EL DORADO

US, 1966, 126 minutes, Colour.
John Wayne, Robert Mitchum, James Caan, Charlene Holt, Michelle Carey, Paul Fix, Christopher George.
Directed by Howard Hawks.

El Dorado is one of several successful westerns by veteran director Howard Hawks. Hawks was noted for his action films from the '30s including Hell's Angels, Come And Get It. He was also a maker of screwball comedies like Bringing Up Baby and I Was A Male War Bride. He achieved celebrity with such westerns as Red River and Rio Bravo, both with John Wayne. Here he repeats the Rio Bravo formula: old gunfighters, a young man making his way in the west, old veteran, predicaments for gunfighters, oppressors, families. The film is conventional enough in plot but has a light tone with its banter, especially amongst the principals, and a gallery of pleasing western characters. John Wayne and Robert Mitchum work pleasingly together. James Caan (who appeared at the same time in Hawks' Redline 7000) was at the beginning of a successful career. The film gathers together all the expected old fashioned themes but presents them well. It was one of Hawks' last films. He was to make Rio Lobo with John Wayne and Jennifer O'Neill in 1971.

1. The action films of Howard Hawks? His high reputation as being able to portray the atmosphere of the west and communicate its ethos? His use of John Wayne in westerns as a symbol of this west? The particular viewpoint on the west of Hawks: frontier situations, people isolated, successful in their careers, law and order, families and pioneers, the comic and humane touch? The nostalgia for the old west and the man's world (with strong women?)? The title and its, dream connotations? The opening credits and the pictures of the west? The song and its ballad tone? Mississippi's poem quoted throughout the film?

2. The successful combination of John Wayne and Robert Mitchum and their styles? The strength of the supporting cast to make this picture of the west vivid?

3. The colour photography, the landscapes of the west, the towns, the ranches? A violent west? Romance? Law and order? Greed and integrity? Friendship and support? The basic issues of the west? A direct and narrative presentation for people to enjoy and understand?

4. The importance of the age of the heroes? The nostalgic tone for the past? The jokiness and banter? Irony and admiration?

5. The introduction to J.P. Harrah and Robert Mitchum's style? Lawman, his reputation? His doing a deal with Cole Thornton? The friendly rivalry? His protecting Thornton? His falling in love and turning to drink? The comedy of his being sobered up again? The build-up to the confrontation with Jason? Harrah's ability to surprise gunfighters? The s-1ege of the hotel? The mutual saving of life? The happy ending with the two old men crippled?

6. Cole Thornton and John Wayne embodying him? Riding into El Dorado? His job, the deal with Jason, the encounter with Harrah and learning the truth? Meeting up again with Maudie? The shooting and the accidental death? Joey and her revenge on Cole? His injury and its recurrence? The breaking away from Jason? The encounter with Mac Leod? The return to El Dorado? Helping Harrah sober up? The paralysing pain? The build-up to the shoot out? The sensational ride on the horse and cart? The shooting of Mac Leod and the courteous interchange before he died? Settling down again with Maudie and hobbling in friendship with J.P. Harrah?

7. Mac Leod and the tough gunfighters who happened to be on the side of wrong? Mac Leod and his vanity, his gang, the confrontations with Thornton, the spurning of Harrah? Working for Jason? The final confrontation and his death? A hero of the west?

8. Mississippi and his wandering the west, his vengeance? His hat, talk, dreams, youth? To be a new Cole Thornton? His ability with a knife and his inability with a gun? The comedy touch - imitating the Chinese cook? His falling in love? The new generation of gunfighter and lawman?

9. Jason and his greed, oppression, sneering manner, his gunfighters? The employment of Mac Leod? The final shoot out?
10. The Mc Donalds, and what they stood for? The family on the frontier, the death of Lake? Joey and her vengeance? Old Mc Donald and his accepting Cole's explanation? The lawmen helping them to gain their rights?

11. Women in El Dorado - Maudie and her story, her love for J.P. Harrah- and Thornton? Her decisions? Joey and her vengeance, toughness, falling for Mississippi?

12. The gallery of people around the western towns: the doctors and their abilities and inabilities to help, the barmen, the sheriffs, the riders, Buck and his friendship with Cole? The reality of the way of life in the west?

13. An enjoyable tone, audiences having seen the material before, the quality of what they were seeing, the contribution to the western tradition?