THIS SAVAGE LAND

US, 1969, 97 minutes, Colour.
Barry Sullivan, George C. Scott, John Drew Barrymore, Glenn Corbett, Brenda Scott, Andrew Prine, Kelly Corcoran, Kathryn Hayes.

Directed by Vincent Mc Eveety.

This Savage Land is a mixture of Disney-like settling of the west with some savage sequences from the bushwhackers, the squads of riders from the defeated southern states who wanted to prevent northerners coming in to settle in such states as Kansas.

Vincent Mc Eveety directed many of the Disney films of the 1970s including The Castaway Cowboy and Million Dollar Duck. His family-friendly style is evident in this film - sentiment, lots of close-ups, rather bland, romance. However, with George C. Scott as the leader of the bushwhackers, the film is very strong in his scenes. His next film was to be his Oscar-winning Patton.

Barry Sullivan was a veteran of many films in the 40s and 50s, working in television and films like this in the 1960s. Andrew Prine also appeared in a number of films like this at the time, often with John Wayne. His wife of the time, Brenda Scott, appears as his sister. Kathryn Hayes is a very strong heroine for this kind of story.

1. Interesting western of the 60s? The 60s style? The combination of sentiment with rugged action?

2. The title, indication of themes, the post-civil war period, the settlers moving from Ohio to Kansas? The bushwhackers? The attacks on towns like Lawrence, Kansas? The settings, the town, the country? The musical score?

3. The portrait of the Pride family, moving from Springfield? Ben and his work in the civil war? The extended family, the wagons, their being set on by the bushwhackers? The confrontation, the stampede through the town? The background of Lawrence and its building
itself up after the civil war?

4. Ben, bringing his father and mother to the west, his three children? Widower? The chase through the town? His knocking Elizabeth into the mud, the meeting, the attraction? Settling on the land, the family tone, the attack of the bushwhackers, the threats, the burning of the wagon, the stealing of the goods? Their being told to move out? The decision to stay, the building of the house? Ben, strong? Leadership qualities? Love for his children? Tim, the support for his father? Midge and her preoccupation with her dead mother? Kip, the piglet, the little boy? Grandma and Grandpa? The attack of the bushwhackers, Grandpa being burnt?

5. Ben going to the town, wanting the doctor, meeting Elizabeth, her coming, helping Grandpa, telling the story to Kip? The arrival of the cavalry? Her bond with the sergeant? Going back? Ben and his attraction? Midge and her wariness? Kip and his liking Elizabeth? The rest of the family liking her?

6. Peaceful town, Ben meeting Elizabeth's father? The sudden attack of the bushwhackers, the leadership of Judd Barker? Stacey and his brutality, the shooting of the doctor? Grandma and her trying to save her husband, her being run down by the horses? The grief? Elizabeth and Ben on the hill, coming back to the town, Elizabeth wanting to be alone? Her decision to leave?

7. Ben, his coming to the stagecoach, proposing to Elizabeth, her accepting? Midge and her previous dislike, her criticisms of Elizabeth? The other members of the family glad that she came back? The celebration?

8. Grandpa, his unwillingness to accept the death of Grandma, Tim being able to move him, to plant the roses?

9. Barker coming to the house, his wounded men, taking Elizabeth and Midge? Ben and his reaction, being held back? The later decision to follow? Chance and his arrival for the wedding, discovering his father's death, going out to the farm, joining forces? Their pursuing the group, Chance's plan and Tim following, their being captured after the wagon went into the water, the capture of Ben, their being taken to the camp?

10. Judd Barker, his character, the south, his determination to stop northerners coming? His decree that there was to be no killing? Yet taking the goods, burning the wagons? His ambiguous attitudes? Stacey and his being out of control, shooting Elizabeth's father? His wanting Elizabeth to help Dave, the care of the sick, the fever, taking out the bullets? Her treating Judd Barker for his infected arm? His stoicism and the pain? His reaction to Stacey in the camp, the truth about Elizabeth's father, Stacey and his confrontation, Judd Barker shooting him? His allowing the group to go?

11. The settling of the home, a happy future?

12. A picture of the times, of the settlers, of the atmosphere after the civil war, of the bushwhackers and their imposing law and order on their own terms? Lawlessness?