bar urges him to be devoted to his wife, and the young men plan to steal the cattle. When they burn the house that he had newly built, his change of heart becomes evident and they confront the friends and get back the cattle.
The film looks very good, has an interesting cast, and is a modest entertainment.
1. The title, expectations? Fulfilled?
2. The Montana settings, the town, the plains, the mountains, the river? An authentic feel? Musical score?
3. The work of the writer director, his eye for the West, characters, situations, troubles, peace?
4. Buddy Ebsen as Mr Lane, the old veteran coming into town, the encounter with Lee at the river and his disregard for advice? Meeting up with the sheriff again, their discussions, the sheriff’s warning? His mission, the document from his friend, ownership of the property, handing it over when the son was responsible? Encountering the son in the saloon, the cards, the drinking, the women, his friends? His taking Lee back to the property? The meals, the cooking, the work, the horses, cattle? Lee and his resentment?
5. The hard work, seemingly impossible for the change in Lee? His friends, the meetings, their advice, leading him astray?
6. The mail order book, Mr Lane travelling, Kansas City, the different women he interviewed, the madam in Kansas City, too old, sympathetic? Suggesting Annie, her going to Montana?
7. The arrival, Lee late for the train, meeting Annie, surprised at the boy? The hurried marriage, going to the river, the Reverend baptising, the text of the wedding, both consenting?
8. The building of the house, Lee and Matt and the horses, the beginning of bonding? Lee talking with Annie, the pledge? Knowing that she might go, letting her feel free? Her listening to him writing the letter to her?
9. Lee rebelling, going into town, the plan for the cattle, his talk with the woman in the saloon, the past relationship, a sense of decency, urging him to love his wife, giving him the gift?
10. The burning down of the new house, Matt and the rescue, Lee teeming with Mister Lane, going through the fog to the railroad, the cattle, the confrontation with Jase, pulling the gun, his death?
11. The happy ending, Lee and Danny, the boy, starting to build again?
12. Mr Lane achieving his mission, moving on, talk with Annie, her invitation to stay? His smile, and the return to the woman in Kansas City?
