THE TRAIL TO HOPE ROSE
 
US, 2004, 90 minutes, Colour.
Lou Diamond Philips, Ernest Borgnine, Lee Majors, Richard Tyson, Marina Black, Warren Stevens.
Directed by David S. Cass Sr.

The Trail to Hope Rose is a Hallmark Channel western.  This means that, even though it has the usual ingredients for a western, it is very much audience-friendly.  Even the violent sequences are audience-friendly in the traditional way.
 
The film focuses on a mining community where Lee Majors is the marshal.  Warren Stevens is Samuel Drigger, the patriarch who runs the town and administers justice (and injustice) as he wishes.  Lou Diamond Philips appears as a man who had spent time in jail for robbery but is making good, works for Drigger, is attracted by Christine, who lives with the alcoholic Gerald (Richard Tyson). 
 
The film shows the life in the town, the hard work of the mines, the rough life.  It also presents its central character, the reformed criminal, as an upright man, with a strong sense of duty.  Ernest Borgnine (aged about eighty-six when he made this film) gives a lively performance as an old farmer who confronts the Drigger organisation and befriends the ex-convict and the girl (Marina Black). 
 
There is a warmth in the film, familiar material, but nicely done.
 
The film was directed by David S. Cass, a long-time stunt extra who doubled for Robert Mitchum and who eventually became a producer, writer and director of many television films.
 
1.            An enjoyable western?  Suitable for most audiences?  The popular ingredients, crises, heroism?  Romance? 

2.            The setting:  the mining town, the mines?  The huts, homes?  The ranches?  Authentic atmosphere?  The musical score? 

3.            The title – and the revelation at the end that the daughter was Hope Rose? 

4.            The opening:  Drigger, the shootings, his countenancing them?  Merciless?  His control of the town?  His control of the mining business?  His wanting Eugene’s property?  The attitude towards the marshal?

5.            The marshal, strong character, welcoming Keenan Deerfield?  Trusting him?  Getting him the job?  His presence, observing what was going on, insisting to Keenan that he was the law?  The end, the report, the demand that he arrest Keenan, his tracking him, observing the crisis?  Supporting him?  Arresting Drigger?

6.            Keenan, his prison background, an upright character, principled?  His getting the job, his work?  Mixed-race background?  The attitude of Drigger’s son and Johnson?  Their brutality?  His hut, the rent, reading the contract?  The encounter with Gerald, seeing Christine, Gerald’s brutality?  Giving her shelter?  Giving her final refuge?  Giving her good advice?  His friendship with John, giving him advice, supporting him in his love for Charmaine?  Not bending to Drigger and the orders? 

7.            Gerald, his brutality, jealousy, treatment of Christine?  The hostility towards Keenan?  The fights?  Johnson supporting him?  His rejecting Christine?  His coming back, the baby, the confrontation, wanting to kill her, Christine shooting him? 

8.            Jack, his love for Chairmaine, Charmaine’s mother and her strictness?  Their presence at Keenan’s wedding?  Jack agreeing to do the robbery, with Foster, Keenan taking him away?  His standing up for himself – but his being shot? 

9.            Eugene, genial old man, confronting the Driggers, selling his produce, the deals with the merchants in the town?  His love for his dead wife, talking to her, visiting her grave?  Eugene’s deal with Keenan, building the fences, Christine and her wanting to help (and Johnson and the destruction of the fence)?  The deal with the firewood?  Keenan and his bonds with the merchants?  Eugene and his offering shelter to Keenan and Christine?  The celebration of the wedding?  His comments about having a drink?  His telling the marshal that they were to have the house when he died?  The final sequence at his grave, Keenan and Christine with Hope Rose? 

10.         Christine, her being in the west, with Gerald, her pregnancy, his brutal treatment, her fleeing him, offering to wash Keenan’s clothes, getting refuge?  Her leaving Gerald?  Her wanting to work, her participation in the deals with Eugene?  The wedding, her pregnancy, Keenan accepting the child?  The confrontation with Gerald and his death?  Her giving birth? 

11.         A.J. Foster turning up, the past work with Keenan, Keenan refusing to participate in a robbery, his persuading Jack, the hold-up, his being shot? 

12.         Johnson, Roy Drigger, the henchmen, the thugs for Drigger?  Roy Drigger’s death?  Samuel Drigger arrested? 

13.         Popular ingredients for a Hallmark Channel western?