COLE YOUNGER, GUNFIGHTER

US, 1958, 78 minutes,,.Colour.
Frank Lovejoy, James Best, Abby Dalton, Jan Merlin, Douglas Spencer, Frank Ferguson.
Directed by R.G. Springsteen.

If the Cole Younger, Gunfighter story seems familiar, then the story, The Desperado, by Clifton Adams, was filmed in 1954, a small budget black and white feature with Wayne Morris, called The Desperado. The new film, more spectacular with widescreen colour, follows the story very closely.

Frank Lovejoy seemed more suited to 20th century stories and is not entirely convincing as the Western outlaw. However, James Best is good as the young man, betrayed by his best friend, Jan Merlin, who turns up with Younger, is charged with killings that his friend committed, appears in court and is saved by Younger. Abby Dalton is the romantic interest.

1. The small western, colourfully photographed?

2. Audience knowledge of Cole Younger? In the west? In Texas?

3. The location photography, the deserts, the mountains, the town? The musical score?

4. Governor Davis in Texas, ruthless, the Bluebellies and their behaviour?

5. Life in the town, reaction against the Bluebellies, the mock hanging, the explosion in the town, the reaction of the Sheriff, the witnesses?

6. Kit, returning to the church function, the raffles, Lucy and the auction, romance? The arrival of the authorities, intruding, taking Kit and Frank? The
brutality towards Frank, his vengeance? Kit and his confessing, their escape, the farewell to Lucy, the intervention of their fathers, going into the hills?

7. The encounter with Cole Younger, wary, Frank and his decision to leave, going back, surrendering, becoming an informant, blackening Kit’s name, wanting Lucy? Her reactions?

8. Kit and Younger, travelling together, the twin’s horse, shooting him, his brother coming along, wanting vengeance? His testimony against Kit?

9. Kit and Younger, working with the cattle, the owner and his spying on them, and reporting, their being taken? Kit in the court, Frank and his testimony, his
lies – and the incident in the bar when he killed the authorities rather than Kit?

10. The testimony, the court, Younger intervening, saving Kit, leaving?

11. Kit, safe, the end of Governor Davis’s rule, Kit reunited with Lucy?