THE KENTUCKIAN
US, 1955, 104 minutes, Colour.
Burt Lancaster, Dianne Foster, Diana Lynn, John Mc Intyre, Una Merkel, John Carradine, John Litel, Rhys Williams, Walter Matthau.
Directed by Burt Lancaster.
The Kentuckian is a western directed by Burt Lancaster. This was his only film as director – although he collaborated with Roland Kibbe for The Midnight Man in 1974.
The setting is the Texas frontier in the 1820s, a period not normally seen in films and several decades before the civil war. The Kentuckian actually takes his son from Kentucky to go to Texas, a wilder frontier. He also has an indentured slave with him.
The film shows the life in the frontier town rather than a great deal of action. However, Walter Matthau in an early role, appears as a villain and there is a strong bullwhip fight between him and Lancaster.
Lancaster felt that he was better suited to acting and producing and so withdrew from direction. The Kentuckian is a comparatively mild western from the 1950s.
1. The emphasis of the title on the individual and the state? Audience expectations of the film as a western? Were they fulfilled?
2. The value of widescreen colour, the scenery, locations and atmosphere for themes?
3. The film's focus on Big Eli? Burt Lancaster's style, sympathy for him as a hero? Eli and the impact on audiences because he was a father? Eli as a hero of the west, a victim? What were his main strengths? As an illustration of the American heritage of the west?
4. The film's portrayal of the relationship between Eli and his son? The love and affection? Providing for his son's needs, for his future? Eli's memory of his marriage? Audience sympathetic response to this?
5. The significance of Hamah: the initial scenes of her slavery, her being bought, helping Eli, working for him, loving him, her role in the crisis, her future?
6. How did the film contrast Hannah with Susan? Susan and the settled way of life, her work and her teaching, her refinement? Eli's fascination with her? Her love for him? Why did it not succeed?
7. Comment of the way the film contrasted Eli with his brother Zack? Zack's concern for Eli's settling? The crises?
8. How important were the villains in this western? The Fromes, the Initial ambush, their cruelty, their final fickleness, the last fights, deaths?
9. The significance of Bodine in the film? This type of man in the west, his power, cruelty, deceiving people? The incident with the pearl, the whip-fight, the final betrayal, his death?
10. How cruel a west was presented in this film? Was it justly presented?
11. How much of the west was a west in which to survive: in work, moving on, ambitions, dreams?
12. A settled west, the farms, towns, school?
13. How appealing a western was this? How enjoyable? What were the major values that it stood for?
