MONTANA SKY
US, 2007, 96 minutes, Colour.
Ashley Williams, Charlotte Ross, Diane Ladd, Laura Mennell, Nathaniel Arcand, l Aaron Pearl, John Corbett.
Directed by Mike Robe.
Montana Sky is based on a novel by Nora Roberts, the author of many popular novels, 10 of which were made into television movies.
This is a story about a rancher, a hard man in Montana, who dies and leaves his property to his three daughters, by separate mothers, as long as they stay there for a year and work the ranch, under the supervision of the sheriff and a neighbouring cowboy. The film opens with a funeral, and two of the daughters arriving late, one a woman with low self-image, Lily, brutalised by her former husband, the other, Tess, a Hollywood writer, full of ostentatious glamour. The third is Wilma, the daughter, shown little affection by her father, who manages the property.
Ashley Williams is sympathetic as the hard manager. Charlotte Ross is all Hollywood style as Tess, and Laura Mennell is suitably demure as the harassed wife, falling in love with an Indian who works on the property, ultimately confronted by her husband. John Corbett is the neighbour who is in love with Wilma.
The film shows the mellowing of Wilma and the inevitable falling in love, Tess becoming used to living in Montana, and Lily marrying the Indian. When all seems to be settled against Lily’s husband, another villain is dropped in, somewhat ex machina.
The novel, the situations and characters have been compressed into just over an hour and a half, limiting the scope of the novel.
1. Popular novel? Popular television movie? The target audience? Male, female?
2. The Montana settings, the scenery, the spread, the mountains? The town, shops and the sheriff’s office? Authentic? Musical score?
3. The title, the focus on Montana, the way of life there, the cowboys, the tradition, the modern ranches?
4. The opening, the funeral, the touch of King Lear, Tess and the late arrival, Lily, Ben and his absence? Wilma and her wanting to get to work, attitudes towards her sisters, the reading of the will, the money to the housekeeper, to the ranch manager, and the clauses about the three daughters having to live for a year, work together, then being able to inherit? Lily and her fears, having nowhere to go? Befriended by Adam? Tess, her Hollywood writing, her lifestyle, not wanting to stay, the compulsion of the will?
5. The development over the year, Tess, feeding the horse, the difficulties, attraction to Nate, making the three agree that they would work together, the meeting in the jacuzzi? Her attraction towards Nate, his manners, the gradual approach? Lily, her time with Adam, Wilma and her hard work, resisting Ben, sparring, his helping, the invitation to the dance, her dress, the sexual relationship?
6. The killing of the cattle, the killing of the dog? Suspicions about Lily’s husband? The sheriff, the enquiries, the contact in Mexico? His arrival, confronting Lily, shooting Adam, taking Lily, the car, Lily crashing the car, through the woods, across the river, the information, the picnickers phoning the sheriff, the sheriff and the threat to shoot Jesse, his holding Lily as hostage, Wilma’s move, shooting him? Adam and his recovery?
7. Seeming peace, the sisters working together, the preparation for the wedding?
8. The previous mention of the son who was turned away with his mother, the revelation of the hand being the son, his wanting the property, his despising his sisters, threatening Wilma, Ben and his arrival, the shooting, the confessing to the killing of the cattle and the murders of the hand and the prostitute?
9. The happy ending, dancing, and everyone with a future in Montana?
