BAD COMPANY
US, 1972, 92 minutes, Colour.
Jeff Bridges, Barry Brown, Jim Davis, David Huddleston, John Savage.
Directed by Robert Benton.
Robert Benton and David Newman wrote Bonnie and Clyde, opening up a new wave of U.S. violence, myth, friendship, robbery. They have written this film and Robert Benton has directed it. A Civil War story, about young fugitives from conscription, its episodes are well constructed and build up our interest in and understanding of these young men in a rugged West and dangerous times. Barry Brown is an excellent hero, victim of the war and of the bad company, especially in the form of Jeff Bridges. A strikingly different picture of the West and its heroes.
1. The meaning of the title, and as illustrated and fulfilled during the film? Bad company as the theme of the film? The meaning of good and bad of people, society, events, America in the film? Good and bad in the context of American history? In surviving?
2. Comment on the quality of the colour, the location photography, the sets, the atmosphere of the 1860's. Comment on the appropriate use of the music, the piano accompaniment. Comment on the structure of the film. How valuable was Drew's commentary on what was going on, and the irony with reality?
3. How important was it that this film was set in the Civil War? The background of war, the implications of war shaping fortunes and providing circumstances for life? The atmosphere of luck and fortune for survival in wartimes? The background of conscription, justice and injustice, fearlessness and cowardice? What comment was the film making on the Civil War and its effect on American society?
4. What were the wider themes of war and society? Separation of families, finding one's own way in life, ambitions turned in other directions, the testing of morality?
5. How was this film a microcosm of America? Of American history and its heritage, the pioneer background and the legacy of the pioneers, America and its good fortunes, good and evil attitudes in America, the inheritance of this morality in the modern world?
6. What insight into life in the west did the film give? The mythology of the west? The ironic criticism of the mythology? The use of guns, life in the towns, the Indians, the robbers living off the land, the lynchings etc.? What was the 'Code of the West' presented in this film? what comment did the film make on it?
7. The initial impact of the conscription sequence? The atmosphere of war, separation from families, taking boys away to fight, boys escaping and families helping? Where were audience sympathies during these sequences?
8. How interesting a character was Drew? The background of his home, as a Hen in himself, as a young man, as a coward, as seeking his fortune, the significance of the watch for him, as naive, yet callow in his morality? The symbol of the journey and the journey of his life? The fact that he could be robbed? His encounter with the Methodists? His fight with Jake yet his consequent joining them? His lies in order to save his reputation and survive? The adventures and his manoeuvring of adventures? His becoming an adventurer? His interrelation with Jake and with the boys? Such sequences as the robbing of the chickens, the horse being robbed, the discovery of the lynched boys? The effect of the shoot-out of Big Joe's gang? The exhilaration of killing and surviving? His disillusionment with Jake and the effect on him? His trying to survive by himself? The reencounter with Jake and the mutual lies? The reason for his rescuing Jake? The whole change of pace in life and in morality? Was robbing banks the only alternative he had? What was the effect of seeing this particular odyssey of a young man? His values and changing values? As a comment on the average American?
9. How did Jake contrast with him? Jake’s lack of scruples? His robbing Drew? The Methodists? Bringing the purse back? His attractiveness to Drew? Jake as a leader, his ruthlessness, his lies, his complete self-centredness? Yet the plausibility of his words and leadership? What kind of temperament did he have? what character did he build on it? The fact that the others would leave him? What effect did he have on the others? The fight against Big Joe's men? Robbing Drew of his money? Joining the gang? The plausibility of his lies? The fact that he had led Drew into robbing banks? What comment on the anarchical spirit in the American character?
10. How well drawn were the other boys in the gang? The reason for their being in the gang during wartimes? Young Boog and his being shot to death? Arthur and his escaping via the stagecoach? Lonnie and Jim Bob and their taking of the horse? The ironic sadness of their being lynched by the gang? What comment was made on boys growing up in such an atmosphere?
11. How interesting was the presentation of Drew's parents? The Methodists in the town? The townspeople?
12. The presentation of the gang and the ironic comment on them? Big Joe and the lunatic criminals ranging over the countryside? Their quick shooting, robbing boys, Big Joe's dominance, their scrounging a life? The importance of the shoot-out and their cowardice? The fact that Jake would join them and be similar? What comment on American criminals?
13. Was the sheriff any better? The sequence of the hanging? His hardheartedness?
14. Comment on the violence in the film. The role of law and justice in the west? The social values and the mythology?
15. The importance of survival? The true values of good and evil? The significance of the final freeze in the frame? What were audiences left with?
