THE STARS FELL ON HENRIETTA

US, 1995, 107 minutes, Colour.
Robert Duvall, Aiden Quinn, Frances Fisher, Brian Dennehy, Francesca Ruth Eastwood, Billy Bob Thornton, Victor Wong.
Directed by James Keach.

The Stars Fell on Henrietta is a little-known film, produced by Clint Eastwood’s company, Malpaso, photographed by his photographer Bruce Surtees and designed by Henry Bumstead who worked on so many of Eastwood’s films. Frances Fisher was his wife at the time and their daughter appears as Frances Fisher’s daughter in the film.

The film was directed by actor James Keach, who appeared in a lot of films as well as directing many films for television.

The film was little-seen, a pity because it has a strong sense of humanity. It also is interesting in terms of the history of Texas, the oil boom, the kinds of characters involved, the ordinary people who are told that oil is under their property and who invest their money only to suffer hardships and loss. Robert Duvall is very good as the optimistic prospector who talks more than his skills and experience would allow. Aiden Quinn and Frances Fisher are the couple, she hostile to what he is doing. Brian Dennehy is the local authority who throws his weight around.

This is a small-budget but humane film – and might be compared in theme with Daniel Day Lewis and his exploits in There Will Be Blood.

1.A little-seen film, audience appeal, a piece of Americana?

2.The re-creation of Texas in the 1930s, the town, the countryside, the dustbowl, the search for oil, finding oil, struggles, the rich and the poor?

3.The narrative of the little girl, commenting on Mr Cox, her perspective?

4.The history of oil in Texas, the search, the discoveries, the prospectors made rich, the conmen and their advice, the strugglers and their investment? The background of the Depression? The gushers of oil? The possibility of equipment and prospecting going wrong?

5.Robert Duvall as Mr Cox, his age, experience and lack of experience? A gentleman? His pet cat? With the partners? The failures, the oil running out? His being known around Texas? The touch of the conman? Don Day and his family, the divining of the oil, the smell? The prospecting? The reaction of Don, his wife and her hostility, the children, her taking the children?

6.The oil business, arrests, prison? Big Dave Mc Dermott and his restaurant? Mr Cox with the owner, washing the dishes? His sense of failure, Mc Dermott being vengeful?

7.The return, the money, the plan and its success? The fire? The desperation, the injured? With the children?

8.Don and his wife, the hopes, his believing Mr Cox, the issue of the money, struggling on the farm, the children, hungry, corn bread? The clashes between the husband and wife? Hurts? The decision to go ahead?

9.The daughter, the young man, the romance? The fall, hospital after the climb? The father and his angers?

10.Mc Dermott, the claim, the thugs? The final joy of the gusher?

11.A portrait of ordinary people, dreams, the American dream and its failure and fulfilment?