PETER LUNDY AND THE MEDICINE HAT STALLION

US, 1977, 85 minutes, Colour.
Leif Garrett, Mitchell Ryan, Bibi Besch, Milo O'Shea.
Directed by Michael O'Herlihy.

Peter Lundy and the Medicine Hat Stallion is an entertaining family film. It is a piece of Americana, the American heritage of the West and the establishment of the Pony Express. It portrays life on the pioneer farms of Colorado, the establishing of the Pony Express and its repercussions for President Lincoln and the unification of the States. There are the themes of the settlers, the pioneers, the clashes with the Indians, the villains who roamed the West for exploitation. The film is a vehicle for teenage singer Leif Garrett who is competent in the central role. There is a good supporting cast, especially with Mitchell Ryan in the complex role of Peter's father. The film is designed as entertainment and American morale boosting.

1. An enjoyable western, American pioneers and the American western heritage?

2. For what audience was the film made? Impact on families, younger audiences? The home audience? Colour photography, Colorado? Action sequences? The musical score?

3. The story of the Pony Express, the pioneers, the families of the West, law and order, clashes with the Indians and friendship, American statehood? The viewpoint of the film as regards whites, Indians, the United States? The focus on Peter and his success as a Pony Express rider? The flashback structure of the film? Peter as a young boy, his relationship with his mother, the moodiness of his father? His grandmother? His work around the how, his knowledge of horses, friendship with the blacksmith? The neighbours? The store and the pioneers passing through? Peter's father and his work at the store? His travels? Peter and his kindness to the pioneers and the father's anger with him? Being brought up in the rugged American way, affection from his mother, sternness from his father? The importance of achievement? The encounter with the bad man? The getting of the horse? The encounter with the Indians and their letting him keep the stallion? His training of it? His being proud of his father as one of the best marksmen in the West? The picnic sequence? The contrast with his father's severity, selling the horse for the Pony Express? Peter wanting to prove himself to his father? The sketch of Peter's father? Good man, erratic, limping, his absences, his marksmanship? His severity on himself? The authoritarian upbringing? The keeping of the horse? The selling of it? His reluctant letter giving Peter permission to ride for the Pony Express? His mother's explanation of what had happened to the father and the explaining of his sternness, self-image? The store, his pride in Peter's success, the killing of the villain? His final attempts at expressing affection? The presentation of the farm, the store and the pioneers, the town, the picnic, shooting competition, the training tests for Pony Express riders? The villain and his encounter with Peter, his lies, the encounters with the Indians, the final meeting and Peter's knowledge that he had injured his father? Poetic justice in his death?

8. The theme of the Pony Express, its establishment, the getting of horses, the stations, the hard riding, the young men riding, dangers from Indians? Peter's experiencing these and coming through?

9. The picture of the Indians and their hostility, fair treatment, Peter's encounter about the horse, the Chief? His being chased as a rider? The film's stand for harmony of whites and Indians?

10. The spirit of the pioneers, American heritage? Enthusiasm and morale building? The young American hero?