THE REDHEAD AND THE COWBOY

US, 1950, 90 minutes, \Black and white.
Glenn Ford, Edmond O'Brien, Rhonda Fleming, Alan Reed.
Directed by Leslie Fenton.

The Redhead and the Cowboy is one of the many programme features produced by major studios in the '40s and '50s. This film has fine Paramount production values. It is based on a story by Charles Marquis Warren, author of many westerns (and later director of similar films). Glenn Ford is an engaging hero, Rhonda Fleming a glamorous heroine. The film is a pleasant, if conventional, western.

1. An entertaining western? The aftermath of the Civil War?

2. The film as a programmer, production values, black and white photography, locations in New Mexico, editing and pace, action sequences, musical score?

3. The title and the focus on Gil and Candace? The background of the West? Expectations?

4. The aftermath of the Civil War, 1865, New Mexico, renegades from the various armies, the Copperheads? The espionage, the robbery plans, law and order and lawlessness?

5. Gil Kyle and Glenn Ford's amiable style, the cowboy after the Civil War, coming to the town, bushwhacked, involved in the plans for the robbery, his rescuing Candace and falling in love with her, the attack on the gold train, the villains brought to justice? The man of the West?

6. Candace and her work in the dance hall, carrying messages from the alleged forces? Espionage? Involvement, falling in love with Gil, being rescued by him?

7. Dunn Jeffers and his place in the West, cattle buyer, the armies, the robbery plans?

8. The picture of the false Confederate Army, the outlaw band, the plan to rob the gold train, the chases, the attacks? Their being called to justice?

9. The gallery of characters from westerns: the sheriff, Mr. and Mrs Barrett, Lamartine?

10. The American heritage of the West, the opening up of the territories, the establishing of law and order?