HEARTS OF THE WEST (HOLLYWOOD COWBOY)

US, 1975, 103 minutes, Colour.
Jeff Bridges, Blythe Danner, Andy Griffith, Donald Pleasence, Alan Arkin.
Directed by Howard Zieff.

The Hollywood nostalgia trend produced grim biography and melodrama in a sensational world. Here we have comedy and a more gentle touch. Jeff Bridges, a would-be Zane Grey, goes West in the early 30s and discovers the cowboys of L.A., heroes and villains. The Hollywood types include a manic Alan Arkin as a director. Bridges mouthes many a Western cliche with humour, but the film has an affection for what it is (often quite seriously) satirising. The film's parts are enjoyable and, perhaps, better than the whole. But it is a pleasing blend of realism, fantasy and memory.

1. The original title was Hearts of the West. Which title was more appropriate? why?

2. The film as an expression of the 70s nostalgia for the past, for Hollywood and its traditions? What tone of nostalgia did the film take, what did it elicit from audiences? The film and its comedy aspects, satirical aspects? How well did they blend? The overall effect?

3. The film's re-creation of Hollywood in the 30s? The appeal to interest in the 30s, to the making of films, to the myth of Hollywood, to the western style especially? American myths and screen myths? The impact today considering the tradition of American westerns? How wise and humorous this presentation on the American heritage?

4. The central character of Lewis Tater? Jeff Bridges and his style, Tater at hone, the way of life in Iowa? The Depression and the 30's? Lewis' aims and dreams? Enrolment at the university and his goals as a writer? The mocking from his family, his decision to travel? The bitterness of his disillusionment? An atmosphere of the Depression?

5. How engaging a character was Lewis with his belief in the West? His mouthing of western cliches and the humour of this? His philosophy of always being alert, creative, using experience for his writing, describing real events in western cliche? His character as a tribute to the West? His admiration for Zane Grey, even to a haircut?

6. The ironic presentation of the gangsters: fat and thin, the bogus university, their money, their pursuit of the hero, through desert and Hollywood etc.? The suspense generated by these odd criminals?

7. The exodus of Lewis through the desert? The irony and humour of this? The prelude to his discovering the actors, seeing the way that westerns were made, meeting the personalities of the actors, their discussion about their acting, priorities of deaths etc.? The interest in showing how westerns were made in terms of budgets, sound, the role of the director, the other assistants etc.? Details of life on location? The attractiveness for Lewis?

8. Lewis as the naive young man going west, but to Hollywood? How well did the film show Hollywood of the 30s, its artificiality, the studios and the artificial styles and personalities, the need for work, the details of screen testing, the arguments about contracts, the temperaments of the people there? The humour and irony of showing how the 'Pagan Love Song' musical was filmed? The contrast with the apartments, the landladies, the restaurants, the people in the restaurants especially the Rio Cafe and the maid there? Lewis as experiencing all of this?

9. Miss Trout as the heroine? A nice and pleasant character, her work, helping Lewis, her helping him in the climax?

10. The details of filming, the creating of Lewis into a famous actor? The poster for him etc.?

11. The character of Howard Pike? The veteran character actor, his advice, the irony of the truth about his being a writer, the hardness of his stealing Lewis' book, reacting against this, coming to rescue Lewis with western details and guns blazing, especially blanks? His change of heart for a happy ending?

12. How good an author was Lewis? His dreams of being an author and famous? His pursuing the film director, his interview with Nietz and the film's showing of Nietz as an eccentric Hollywood character?

13. The party and Lewis' being out of place at it, the walk along the seashore, the disillusionment with Howard?

14. The presentation of the minor characters, especially Alan Arkin's performance and style as Kessler? The humour and irony of his tantrums?

15. The confrontation in the strip club and the appeal to Howard? The villains pursuing Lewis through all the studios and the build-up to the climax?

16. How appropriate was this climax for a comedy western: the shooting, Lewis really being wounded, the blanks saving the day, Lewis' commentary as he was taken to the ambulance? The happy ending?

17. What insight into human nature, relationships does this kind of film give? The film as a piece of Americana to understand that country, its celluloid myth?