THE DESPERADOES
US, 1943, 86 minutes, Colour.
Randolph Scott, Glenn Ford, Claire Trevor, Evelyn Keyes, Edgar Buchanan, Guinn Williams, Raymond Walburn, Porter Hall.
Directed by Charles Vidor.
The Desperadoes, at first glance, seems a B-budget western from the past. However, it was Columbia's first feature in Technicolor, given a large-scale treatment, location shooting, stampedes and brawls that give it some distinction.
Randolph Scott is rather reticent in the central role of the sheriff, while Glenn Ford, at age 25, is the young hero, a gunfighter who wants to change. Claire Trevor gives yet another performance as a shady lady while Evelyn Keyes is the attractive heroine. Character actor Edgar Buchanan has more to do in this film than usual, an ambiguous character who has to reveal that he is part of a bank robbery team. Bill Gwyn Williams is the sidekick - but has some good choreography in the brawl sequence in the saloon. The large-scale brawl gives an opportunity for some good stunt work with comic overtones.
Otherwise, the film is straightforward in its presentation of the characters of the west, although the setting is Utah during the Civil War (which is barely mentioned).
The director is Charles Vidor, who had been working in feature films since the mid-'30s and was to go on to make such films as A Song to Remember, the life of Chopin, and his last film was Song Without End, a portrait of Liszt. In between he made two of the Rita Hayworth-Glenn? Ford films, especially Gilda and The Loves of Carmen. In the '50s he directed Elizabeth Taylor in Rhapsody, Grace Kelly in The Swan, Frank Sinatra in The Joker is Wild.
1. An entertaining western? Conventional material? Historically a large-scale colour western for Columbia Studios? A feature film to entertain people during the war years?
2. The location photography, the vast landscapes, the stampeding horses? The western town? The musical score?
3. The title, the reference to the hard men of the west?
4. The opening with the bank robbery, the shootings? The reaction of the townspeople? Clanton and his schemes, getting Jack Lester and his gang to do the robbing? The promises to the people, giving them half their money back? The connivance of Uncle Willie?
5. The sheriff, a taciturn Randolph Scott, his hesitance in investigating the robbery, his suspicions of Lester? His attraction towards Alison, the dance, the visits to the house? His friendship with Cheyenne, not revealing the truth about him, urging him to go? His following through with Jack Lester? Cheyenne, his work, getting him out of town? The arrest, his letting Cheyenne and Nitro go? His being imprisoned himself? The final escape? The court case, his testimony? The final confrontation? Present at the wedding at the end?
6. The focus on Cheyenne, his age, gunfighter, the reward on his head? His coming to help with the bank robbery? His friendship with the Countess from schooldays? His loyalty to Nitro for waiting for him? In the town, making himself known to Uncle Willie? The suspicions of Jack Lester, the brawl in the bar, Lester finding out the truth? His getting out of town, with Nitro, the return to help Steve, to see Alison? Taking Steve's horse, at the stables, the infatuation with Alison, at the dance? His working in breaking horses? The horses, returning to town with the stampede, helping Steve escape? The court case, the gallows being built? The exposition of the truth, his love for Alison, the wedding?
7. The contrast between the Countess, the fancy lady at the saloon, her friendship with Cheyenne from schooldays, with Clanton, with Uncle Willie? Her love for Cheyenne? Nitro and his explosions? Her trying to get Steve out of jail? The appeal from Alison? Alison, with her father, at the stables, the dance, attracted to Cheyenne, believing the best about him, his return, the court case? Her being willing to leave her father, the happy ending?
8. Uncle Willie, the mail, his plans with Clanton, persuading the people? Meeting Cheyenne, his love for his daughter? His refusing to help Steve? His ultimately having to face the truth, be honest, go to jail?
9. Jack Lester and his gang, seemingly respectable, the shootouts and the murders? Brawl with Cheyenne? The confrontation in the house, the lies in the court? The other members of the gang?
10. Clanton, respectability, the bank, his scheme to rob the people, the horses contract? The appeal from the Countess, his being shot by Uncle Willie? Arrested?
11. Popular ingredients of the American west, the Civil War setting, finances for the war? The remote outposts, lawlessness, Utah?
