CASEY'S SHADOW

US, 1977, 116 minutes, Colour.
Walter Matthau, Alexis Smith, Robert Webber, Murray Hamilton.
Directed by Martin Ritt.

Casey's Shadow is a horse in a pleasing treatment of fairly conventional material - a kind of adaptation of National Velvet for an ageing trainer, poor and seemingly mediocre, to get his chance at achievement and reputation. The background of horse-breeding and training in Louisiana backwaters, as well as at New Mexico race meetings, is given in detail but the film is Walter Matthau's who creates a convincing character, likable as well as irritating, of the trainer and the deserted father of three sons, whom he loves but whom he also frustrates. Martin Ritt, a director sensitive to human interaction, keeps a fine balance between sentiment and tough realism.

1. For whom was the film made? Younger audiences, older? Its particular appeal? The background of horse training and races? Human interest and human themes? Themes of achievement and sacrifice? For an American audience, non-Americans?

2. The importance of the Kentucky settings and the wag they were portrayed - the authentic farm and its poverty, a sense of realism with the farm, the town, the races, the way of life of the people who lived in Kentucky, the importance of horses and their training? The way of life in Kentucky compared with New Mexico? The prospects of money, success? The world of Sarah Blue? Wealth, success? The hardship and dedication of horse training and races, the beauty? The importance of the race settings, colour photography, musical score?

3. The film as a portrait of a family and audience response to this? The details of their home and its squalor, men living together, the absence of the mother? The continual need for money, the way that they lived and ate, cleanliness and dirt? The three boys and their relationship amongst themselves, their need for their mother? Their age, their particular skills especially with the horses, their bonds to home? The importance of the ordinary domestic scenes? Lloyd and his place in this family? Bringing them up without a wife? An ordinary average man with some talent, hopes? His love for his sons, his skill with horses, his employers? The bets at the races, the challenges? His hopes? Lloyd as the ordinary everyman with some talent, seeking the occasion for success? Walter Matthau's style in presenting Lloyd as a complex and likable character - with faults?

4. The presentation of the races, the bets? The importance of the boy Casey racing his donkey and winning? The importance of Mike Marsh and his daughter and the challenge? The double images of fathers? The contrast of Mike and Lloyd as trainers? Lloyd in his rut, and yet his human yearnings?

5. The build-up to the arrival of the foal, the owner not wanting it, the contract? The birth of the foal and naming him Casey's Shadow? Comment on the explicit detail given to the birth of the foal and the reality of farm life, horses, the need for care and fostering? The family and their co-operation? Casey and his role as the baby in the family, needing his mother, his good and bad traits? His father's treatment of him - too hard? The other brother's comment that he was only a kid? His love for the foal, training it and yet succumbing to racing it and the danger of hurting it?

6. Comment on the impact of the film's detail on horse breeding and its effectiveness within the film?

7. The growing awareness of plans, hopes, contracts? The testing of Casey's Shadow with its pedigree? Sarah Blue's watching it and her visit to the farm and discussions about contracts? The importance of money and the getting of money? Randy and Buddy and their skills, getting the money, the prospect of training Casey's Shadow for the big race?

8. The tempo and pace of the film with the training sequences, the decisions about Shadow's capacity for racing - Casey's hurting the horse?

9. The shift of atmosphere to New Mexico, professional, the beauty, the competitiveness? Mike Marsh and his hard treatment of horses e.g. their behaviour in the starting booths and having to be shot? His owner and his greedy attitude and hard-headedness? The starters and their problems with such dealings with the horses? Mike's daughter and her presence and her ability to ride, the exhilaration of her winning the race even though hurt? The insights into the way of life of the racing fraternity?

10. Audience anticipation of the trials and Casey's Shadow being so successful and yet hurt?

11. The problems of the horse being hurt, Sarah and her attitudes, the boys? The decision and Lloyd's determination to go on - especially for himself?

12. Lloyd and his reasons - did the audience agree with these. sympathise with his ambitions to be something and have success? His negro partner and his comments? The boys and their hostility? Sarah Blue and her wanting to break the contract?

13. The attempt on Casey's Shadow's life and the donkey dying for the horse? Casey's sadness? Lloyd's reaction and his seeking out Mike and bashing him? Credible behaviour, deep human feeling? In view of the race?

14. His sons' attitude towards him in allowing the horse to race and yet their doing what he wanted? The way the race was filmed and the attention to detail, atmosphere, his win? Lloyd's exhilaration, his speech, achievement? His drinking and his talk with Sarah Blue and her hard attitude?

15. The horse and its hurt, Lloyd's decision to spend the money on healing it -redeeming himself? Sufficient redemption and to compensate for his needs to succeed?

16. The importance of Randy and Buddy deciding to go back with their father? The possible future at Sarah Blue's? An optimistic and sentimental ending?

17. How engaging a humane story, interest, realism? The pros and cons of achievement and the means to succeed?