THE OUTCAST
US, 1954, 90 minutes, Colour.
John Derek, Joan Evans, Jim Davis, Catherine Mc Leod, Slim Pickens, Bob Steele.
Directed by William Witney.
The Outcast is a Republic western of the 1950s, the studio with small-budget films made in Trucolor. They are very similar in style to the many westerns from Universal Studios at this period with stars like Audie Murphy, Jeff Chandler, as well as the many Randolph Scott westerns of the period.
John Derek plays the nephew of a major who has taken his father’s property with a false will. He comes back to claim the property, hiring a number of ruthless gunmen. Jim Davis portrays the major who has his own squad. However, he wants respectability and is engaged to a Virginia lady, Catherine Mc Leod. Joan Evans is the daughter of a local landowner. Slim Pickens appears as one of her brothers as does Nicolas Coster.
The film is routine in its plot – but is done with some verve by William Witney, director of many serials in the 1940s and B-budget films up to the 1970s.
1.Entertaining western of the period? In retrospect?
2.The western settings, the town, the land, the cattle, the cattle drives? The musical score?
3.Jet Cosgrave as the outcast? His relationship with his father, his father’s reputation, his death? His uncle’s reputation as a major? The false will? His hold over the lawyer? His taking the property? Jet returning to reclaim it? Hiring Dude Rankin and the other gunfighters? Rankin and his killing the cook, shooting him in the back? Jet and his trying to impose his will? The cattle, the money? The confrontations with his uncle? His meeting Judy, the attraction, the kiss – and she thinking that he had promised her marriage? Jet and his motivation, the discussions with Alice, her contempt? Trying to tell her the truth about his uncle? The Polsen family? The hostility? Mrs Banner and her help at the hotel?
4.Major Linton Cosgrave, his wealth, the false will, his power? Influence in the town? The Polsens’ dislike of him? The confrontation with Jet? With Cal Prince, buying off Rankin and the other gunfighters? The stealing of the cattle? The false image for Alice? The pursuit of Jet, in her room, the truth? The build-up to the shootout? His killing the lawyer? His death?
5.Alice, the lady from Virginia, arrival, in the hotel, with Mrs Banner, her belief in the major, not believing Jet? Friendship with Judy, helping her? Observing the relationship? Her shielding Jet? His infatuation with her – and the false motivation? Telling the truth to Linton, leaving town?
6.Judy, the Polsen family, tough? Cattle property, antagonism towards the Cosgraves? Her discussions with Jet, the kiss, in love, her father whipping her? Leaving home, Mrs Banner employing her in the hotel? Shielding Jet? Hearing the truth, her disappointment? Her brother’s death? The funeral, farewell to Alice? The happy ending?
7.Dude Rankin, the gunfighters, Cal Prince? No scruples? Able to be bought off? The cattle drive, the shootouts? Curly and his remaining loyal to Jet?
8.The Polsen family, the father as a patriarch, the brothers? The cattle? Antagonisms, the death? The funeral? Teaming with Jet?
9.Jet, ambiguous character, leading Judy on? With Alice? His motivation? Joining with the Cosgraves, the cattle, the shootouts, the fight on horseback? The confrontation with his uncle?
10.The happy ending, the resolution of the vengeance issues?
