BAD GIRLS
US, 1994, 99 minutes, Colour.
Madeleine Stowe, Mary Stuart Masterson, Andie Mc Dowell, Drew Barrymore, James Russo, James Le Gros, Robert Loggia, Dermot Mulroney, Nick Chinlund.
Directed by Jonathan Kaplan.
On its first release in the mid-1990s, Bad Girls was considered a feminist Western. And, in many ways, it is.
The women of the title are four prostitutes working in a saloon in a western town. They welcome the clientele, encourage gambling, but have difficulties with some of the rowdy clients – which leads to a shooting early in the piece and the attempted lynching of the Madam. She is rescued by the other women.
It is interesting to see the traditional bad girls of American westerns being transformed into leading figures, given some background, and taking a stand against the men. The men in the film include a prospecter bent on revenge, Dermot Mulroney, Robert Loggia as the father of an outlaw, who is the target of the revenge. James Russo is the outlaw. There are also some Pinkerton detectives.
However, the most sympathetic of the men is James Le Gros who gets entangled with one of the women, gives them refuge while being pursued, and finally offers a place for one of them to stay with him and work on his spread.
The four women are portrayed by strong character actresses, Madeleine Stowe as the leader, Mary Stuart Masterson as a widow who is forced into prostitution, Andie Mc Dowell as a woman who had a poor upbringing but has assumed is of a lady, and a young Drew Barrymore.
Direction is by Jonathan Kaplan who, especially in the 1970s, directed a number of small action features.
1. A 1990s Western? The focus on women in the West? A feminist perspective?
2. The western town, the streets, the law? The saloons, the interiors? Gambling? Horses and riding? Coaches? The West and the plains and the mountains? The towns? The musical score?
3. The title, the focus on the women, the initial seeing them as prostitutes, at work, clashes with clients, shooting, the lynching, the rescue, riding and pursuits?
4. Setting the situation, Anita, refusing to kiss the colonel, his uproar, Cody watching, the shooting? Josh and his watching? The lynching, Cody and the noose, the women rescuing her, riding away?
5. The women in their stories? Cody and her leadership, running with the Jarrett gang in the past, relationship with Kid, with Frank? Saving the money to settle down? Banking it? Anita, visiting her husband’s grave, thinking he would support her, not kissing another man? His will, the land, wanting to settle down, the paper mill? Lily, young, admiring the other women? Eileen, her manner, her story about her elegant parents, the ambitions, the truth about the farm, her hard life? The interactions between the women?
6. The screenplay and the focus on the women, in themselves, some female dignity, their prostitution, yet wanting something more? The misogynist attitudes of the men? Exploiting women, using them, and attempted lynching?
7. The women and their discussions, their plans, to go to Oregon? At the bank, Cody and her charm, getting the money? The robbery, Kid and his gang? The shootings, taking Cody’s money? Her telling the women that this was his invitation for her to come? Going to the camp, meeting Frank and the discussions? Memories of Kid, riding with him, her walking out?
8. Josh, saying he was a prospector? Following the women, rescuing them? His family, wanting vengeance on Frank? Tracking him down?
9. Anita, her husband dead, not inheriting the land?
10. Eileen, in prison, the plan to get her out, Anita and the wagon, Lily and her charm? Eileen and the arrest? Her meeting William, talking with him, charming him? The sheriff letting down his guard, the escape? The going to William’s house, his reaction, hospitality?
11. The confrontation with the Jarretts, Lily being taken, abused? The plan to exchange Frank for Lily? Josh, his anger, shooting Frank? Cody angry?
12. The confrontation with Kid, the shootout, his death? Killing Josh?
13. The women going ahead? Eileen and the attraction to William, his offer, working in the fields with him, her decision to stay?
14. The conventions of the West? The women’s perspective?
