LIGHTNING JACK
Australia/US, 1994, 96 minutes, Colour.
Paul Hogan, Cuba Gooding Jr, Beverley D' Angelo, Kamala Lopez, Pat Hingle, L.Q. Jones, Richard Riehle, Max Cullen, Roger Daltrey, Tony Bonner.
Directed by Simon Wincer.
Lightning Jack was one of Paul Hogan’s follow-ups to his success with the first two Crocodile Dundee films. He also wrote Almost an Angel which was not so commercially successful. Lightning Jack was only moderately successful around the world. After that he made Flipper, the third Crocodile Dundee film and the Australian comedy, Strange Bedfellows.
Paul Hogan has never tried to disguise his accent. So, this time, he is a failed outlaw in the American west, an Australian who finds it easy to go from state to state where he is not pursued as he would be in Australia. He also joins the Younger Gang – who are all killed at the first robbery at the beginning of the film. Hogan wrote the screenplay, has his usual laconic jokes, has a few laughs with sexual innuendo, downplays himself by promoting himself.
Cuba Gooding Jr, who was emerging as a star at this time after his appearance in Boys in the Hood, portrays a mute African American assistant in a store. He becomes Lightning Jack’s partner with the story of his valour over the Indians, calling himself Comanche. Beverley D' Angelo is a prostitute. Pat Hingle is the sheriff who wants to be governor of the state. There are some guest appearances by Roger Daltrey as an outlaw and Max Cullen as the sheriff with the prison.
The film was directed by Simon Wincer who had made an impact in Australia with such films as Phar Lap, The Lighthorsemen and went to America and made the series Lonesome Dove as well as many other films.
1.A popular Paul Hogan comedy? The equivalent of Crocodile Dundee as a failed outlaw in the American west? Hogan’s screen personality, his wisecracks, his persona?
2.The settings in the American west, authentic, the desert, the towns? The bars? The banks? The musical score?
3.The title, Jack Caine and his pride in being Lightning Jack? His ability with shooting? His inability to see well, his glasses, having to put them on to read, concealing this from people? His failure as an outlaw, the bungles in the various bank robberies? Yet his skill with his tongue, saving Ben Doyle in the bar, his wisecracks?
4.Ben Doyle, mute, in the shop, writing his notes, the manager and his ousting him? His being taken hostage? His saving Jack? The snakebite which wasn’t his continuing on with Jack, their way of communication? Cuba Gooding’s ability to communicate by facial expression without words?
5.The adventures of Jack and Ben? Moving through Indian territory? Going into the towns, the various bars? The men who challenged Ben, Jack’s story about Comanche and instilling fear in them? The various comic routines? Teaching Doyle how to shoot?
6.Lana, her establishment, her love for Jack, his promises to her, her helping him? Her waiting for him after the robbery? His finally turning up and their going to New York? Pilar as the prostitute, with Ben? In love with him?
7.The US marshal, the plan to get the Younger Gang? The achievement, the photos? His being persuaded by various interests, bank interests, to pursue Lightning Jack?
8.The plans for the big robbery, the irony of the alternate gang coming in and doing the robbery? Jack and Ben using their nous? Robbing the robbers?
9.The arrest, in the prison, the sheriff? Ben and his setting the fire, the escape?
10.The humour of the various escapades, the parodies of the serious westerns?
