THE TEXAS RANGERS
US, 1936, 98 minutes, Black and white.
Fred Mac Murray, Jack Oakie, Jean Parker, Lloyd Nolan.
Directed by King Vidor.
The Texas Rangers is based on a story by King Vidor, in turn based on documents about the history of the Texas Rangers. The film is a tribute to them.
Fred Mac Murray and Jack Oakie portray outlaws who work with Lloyd Nolan. However, when they are separated, Mac Murray and Oakie join the Texas Rangers in order to get information for further robberies and help in the search for their friend. However, it emerges that Lloyd Nolan is a dyed-in-the-wool outlaw while the other two are redeemable.
Jack Oakie’s character offers some comic style to the film, gives it something of a heart as he wants to remain loyal to the Rangers and to confront his partner. Fred Mac Murray’s character is more hard-headed, is tamed by Jean Parker as the daughter of the major in the Texas Rangers. Eventually, after Jack Oakie is killed, Mac Murray confronts Lloyd Nolan in a dramatic shootout.
The film is conventional in retrospect, the loyalty of the Texas Rangers is emphasised. However, the presentation of the Indians is rather more racist than later films would be.
The film was directed by King Vidor who had directed The Big Parade and was to go on to direct a number of significant films, especially such films as Wilson, Duel in the Sun and War and Peace.
The film was remade as Streets of Laredo in 1949 with William Holden, Macdonald Carey and William Bendix in the respective roles played by Fred Mac Murray, Lloyd Nolan and Jack Oakie.
1.The impact of this kind of western in the 1930s? The strong Paramount treatment? The parallels with the westerns of Cecil B. de Mille at the time?
2.The Texas locations, the outpost, the desert countryside, the mountains? The homesteads? The musical score?
3.The tribute to the Texas Rangers? The foundation, their heroics, their ethos? The praise of the Rangers and what they contributed to the state of Texas, being prepared to lay down their lives?
4.The opening, Wahoo and the stagecoach, Jim, Wahoo and Sam and the robbery? Dividing things up afterwards? The confrontation, the shootout? The separation of Jim and Wahoo from Sam?
5.Their joining the Texas Rangers, their motivation, Major Bailey, accepting them? Forgetting the past? Their own plans? Their becoming part of the Rangers? The work, the fight with the Indians, the desperate shootouts, the pursuit, in the mountains, the boulders coming down the mountains, Jim and Wahoo climbing, Wahoo’s being wounded, Jim and the victory? The flight of the Indians? (And the rather racist and superior tone of the dialogue against the Indians, especially in the young boy, David?)
6.David, his family being killed, his being anti-Indian? Wanting to go with Jim and Wahoo? Their taking him to town, his going to Major Bailey’s house, Amanda and his reaction against her bossiness? Jim and Wahoo visiting? Amanda and her surly attitude? Her being infatuated with Jim, Wahoo and his false explanations, Amanda and her flirting with Jim? His reaction? His being surprised that she should say she loved him?
7.Jim, the meeting up with Sam, the plans for future robberies? The corrupt towns? Major Bailey’s explanation of civilisation and corruption? Jim and the contacts, the corrupt leaders, the court case, his arguing the case, the judge, the verdict? His change of heart and falling out with Sam?
8.Major Bailey, his concern about corruption, concern about Sam? His arresting Jim? Wahoo going out to confront Sam, the game of cards, Sam shooting Wahoo? His body being carried back to the fort?
9.Jim, in prison, asking for release, going after Sam? The contact with Maria? Pulling the guns, the chase, the shootouts, Sam and his confidence, Jim prevailing?
10.The return, the reuniting with Amanda? Jim’s future?
11.The familiar western ingredients? 30s style?
