DUEL AT SILVER CREEK

US, 1952, 82 minutes, Colour.
Audie Murphy, Faith Domergue, Stephen Mc Nally, Gerald Mohr, Susan Cabot, Lee van Cleef.
Directed by Don Segal.

Duel at Silver Creek is one of the many Audie Murphy westerns made during the 1950s. They are efficient brief westerns and stand up well today. This film is of particular interest as one of the earliest films directed by Don Siegel who went on to fame in the late 60s and during the 70s with such films as Dirty Harry and The Shootist.

The film shows mine claimers and their being persecuted by a gang buying up claims at cheap rates and killing the miners. The upright sheriff of the town (Stephen McNally) is tracking them down and gets the help of Audie Murphy whose father was one of the miners who was killed. Faith Domergue is a femme fatale, unscrupulous in her manipulations. Susan Cabot is the energetic young heroine.

1. The popularity of Audie Murphy westerns? The westerns of the 1950s? Plots, characters, conventions, straightforward?

2. The western setting, the open plains, the mines, the caves, the towns? Action sequences? Musical score?

3. The background of the mining claims, the gang, the pressure on the miners, selling, being killed? The Kid’s father and his death? The gang killing the old man in the town?

4. Lightning, the upright sheriff, being adored by Dusty? His wanting to catch the gang? His going to the town, his work, admiration of people? His return, the death of the old man? Suspicions on the Kid, his confronting him, making him deputy? His attraction towards Brown Eyes, seeing her in the town, her return, her working with her brother? The mining company? His being deceived by her? The gunfighter brought into the town? The confrontation with Johnny? The further detection, the killings, the taking of the gunman as prisoner, the set-up to pretend that he was in the prison, the lynching party, the abduction? Dusty and her being taken? The Kid and his suspicions? Lightning and the confrontation? The fact that he had been wounded, unable to hold the gun, the information given to Ringo? The final shoot-out?

5. The Kid, his age, relationship with his father, the mine, going to the town, the pursuit, the death of the gang member? His ability at poker, gambling, his reputation? The encounter with Lightning, his being made deputy? The encounters with Dusty? Her disregard of him? His suspicions of Opal, of Lacey? The work in the town, the cover-up about the lynching party and the rescue of the prisoner? His going with Lightning, the information about Opal, her telling the truth about Lightning’s hand? The confrontation with Ringo? The shoot-outs? The riding to Silver Creek, Dusty, his falling in love with her, the rescue? The confrontation with the gang? A future?

6. Opal, Lightning attracted to her, calling her Brown Eyes? Her style, elegance? The truth, her killing the prisoner after offering to be the nurse? Her going to the town, her control over Lacey, posing as his sister? Trying to get rid of Lightning, leading him on, the visits, the attempted shooting of him and its failure? Her pretending the place had been robbed, her learning about his finger, telling Ringo? Her being at the mine, the confrontation with Lacey, her death?

7. Dusty, young, tomboy, infatuated with Lightning, the interactions with the Kid, falling in love with him, going to the mine trying to be helpful, the shoot-out?

8. The supporting characters, the old man, friend of Lightning and his death? Ringo and his status around the town, being employed by Lacey, leading the lynching party, the final shoot-out? The characters in the bar, the employees of Lacey, the hired killer coming, the symbol of the gang? Lacey, smooth talker, the operation?

9. The popular ingredients of the opening up of the west, law and the towns, the miners? Law and order?