TIMBERJACK

US, 1955, 94 minutes, Colour.
Sterling Hayden, Vera Ralston, David Brian, Adolphe Menjou, Hoagy Carmichael, Chill Wills, Jim Davis.
Directed by Joseph Kane.

Timberjack was produced by the head of Republic Studios, Herbert Yates, starring his wife Vera Ralston. Ralston was a protégé of Yates, a former Czech ice skater who began a movie career in the 1940s. However, with her accent and lack of warmth and screen presence, she was never a major star, although she appeared in many of Yates’s films. Director Joseph Kane was the director of many of these films.

The film is set in north-western Montana, forest areas and focuses on felling trees and logging. It has the typical story of good owner versus bad owner, Sterling Hayden versus David Brian. Ecological groups might be horrified at the portrayal of logging and some of the implications.

There is an interesting supporting cast with Adolphe Menjou, towards the end of his career, as Vera Ralston’s father and the singer/composer, Hoagy Carmichael. In fact, the action is punctuated by quite a number of songs (where Ralston’s voice is dubbed).

1. Popular kind of 50s entertainment? Action, romance, songs?

2. The western Montana locations, the authentic forests? The town, the countryside, the river, the forests?

3. The musical score, the range of songs, Lynne and her singing, Hoagy Carmichael, the song with the dog?

4. The conventional action and romance? Good versus evil? 1950 style?

5. Tim, his father and the railroad, the going to college, returning after twelve years, the death of his father? Meeting with Swifty, the situation, seeing Lynn again? The confrontation with Brunner? On the rails, the fight and his being bashed? Lynn looking after him? His plans with Steve, the opening up of the forest, Swifty giving him information ahead of Brunner? The spy? The work, the river, the logging? The confrontation with the men? The death of Swifty, the interactions with Lynn? The final confrontation with Brunner? On the train, the chase, his getting off, Lynn and Brunner in the forest, the shoot-out? The romantic ending? The frontier hero?

6. Lynn, her relationship with her father, Brunner helping her with the club, her singing? Keeping the accounts? Glad to see Tim again, the attentions of Brunner? Her helping Tim, warning him? The death of her father? Her warning Tim, the shooting in the forest? The romantic ending?

7. Brunner, power, wealth, the men? Legal loopholes? The murder of Tim’s father? His toughs, his attack on Ole, Ole going off to work for Tim? The confrontations, Swifty and his bashing him? The disposal of the body? Getting in the gang from the south? The fight in the forest? His death?

8. Swifty, alcoholic, the law, love for his daughter, support of Tim, confrontation with Brunner, his death?

9. Jingles, the piano man in the club, his songs, helping Lynn?

10. Steve, loyal support, the other workers, hard work, payment, the traitors?

11. Enjoyable for its time? In retrospect?