DUST BE MY DESTINY

US, 1939, 88 minutes, Black and white.
John Garfield, Priscilla Lane, Alan Hale, Frank Mc Hugh, John Litel, Charles Grapewin.
Directed by Lewis Seiler.

Dust Be My Destiny is quite an effective action thriller of the late '30s. However, it is a film of human interest. John Garfield, quite effectively, portrays a young man falsely incriminated and with a heavy chip on his shoulder. However, he experiences some kindness and gets the opportunity to experience American justice and to begin a new life. Priscilla Lane is the heroine.

The screenplay was written by Robert Rossen (later to write and direct many films including All The King's Men and directing Garfield in Body and Soul). The film has the usual Warner Bros production values - but is a strong message film of hope for ordinary citizens in the '30s.

1. A thriller of the '30s, ordinary people, opportunities, the aftermath of the depression?

2. Warner Bros production values, black and white photography, middle America, prison, on the road, the cities? Musical score by Max Steiner incorporating popular songs including `My Wild Irish Rose'?

3. The title, the human condition, hope? Strong message: ordinary people, victims, chip on the shoulder, opportunities, kindnesses and fate, justice and the United States?

4. John Garfield's portrait of Joe: wrongfully imprisoned, being let out, hopping the freight train, meeting the boys, the kindness of Pop letting them stay, the criminals and the arrest, the courtroom and his back-answering, 90 days, the work, the rock detail, milking the cow on the wrong side, the encounters with Mabel and his antagonism? The privileges and driving a truck, meeting Pop again, the truth about Mabel? In love with her, the arrival of the stepfather, the fight, the death and running away?

5. Mabel, her stepfather, with the prisoners, liking Joe, their clashes, the cow, helping him with the warden, falling in love, the stepfather's severity, running with Joe?

6. On the run, hitch-hiking, hungry? Nick and his giving them a job, friendship? The police, the arrest of Mabel? Joe as the photographer, persuading the warder, the help of Nick, getting Mabel out of jail? On the road, the hitch-hiking, Mabel wanting to give in, taking the truck, staying and the reconciliation with Joe? His wanting to do a robbery, the kind lady in the shop, his inability to rob? The return and the reconciliation?

7. Joe taking the photo, the owner of the pawn shop, taking the photos of the robbery, meeting Mike Leonard, the sensation, the criminals with Mike and Joe helping, in hospital, Mabel telling the truth and his bitterness?

8. The court proceedings, the prosecutor and twisting the words of the witnesses, the character witnesses, the evidence for Joe? His bitterness? Mabel, her speech, compassion, the defender's plea? Not guilty?

9. The strength of the speeches - Mabel and her assessment of the situation, justice? The prosecutor and the appeal for the ordinary citizen?

10. The people who were kind, Pop, Mabel, Nick, the lady in the shop, Mike?

11. The blend of tough thriller with humane story?