A Bandit's Wager

US 1916. D: Francis Ford. Ass. D: John Ford; SC: Francis Ford, Grace Cunard; CAST: Grace Cunard (Nan Jefferson), Francis Ford (il bandito), John Ford (il fratello); PC: Universal; 35mm. Orig: 273 m. 245 m. 13’ a 16 fps. B&w. English intertitles From: BFINA / Printed in 2009 by the BFI from an original nitrate print. Presenta John Oliver, grand piano: Maud Nelissen, viewed at Cinema Lumière 1, Bologna, 27 June 2009. - From John Oliver's introduction: In 1914-1916, John Ford worked in a number of capacities for Francis Ford and other directors such as Allan Dwan. John would later credit Francis as the greatest of influences on his own directorial career. During this period, it is believed that John acted in at least 13 films, all directed by Francis. With Francis as the titular bandit and Grace Cunard the heroine whom he promises to kiss, A Bandit's Wager is possibly the only one of these films to survive (John appears as Grace's brother). - Print from a scratched source. - Grace Cunard is put to a test. She thinks she has been caught by a bandit (Francis Ford), but displays formidable resistance, destroying his effects, including the mirror and the guitar. In fact, the bandit is Grace's brother's (John Ford) friend. She passes the test. "You belong to the West".

The Garrison Triangle

US 1912 D: Thomas H. Ince (?) CAST: Edgar Kellar, Ethel Grandin, Sky Eagle; PC: 101 Bison; 35mm. 220 m. 11’ a 18 fps. B&w. English intertitles From: BFINA Printed in 2007 by the BFI from two nitrate prints. Presenta John Oliver. Grand piano: Maud Nelissen. Viewed at Cinema Lumière 1, Bologna, 27 June 2009. - From John Oliver's introduction: stories of unjust accusations of cowardice were a staple of 101 Bison Westerns. The cavalry officer dishonourably discharged restores his honour, wins back his sweetheart, and saves his old regiment from Indian attack. The film was long held at BFI as two separate, unidentified films, but was identified in 2007 as being two parts of the same film. - From battered source material, signs of damage, at times barely visible. - Epic war imagery, furious visions as Jim falls from his horse. He saves the life of the officer who discharged him. Noble long shots. 11 min

The Tall Men

044242 / 12 / US / 1955 / Walsh, Raoul / / western
Tall Men, The / Taipumattomat miehet. © 20th Century-Fox. D: Raoul Walsh. SC: Sydney Boehm, Frank S. Nugent - based on the novel by Heck Allen. DP: Leo Tover. M: Victor Young. ”The Tall Men” sung by Jane Russell. CAST: Clark Gable (Ben Allison), Jane Russell (Nella Turner), Robert Ryan (Nathan Stark), Cameron Mitchell (Clint Allison). 122’. De Luxe colour, CinemaScope. MPAA 7476. TV Nelonen PAL transmission on Saturday afternoon 28 March 1998: in sawed-to-half ratio, with Finnish subtitles by Simo Tikka / Movision, with commercial breaks. Caught later on VHS. *** ”Montana territory 1866. They came from the South, headed for the goldfields… A story of tall men - and long shadows”. Ben and Clint, the desperate brothers from Texas, are about to rob the wily moneyman of Montana, Nathan Stark, but he persuades them to become partners, instead, in the business of driving 5000 heads of cattle from Texas to Montana. They face every adversity: Oglala Indians, jayhawkers, harsh winter in the mountains, and wild rivers. Ben and Nathan also battle for the woman, Nella. This is a ”tall story”, told with a sense of humour by Walsh. On TV the film loses its epic grandeur.

Junior Bonner

081028 / 12 / US / 1972 / Peckinpah, Sam / / modern western
Junior Bonner / Nuori Bonner. © ABC Pictures; Wizan Productions; Solar Productions. P: Joe Wizan. D: Sam Peckinpah. SC: Jeb Rosebrook. DP: Lucien Ballard. M: Jerry Fielding. Songs ”Arizona Morning” and ”Rodeo Man” by Rod Hart. CAST: Steve McQueen (Junior Bonner), Robert Preston (Ace Bonner - father), Ida Lupino (Elvira Bonner - mother), Joe Don Baker (Curly Bonner - brother), Barbara Leigh (Charmagne), Ben Johnson (Buck Roan). Filmed on location in Prescott, Arizona. 100’. Todd-AO 35 scope. TV Nelonen PAL transmission of a cropped-to-full-frame version with commercial breaks on Friday, 6 March 1998. Finnish subtitles by Tuula Felin / Pre-Text. Caught on VHS in Helsinki. **** Junior Bonner is a wandering rodeo star, a former champion who returns to his home arena in Prescott. He has been almost killed by a ferocious bull named Sunshine. This blow is to him a veritable memento mori. He faces the fact that he’s ”busted”. But he won’t accept steady jobs. ”I gotta go down my own road”. His parents’ relationship is broken, and his brother is about to make his first million in real estate. In the Fourth of July rodeo parade Peckinpah crystallizes strong images of America. Junior keeps losing - the wild cow milking he loses because of his drunken father and his barking dog. In the final confrontation he meets Sunshine again. - Solid performances by everyone bring psychological credibility to the stoical vision about success and failure in America.

Love Me Tender

046335 / 12 / US / 1956 / Presley, Elvis / / western
Love Me Tender / Rakasta minua hellästi. © 20th Century-Fox. P: David Weisbart. D: Robert D. Webb. DP: Leo Tover. Songs: ”Love Me Tender”, ”We’re Gonna Move”, ”Poor Boy”, ”Let Me” performed by Elvis Presley. CAST: Elvis Presley (Clinton Reno), Debra Paget (Cathy), Richard Egan (Vance Reno), Robert Middleton (Siringo), Mildred Dunnock (mother Reno), Neville Brand (Mike Gavin), James Drury (Ray Reno). 90’. B&w scope. MPAA 18251. Print: SEA / 20th Century Fox. Viewed in Helsinki, SEA, Cinema Orion, Wednesday 25 February 1998. ** The Civil War is over and the fate of money stolen from the Confederates causes tragedy among the Reno family. The acting in all main roles is wooden. Among the rewards: the epic CinemaScope photography of Leo Tover and the traditional ballad ”Laura Lee” transformed by Elvis into ”Love Me Tender”. It is also interesting that in his first film Elvis plays a farmer, a husband, and a tragic figure.