PILLARS OF THE SKY

US, 1956, 95 minutes, Colour.
Jeff Chandler, Dorothy Malone, Lee Marvin, Keith Andes, Ward Bond.
Directed by George Marshall.

An enjoyable and conventional Western. Jeff Chandler is quite at home in this kind of role supported by such stars as Dorothy Malone and Lee Marvin in an ordinary role. Ward Bond features quite prominently. Direction is by George Marshall who made very many Westerns and comedies from Destry Rides Again to Jerry Lewis films. Enjoyable and typical Western.

1. How well did the film present the conventions of the West: landscapes, Indians in the late 19th century, the Army, treaties? Military life, the outsiders, the clash with the Indians? Audience enjoying the predictable?

2. The quality of colour, location photography?

3. The focus on the Indians and the film's sympathy towards them and critique of tho Army and the government breaking off treaties? The presentation of the mission and the odder aspects of its Christianizing the Indians, for example, their names? How fair was the film in the presentation of Indian rights, Indian aggression? The presentation of the clashes and the violence in the 19th century West?

4. The presentation of the Army, its administering the breaking of treaties, the officers who lived by the book and made mistakes?

5. The contrast with Bell as hero? The officer who wouldn't conform, drinking, good fellowship, wisdom? His religious background and rebellion against that? His friendship with Holan? As head of a scout group and shrewdness in understanding the Indians? His emotional response to Callie? Rivalry with Jackson, his drinking, and yet his ability? How conventional a hero of the West - the rebel hero achieving success?

6. The portrait of Callie - a heroine for the film, yet the ambiguity of her relationship with her husband and with Bell? Being captured by the Indians, rescued, a source of clashing? Participation in the climax?

7. The portrait of Jackson as the conventional Army man, his participation in the mission, relationship with Callie, clash with Bell?

8. The presentation of the mission, Holan and his friendship with the Indians and service of their the Chiefs friendly with him, his Biblical names? The hostile Chiefs? His being forced into a position of taking sides?

9. The portrait of the soldiers, the Bell types and their skill, the contrast with the raw recruits?

10. Comment on the presentation of the action sequences, the stalking of the Indians, the skirmishes, the final clashes, violence? The portrait of the heritage of the West?