EL PASO

US, 1949, 103 minutes, Colour.
John Payne, Gail Russell, Sterling Hayden, George "Gabby" Hayes, Dick Foran, Eduardo Noriega, Henry Hull, Mary Beth Hughes, H.B.Warner, Bobby Ellis, Arthur Space.
Directed by Lewis R. Foster.

El Paso is a Texas Western. The film begins at the end of the Civil And the return of the troops, especially Clay, John Payne, who had been a lawyer. The young woman he had been attracted to, Susan, Gail Russell, has gone with her father to El Paso. A document needs to be signed by the judge and so Clay goes West.

El Paso itself is fairly lawless. On the stagecoach they encounter a young woman who cheats them of their wallets, Mary Beth Hughes, and an old salesman offering some comedy, played by George “Gabby� Hayes. Sterling Hayden plays the heavy of the town, head of a group who are taking over the land, some of which was allotted to the past Confederate soldiers. There is a corrupt sheriff in the town and they keep the judge drunk.

There is confrontation between the lawyer and the controllers, some killings, some trials (with George Hayes having to keep the judge sober until he appears in the court). The man accused of murder has fled across the river into Mexico were a sympathetic rancher gives him refuge as well as teaching Clay how to shoot.

In many ways, the film is very tough. The judge does his duty but is eventually killed and dragged through the town by a horse. Clay’s grandfather, H B.Warner comes to El Paso to urge Clay to mediation because Clay and his associates have become vigilantes, vengeful in their action, even killing a religious minister by mistake.

Ultimately, this advice is followed and there is some kind of peace in the town.


1. A post-Civil War drama? The Texas Western?

2. The title, an outpost, the Mexican border, the history of Texas and Mexico? Confederate soldiers and landowning? The wheeler dealers on land management? The role of the law?

3. The initial atmosphere of Charleston, mansions, society, the law? The contrast with the travel to Texas? The soldiers along the way? The prospect of Indians? The town itself, rough, the saloon, the shops, the properties? The countryside, the mountains and vistas, the river, Mexico? The musical score?

4. The introduction to Clay, the end of the war, Confederate officer? Going back to the law? The influence of his grandfather? The memory of Susan Jeffers, she and her father in El Paso? His travel to get the signature of the judge?

5. The Stagecoach, the encounter with Pesky, Pesky providing humour? His comments, salesman, entrepreneur but always being taken in? Stagecoach Nellie, charm, the swindle with the wallets, giving the wallets back but not the money?

6. Clay and his response to El Paso, the confrontation in the saloon, the prisoner, the drunk judge, the jury, swift injustice, the man hanged? Clay and his confronting Donner, the fight, their taking Clay’s clothes, the encounter with Don Nacho, the gun, the new coat from the shop? Clay’s reaction to seeing the judge, his drunkenness, his behaviour in the case? Upholding the law and Clay’s stances?

7. The new coat, going to see Susan, her work in the shop, the customers, pretending that all was well? The father returning, learning that Clay knew everything?

8. The encounter with John Elkins, the challenge to his land, the arrest? The role of Donner, his associates, the brutality of the sheriff? Elkins’ wife and son? His escape, Clay riding the shorter route to the river, Elkins escaping, Clay blocking the pursuit? Donner and the sheriff and their attitudes towards Clay?

9. Clay and his decision to stay, justice for the settlers, the former soldiers? His meeting with the judge, getting the signature with shaking hand? The plan to sober the judge?

10. Pesky, his pots and pans, the furs, the cockfight, the Indians and their taking him in? His commission to sober the judge, taking him out into the country, smashing the alcohol, their having to walk back? The judge ready for the case – but Donner and his men taking him to the saloon, the judge standing firm? Clay rescuing him?

11. Justice, the court, the prosecution and its flimsy stance, no jury? Clay and his quoting of the Texas Constitution? The judge and his decision? Rejoicing? The judge and his self-respect, respect from Susan, yet his being arrested and dragged along the streets of the town? Clay’s grandfather coming – his urging reconciliation and arbitration, his death? Elkins and his wife and their being shot? The harsh realities of El Paso?

12. Clay, gathering the men, Elkins’ son joining, their forming a posse, vigilante action, the boy identifying his parents’ killers, rough justice, hangings? The mistake in hanging the new preacher? The comment that they were as rough as their enemies?

13. Clay, his bond with Don Nacho, learning how to shoot, defeating Donner? Leading the men?

14. The news of the death of the preacher, the reaction of the boy and his mistake? Deciding to follow his grandfather’s advice? Yet the further shootouts?

15. Making peace, negotiations, the role of the law, the pursuit of the sheriff and his men, the being trapped in the river?

16. The triumphant procession at the end, human rights, justice, the central characters – and the Franciscan friar explaining the moral of the film?