THE PLUNDERERS

US, 1960, 94 minutes, Black and white.
Jeff Chandler, John Saxon, Dolores Hart, Marsha Hunt, Jay C. Flippen, Ray Stricklyn, James Westerfield, Dee Pollock, Roger Torrey, Vaughn Taylor.
Directed by Joseph Pevney.

The Plunderers is an interesting western set after the American Civil War. It shows a group of young men after cattle drive who have been cheated of their money in Dodge City and who are resentful, picking a poor town, Trail City, down on its fortunes. They arrogantly set themselves up, demanding whiskey without paying, rooms in the local hotel, new clothes at the local store – again without paying.

The sheriff, Jay C. Flippen is a benign man but is no match for their arrogance. They beat the barman, Mike Westerfield. Everybody else is intimidated, including the past hero, Captain Sam, Jeff Chandler, who lost an arm in the war and is now settled on his farm, feeling himself a lesser man.

Ultimately, he takes a stand and is beaten, but is persuaded to come back to town, my former lover, Kate, Marsha Hunt, and the young daughter of the storekeeper, Dolores Hart.

At the time, the four young men reminded audiences of the contemporary juvenile delinquents in such films as The Wild One and The Blackboard Jungle.

The film shows a town defending itself, regaining some self-confidence. Jeff Chandler was to die two years later at age 42 and Dolores Hart became a nun, the prioress of her convent 50 years later.

1. A post-Civil War story? An old western town? The inhabitants, the years? The intrusion of the young group and their exercise of power?

2. The title, the reference to the young men, their attitudes, behaviour, plundering, oppression – and murder?

3. Commentators making the link to contemporary stories like Bad Day at Black Rock, The Wild One and juvenile delinquents?

4. The locations, black and white photography, the surroundings of the town, the town itself, saloon, hotel, sheriff’s office, farms, the streets? The musical score?

5. The action taking place over 36 hours, the commentary, the reflection by the people?

6. The four young men, their grievances after being cheated in Dodge City? Their attitude towards the town, the saloon, demanding whiskey, refusing to pay, Mike backing down? Sam observing? Their going to the store, with Waters and Ellie, the shirts, $73 and not paying? Going to the hotel, the encounter with Kate and Billy, the room, wanting to clean up, not paying? The return to the bar, demanding the food, bashing Mike, old Abilene, alcoholic, preparing the food to them, being on their side?

7. The young men themselves, Jeb, short, the leader, making decisions, callous, presumptuous? Davey, younger, being led, eventually standing up for himself and confronting Jeb? Mule, his size, arrogance, following Jeb’s lead? Hondo, Mexican, following on, with an eye for the ladies, his advances on Ellie, her reaction?

8. The reaction of the people, cowering, the young men pushing the women out of their path?

9. The Sheriff, a good man, older, not taking his gun, talking to the men, going to the hotel with his gun, their disrespect, making him leave? His eventually taking his gun – and Jeb shooting him?

10. The townspeople, Waters and the store, their taking Mike to the doctor, the various men from the bar?

11. Sam, the leader of the past, losing his arm in the Civil War, his thinking that he was not a complete man, observing, going out to his farm, the discussions with Kate and their past relationship, the attraction to Ellie? Coming into town, the confrontation and his being beaten, taken out to his farm, the men taking his wagon? Kate coming to get him, his return? His gathering the people together, exercising leadership?

12. The men in the bar, their fears, Hondo and his going out to Ellie, harassing her in the house, his being taken, in the barn, the knife, Ellie shooting him?

13. Davey, confronting Jeb, leaving, being taken, his weeping, the taunts of the men?

14. The confrontation in the streets, the shooting, the challenge to Mule to fight with his knife, his size, overcoming Sam, falling on the knife?

15. Jeb shooting, running, Sam on the ground, getting the gun, shooting Jeb?

16. Their letting Davey go, with the memory of what had happened?

17. Some new pride in the town, defending themselves, a future?