SANTA FE PASSAGE
US, 1955, 90 minutes, Colour.
John Payne, Rod Cameron, Faith Domergue, Slim Pickens.
Directed by William Witney.
Santa Fe Passage is a routine western from Republic Studios. John Payne appeared in a lot of this action adventure in the 50s as did Rod Cameron. Faith Domergue was a protege of Howard Hughes. Slim Pickens appears, rather youthful in comparison with so many films from which he is familiar.
The film is about scouts, wagons crossing the dangerous west, the threat of the Indians. It is also about gun-running as well as prejudice against the Indians. John Payne is a scout who occasions a massacre of settlers and has a hostility towards the Indians. This is very vocal in the film – and he has to change because Faith Domergue is half Indian, half white. Rod Cameron seems upright – and his change to a touch of villainy seems out of place.
This is familiar material reflecting attitudes in Hollywood towards the history of the 19th century.
1. Interesting western? Entertaining? Familiar material?
2. The colour photography, the west, the mountains? The action sequences? The musical score? The title and the reference to wagon trains in the west?
3. Kirby Randolph, Sam, their work as scouts? The wagon train, the threat of the Indians, the information about the chief attacking? Their taking the gifts, the music box, the altered guns? The encounter with the Indians, the barter? Their double-dealing in giving false gifts? The Indians and the war party massacring the wagon train?
4. Randolph’s reputation, people refusing to employ him, spitting? His approaching Griswold? The attack on him by the foreman, by the woman? His being employed?
5. The journey, his work, his shrewdness, his harsh attitudes towards the Indians and verbalising these? The dangers? The stampede of the horses and his wise moves to prevent destruction, firing the wagon?
6. Griswold, the gun-running, his love for the girl, proposal, her refusal? The confrontation with the foreman, with Kirby? Shooting the foreman because of his betrayal to the Indians? His jealousy of Kirby?
7. The girl, her background, her being protected by the squaw who drove the wagon, the squaw advising her, giving her life for her? The antagonism towards Kirby, the change of heart, his saving her life, her apology, the attraction, falling in love?
8. The confrontation with the Indians, Kirby and his shrewdness? The defeat of the Indians, the wagons getting through?
9. Popular ingredients – from a Hollywood in less sophisticated times, especially interpreting race relationships and racism of the 19th century?
