Red River (1948)

[arthurarnell]

Hi

The Civil war has ended and texas is starving and broke Dunson's herd is one of the largest in the state and he decides to take them on a thousand mile cattle drive to Missouri.


Regards


Arthur

[arthurarnell]

Hi

Driving the herd and cowboys alike Dunson acts like a man possessed allowing no man to quit he watches over the group relentlessly'


regards

Arthur

[arthurarnell]

Hi

Following the herd stampeding when the reckless actions of Kennally a young cowboy causes the death of Dan Latimer (Harry Carey jr). Dunson decides to punish him by whipping him. In an attempt to stop him Kunnelly goes for his gun, but it is Mat who draws first and wounds the young cowboy. Later Dunson asked Matt why he had intervened?

"Because you would have shot him between the eyes.
"Just as sure as your standing there" growled Dunson.





Regards

Arthur

[arthurarnell]

Hi

On the way to Missouri a young cowboy named Suter (William Self) rides into the camp he tell Dunson that he was with a cattle herd that had been attacked by Missouri border raiders and after an attempt to lynch him had failed he had managed to escape with his life.

Suter also reveals that an indian trader named Chisum had told them that there was a shorter trail to Abilene where there was a railroad.

The existence of a shorter safer route and Dunson's refusal to even consider changing his mind, leads the trail herders into open revolt in gunfight two are killed and Dunson is wounded in the leg.

The next morning they find that three more have deserted during the night and Cherry Valance (John Ireland) is ordered to take another man and bring them back.



Regards


Arthur

[arthurarnell]

Hi

Two days later Cherry returns with Larado (Dan White) and Teeler (Paul Fix) the deserters.
Dunson growled at them
"You two! ou signed on for the drive. You signed on to finish it. You stole beans and flour and cartidges. besides being deserters on what you sign, your'e common thieves."
"The Law might see it different" said Larado.
"I'm the law" snapped Dunson. "I say you two are thieves.Anything more to say either of you?"
Teeler spoke.
"I know what you're going to do with us, but first I want to tell you something
"Go ahead" said Dunson.
"You're crazy you've been drinking and you havent been sleeping, and if your not crazy you're only a skins thickness away from it".
"Have you finished?" growled Dunson.
Teeler was defiant
"No I haven't. You want to get this herd to market? Well so do all of us. We've anted to all of the time. That's why we came. But why not take it to Abeline? But you won't listen to that. You want to drive them to Missouri although everything is against you getting them there".
Dunson attempted to speak but Teeler wasn't done.
"I've not finished yet. We've had to listen to your views more than long enough. Now you can listen to me. You mean to go to Missouri. You'll get there even if it means losing every head of cattle. But this herd doesn't only just belong to you it belongs to every hungry person in the state. I know I shouldn't have run away; I should have stayed and put a bullet in you. I signed a pledge sure. But you're no longer the man I signed it with".
"Have you finished?"
Teeler nodded.
I'm going to hang you," Dunson announced.
"I'm going to hang you two"
"No you're not2, came a slow but steady answer.
"What" cried Dunson.
"You are not going to hang them" Matt said quietly and firmly.
"Who'll stop me?"
"I will"
As the two men faced each other teeler went for his gun only to have it shot out of his hand by Matt.
Turning to the men Matt said.
"Do you want to finish the drive Teeler?"
"Where are we going?"
"Abilene"
"Whose heading the drive?" asked the men.
"I am" Matt replied.
"What about Dunson?"
"He stays here. We're taking the herd. it's the only thing to be done.*

* Extract taken from The Boys Cinema Annual 1950.

Regards

Arthur

[arthurarnell]

Hi

I've just made a muck up of this post please bear with me.

[arthurarnell]

Hi



Matt steals the herd from Dunson.

Regards

Arthur

[arthurarnell]

Hi

Still mucking it up however we'll go on

Matt went to Nadine

H
"How about you Groot?"
"You were wron Mr Dunson. I've been with you plenty of years and up till now right or wrong, I've always done what you say. Got to be kind of a habit with me. I guess - so thats why I'm staying with you."

"Go with them for all I care" snapped Dunson.

"Thanks for making it easy" answered Groot
"All right Matt I'm coming with you.

Regards

Arthur

[arthurarnell]

Hi

Back on track more later

Regards

Arthur

[arthurarnell]

Hi

Before leaving with the herd Matt came across to Dunson making sure he had enough food to get back to Texas.
"If there's any chance at all we'll get your herd to Abilene."
"You should have let Teeler kill me" said Dunson.
"Because now I'm left alive I'm going to kill you. I'll catch up with you. Every time you turn around expect to see me - because one time you'll turn around and I will be there. Then I'll kill you Matt.

Regards

Arthur

[arthurarnell]

Hi

With Dunson returning to Texas hell bent on getting enough men together to get his revenge on Matt. The herd moved on.

Soon they discovered a wagon train under attack by Indians and going to the rescue Matt meets Tess Millay (Joanne Dru) in quite dramatic fashion as watched by Cherry Valance (John Ireland) he remove an arrow from her shoulder.


Regards

Arthur

[arthurarnell]

Hi

Now deeply in love with Tess before resuming his journey with the herd to Abilene Matt gives Tess the bracelet that years before Dunson had given to Fen and had later recovered off of a dead indian.

Days later Dunson catches up with the wagon train and finds out that Matt isn't far in front. Talking to Tess Dunson offers to marry her if she will give him a son. He then notices that she is wearing the bracelett that he gave to Matt.

Regards

Arthur

[arthurarnell]

Hi

As the herd moves on day after day the drovers begin to think that Abilene is a myth, when suddenly they hear a train whistle and then discover railroad tracks. Matt asks the driver the way to Abilene and is told to just follow the tracks.

Finally the herd reach the outskirts of the town where they are met by Melville (Harry Carey sr) the representative of an Illinois Cattle Company, who tells matt to drive the herd straight through the town to the cattle pens.

Regards


Arthur

[arthurarnell]

Hi

The next morning Mellville tells Matt that he will buy the whole herd for top dollar and gives him a cheque made out to Tom Dunson.


Regards

Arthur

[arthurarnell]

Hi

As matt is receiving his payment Dunson true to his word, arrives in Abilene moving slowly he approaches the crowd. Cherry gets in his way and tries to stop Dunson. Drawing he wounds Tom but is also shot and fails to stop Dunson approaching Matt.


Regards


Arthur