STRANGER ON HORSEBACK
US, 1955, 66 minutes, Colour.
Joel Mc Crea, Miroslava, Kevin Mc Carthy, John Mc Intire, John Carradine, Nancy Gates, Emile Meyer.
Directed by Jacques Tourneur.
A brief Western of the mid 50s, released the year Joel Mc Crea turned 50, based on a novel by the prolific Louis L’ Amour. It was directed by Jacques Tourneur who had come to prominence in the 1940s directing some key horror films for producer, Val Lewton. In the early 1950s he made a number of westerns.
Joel Mc Crea was one of the iconic Western stars, in dramas and light comedies in the 1930s and 40s, but appearing in numerous small-budget westerns, culminating in 1962, with Randolph Scott, Ride the High Country.
Here he is a touring judge, with his book of Law and his gun, confronting a lawless community dominated by the patriarch of a family which owns most of the land and companies in the town. The patriarch is played with some force by John Mc Intire, with Kevin Mc Carthy as his spoilt and conscience-less son. Mexican actress, originally from Czechoslovakia, Miroslava appears as something of a femme fatale (and, sadly, committed suicide the year the film was released). John Carradine is around as an advisor to the family.
The judge is an upright character, unable to be swayed by the family and by bribery. There is a buildup to the arrest of the son who has committed a callous murder, pursued by the family, an unexpected ending with the judge leaving behind the accused, then suddenly getting off his horse, hiding, starting the shootout, the film finally ending in the courtroom.
1. Standard Western of the 1950s? Brief? Presence of Joel Mc Crea, John Mc Intire?
2. The locations, the western terrain, the town, the saloon, sheriff offices, the mountain scenery? The location for the final shootout? The musical score?
3. The commentary on the west, the landowners and their moving in, setting up their empires, their own laws? The family in the town, the Bannermans, owning everything, controlling everyone?
4. Joel Mc Crea as the judge, riding in, integrity, not being able to be bribed, the discussions with the colonel, his knowledge of the family, of the law and the situations in the town?
5. The judge passing the burial, getting to the story, the dead man just arrived in the town, his grieving widow? Tom Bannerman and his advances, shooting the man? Conscienceless? The determination of the judge to arrest him and take him to court?
6. The Bannerman family, the head, his self-confidence, his henchmen, the colonel? Amy Lee as part of the family, the intended weddings? Wanting the judge to visit, his being persuaded, his strong moral stance?
7. The interview with the witness, his daughter, her motivations and love for Tom? Agreeing to testify?
8. The role of the sheriff, disheartened, yet on the side of right? Helping the judge?
9. The old drunk, to warn the Bannermans, the judge putting him in the cell, the Bannermans missing the group leaving town? Their pursuit, judge and the group hiding in the trees? The alternate route? Bannerman and his determination to head off the group?
10. Amy Lee, attracted to the judge, the kiss, his seeing her motivations? With the posse, her return, going to help the group?
11. The trip over the mountains, Tom and his getting the witness to fall over the cliff, the attempted rescue, Amy Lee stopping him harming the judge?
12. The confrontation with the Bannerman men, surrounded, Tom and his presumption, Bannerman and his saying he was to control whatever fate his son had? The judge agreeing not to shoot Tom? Riding away? The reaction of the group? The manoeuvre, the judge on the ground, the shooting, the deaths, Bannerman admitting defeat, wanting a proper court case?
13. The film finishing in the court?
