This is the first film John Ford (the Director) ever filmed in Monument
Valley; he later filmed many more westerns in this location. This is also John
Wayne's first major motion picture though he was destined to make numerous other
westerns, often working with John Ford.
- Even though you know where this was filmed, where is the setting supposed
to be? In what year?
- As with many early westerns, the movie contains several "stereotypes." Identify
and describe the following in detail:
- A. the hero:
- B. the lady of ill repute with a "heart of gold":
- C. the town drunk:
- D. the crooked businessman:
- E. the "Lady":
- F. the gambler:
- G. the preacher:
- How does the Director mix humor in with the action? Which characters serve
to add "comic relief" to the movie?
- Which characters do you begin to admire more as the story progresses? What
do they do to make you sympathize with them?
- Which characters do you like least as the story progresses and what makes
you dislike them?
- One scene has several Navajos playing Geronimo and his band of Apaches ready
to attack the stagecoach in the heart of Navajoland in Monument Valley.
What other "mistakes" did you you observe during the film? List at least
three of them:
- A.
- B.
- C.
- This movie was made in 1939. Back then they often set up "trip wires" to
make the horse and rider fall down, so you should notice this in the Indian
attack scene. There were some very fine stunts done by professional
stunt men in this scene, notably by the famous stunt man Yakima Canutt. Describe
the best stunt you noticed during the attack.
- List 5 things that occur in this movie that you ALWAYS expect to happen
in western movies:
- A.
- B.
- C.
- D.
- E.
- This 1939 movie is considered a great western classic. What is it about
this movie that has appealed to many people over the past 50+ years?
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