CATTLE EMPIRE
US, 1958, 83 minutes, Colour.
Joel Mc Crea, Gloria Talbot, Don Haggerty, Phyllis Coates, Bing Russell.
Directed by Charles Marquis Warren.
Cattle Empire is a brief western, one of many directed by Charles Marquis Warren. In the previous year he directed Joel Mc Crea in Trooper Hook.
The film’s focus is on cattle-droving in the 19th century. Joel Mc Crea portrays a tough man – who emerges, finally, as framed and as a hero. He is bent on revenge against those who condemned him to jail. However, he finally makes good. Don Haggerty and Bing Russell portray two cattle-owning brothers. (Bing Russell is the father of Kurt Russell and appeared with him in a number of films. However, his main claim to fame was his presence in the television series Bonanza.)
Gloria Talbot was a starlet of the 50s. Phyllis Coates was Lois Lane in the television series with George Reeves (the subject of the film Hollywoodland in which her character appears).
1. The popularity of this kind of brief western in the 50s? How well does it stand up now?
2. The Cinemascope colour photography, the west, the cattle drives? The musical score?
3. The basic western story, landowners, cattle drives, the west and lawlessness, revenge, betrayals? The romantic elements?
4. The focus on John Cord, seeing him dragged through the town, the townspeople hostile to him? Ralph Hamilton and his control of the people? The story of the past, the cattle drive, Cord’s men running amok in the town, killing and maiming? Drunk? His serving five years in prison? People not defending him? The irony of the final revelation, the role of Ralph Hamilton, Cord in jail? A motivation for revenge?
5. The Hamilton’s, their wealth, Ralph Hamilton becoming blind, his love for Janice (and her previous love for Cord)? Douglas Hamilton and his not being in a position to lead? The request to Cord to lead the cattle, the rivalry from Garth and other cattle owners? The hostility towards Cord? His initial plan to destroy the Hamilton cattle, his double-deal with Garth? The role of Garth in the past, his listening to the men, their trust in him, his going back to Garth – and Garth not believing the truth and so destroying his cattle?
6. The nature of the cattle drive, the vistas of the cattle, the few deaths? The Hamiltons and the Garths and their rivalry? The other cattle owners, their criticisms, the man going off, coming back with the warning about the ambush? Cord successfully bringing the cattle through?
7. Janice, her love for Cord, her marriage to Hamilton, her suspicions of him? The romance – but her staying with Hamilton? Douglas, criticisms, his final support, a future leader? Sandy, Cord knowing her since she was a girl, her romantic idealism, wanting to go off with him – but his going off alone?
8. The members of the cattle drive, the humour with Tom Jefferson and George Washington Jeffrey, their loyal support, the humour, acting as conscience for Cord? Challenging him? The scene in the bar where the young man drew on Cord and their sending the drink down the bar and saving him?
9. The brevity of the film, the screenplay moving quickly, especially with the cattle drive, the discontent of the men, the resolving of the problems?
10. The final resolution, Cord as hero? Ralph Hamilton and his confession, accepting his fate? The basic themes of the American west?
