POSSE (1975, USA, 92m, PG) ***
Western
dist. Paramount Pictures (USA), Cinema International Corporation (CIC) (UK); pr co. Bryna Productions; d. Kirk Douglas; w. William Roberts, Christopher Knopf (based on a story by Christopher Knopf); pr. Kirk Douglas; ph. Fred J. Koenekamp (Technicolor | 2.35:1); m. Maurice Jarre; ed. John W. Wheeler; pd. Lyle R. Wheeler.
cast: Kirk Douglas (Howard Nightingale), Bruce Dern (Jack Strawhorn), Bo Hopkins (Wesley), James Stacy (Harold Hellman), Luke Askew (Krag), David Canary (Pensteman), Alfonso Arau (Pepe), Katherine Woodville (Mrs. Cooper), Mark Roberts (Mr. Cooper), Beth Brickell (Carla Ross), Dick O’Neill (Wiley), William H. Burton Jr. (McCanless), Louie Elias (Rains), Gus Greymountain (Reyno), Allan Warnick (Telegrapher), Roger Behrstock (Buwalda), Jess Riggle (Hunsinger), Stephanie Steele (Amy), Melody Thomas Scott (Laurie), Dick Armstrong (Shanty Principal).
Director/star Douglas adopts an interesting post-Watergate morality tale approach to this Western. He plays Marshal Howard Nightingale, who aspires to become a U.S. senator and believes that to do so, he must capture the gunslinger Jack Strawhorn (Dern). Recognising a dangerous foe, Nightingale gathers a posse of ruthless law enforcers to track him down. His triumph seems imminent after the posse apprehends the outlaw’s gang, though Strawhorn himself escapes. Nightingale’s confidence is shaken, however, when arresting the elusive bandit proves politically complicated. Whilst Douglas’ efforts to add substance to this otherwise generic tale should be applauded, he does not quite pull it off. The characters are not fully established at the outset and instead, we are thrown into a story that feels like it has been half-told already and as such, we cannot fully connect with either Dern’s intelligent outlaw or Douglas’ single-mindedly ambitious lawman. The action is well-staged, and the political messaging is clear, but the scenario feels overly manufactured to hammer home its point and as a result, lacks nuance. Technical attributes are good, although experienced composer Jarre seems somewhat at a loss on how to score the movie. What we are left with is an interesting curio.
