DEVIL’S CANYON

US, 1953, 92 minutes, Colour.
Virginia Mayo, Dale Robertson, Stephen Mc Nally, Arthur Hunnicutt, Robert Keith, Jay C. Flippen.
Directed by Alfred Werker.

Devil’s Canyon is a routine western of the early 50s. It is a prison western, the focus on the central character, played by the rather wooden Dale Robertson, who is a former marshal who has been acting as a gunfighter after the governor of Arizona has banned gunfighters. Also in prison is his arch nemesis, played with relish by Stephen Mc Nally. Also in the prison, eventually, is the only woman prisoner, an outlaw played by Virginia Mayo. She is torn between planning an escape with the villain and her attraction towards the hero. Robert Keith is the warden and Jay C. Flippen is the warder.

The film shows the interactions in the prison as in so many present films. There is the attempted break-out which is thwarted. The film is interesting as an example of popular western entertainment of the period.

1.Quality western? Routine western? Entertainment?

2.The locations, Arizona in the 1890s? The town, the open plains, the prison? Musical score?

3.The title, the focus on the prison, hard labour? The overtones of the Devil?

4.Billy Reynolds, the lawman, straight up and down, somewhat stolid? His being warned by Abby about the brothers trying to kill him? The shoot-out? His being arrested according to the law, tried, sent to the prison? The reaction of the warden who knew him? Captain Wells whom he had formerly punched? With Jesse in the prison, the antagonism? His work, cellmates – with the touch of comedy? The meeting with Abby, in the infirmary? The attack by Jesse? The plans for the escape? His being put in solitary? His getting the gatling gun, stopping the escape? Abby and her change of heart? Being pardoned? A future?

5.Abby, warning Billy, her relationship with Jesse, the bank robberies, her arrest, the plan for the escape, the guns coming in with the medication? The discussions with Jesse, his dominance? The meetings with Billy, her attraction towards him? The role of the doctor? The warning of the warden? The start of the escape, Jesse’s brutality, her change of heart, letting Billy out, the culmination?

6.Jesse, the outlaw, in prison, dominating his fellow prisoners, the plan with the escape, the knife attack on Billy? With Abby? The escape, his wanting to control the prisoners? His death?

7.The authorities, the warden and his sincerity, Wells and his brutality, antagonism towards Billy? The official who was bribed by Abby, bringing Jesse to the doctor’s?

8.The comic touch with Frank, with Virgil, the stories, the discussions about food, the escape?

9.A routine prison film – with a western setting?