In the film , The Day of the Outlaw many women’s issues are taken up. First, the idea that women were being “fenced in”. In 1959 when the film was made, women were beginning to express their displeasure of the role of the housewife, an unrest with the fenced in feel of women’s role and lack of options. The movie opens up with Blaise Starrett expressing his anger at Hal Crane for planning to put up barbed wire fencing around his land. I believe this may also signify Blaise’s displeasure with Hal putting a “fence” around his wife, Helen, to whom Blaise is attached. Later in the movie, Helen talks about being constrained by her marriage, wishing to be free to go away with Blaise, but recognizing that she will be married to Hal for the rest of her life. This shows that women felt blocked in and bound to their roles of being a wife, unable to do the things they really wanted to.
The Day of the Outlaw also shows that though strong female characters can voice their opinions, they will ultimately be at the will of the men around them. Both Helen and Ernine are fairly outspoken for women, however both are still herded into the shop with the other two women when the outlaws come to town. All of the women are seen as objects of their own desire by the majority of the outlaws, to be used and played with when they so choose. It is only by the restriction of Jack Bruhn that they are left alone. Their helplessness is physically shown during the dance that is held, where they are tossed about like dolls while the men enjoy themselves. They lose their honor and respect during this scene, though it is somewhat restored by Bruhn and later on Blaise. Also, though the women try to resolve the issues the town face, it is up to the alpha male character, Blaise, to complete the task. Helen tries to stop both his fight with her husband to no avail, as well as trying to talk sense into Bruhn while they are dancing. But Blaise is the one to decide what he’ll do about Hal, and comes up with and carries out the plan to force the outlaws to leave town. Ernine attempts to get her brother Bobby back, but it is Gene who saves her when her plan is discovered. This shows that though women’s voices were coming out, men still saw them as inferior, as objects to be taken care of or used by men. Also, that any real problems that came to play had to be solved by a man, and a women’s way was seen as blathering on. This can match the view of women in the 50’s in America. Then again, women did play a more central role in the plot which was not seen in earlier films, which shows some improvement in their status.
In the film The Day of the Outlaws, many women’s issues are taken up. First, the idea that women were being “fenced in”. In 1959 when the film was made, women were beginning to express their displeasure of the role of the housewife, an unrest with the fenced in feel of women’s roles and lack of options. The movie opens up with Blaise Starrett expressing his anger at Hal Crane for planning to put up barbed wire fencing around his land. I believe this may also signify Blaise’s displeasure with Hal putting a “fence” around his wife, Helen, to whom Blaise is attached. Later in the movie, Helen talks about being constrained by her marriage. She wishes to be free to go away with Blaise, but recognizes that she will be married to Hal for the rest of her life. This critiques how women felt blocked in and bound to their roles of being a wife in the late fifties - unable to do the things they really wanted to.
ReplyDeleteThe Day of the Outlaws also shows that though strong female characters can voice their opinions, they will ultimately be at the will of the men around them. Both Helen and Ernine are fairly outspoken for women. However, both are still herded into the shop with the other two women when the outlaws come to town. All of the women are seen as objects of the men’s desire by the majority of the outlaws - to be used and played with when the men so choose. It is only by the restriction of Jack Bruhn that the women are left alone. Their helplessness is obvious during the dance that is held, where they are tossed about like dolls while the men enjoy themselves. They lose their honor and respect during this scene, though it is somewhat restored by Bruhn and later on Blaise. Also, though the women try to resolve the issues the town faces, it is up to the alpha male character, Blaise, to complete the task. Helen tries to stop both his fight with her husband and tries to talk sense into Bruhn while they are dancing. Neither of her attempts are successful. Blaise is the one to decide what he’ll do about Hal, and comes up with and carries out the plan to force the outlaws to leave town. Ernine attempts to get her brother Bobby back, but it is Gene who saves her when her plan is discovered. This reflects that though women’s voices were coming out, men still saw them as inferior, as objects to be taken care of or used by men. Also, that any real problems that came to play had to be solved by a man, and a women’s way was seen as silly.
This can match the view of women in the 50’s in America. Then again, women did play a more central role in the plot which was not seen in earlier films, which shows some improvement in their status. It was truly a one step forward two steps back type of movement that the film was reflecting. This view may have been due to the director’s personal views on women’s equality as well. Andre de Toth had a total of seven wives….not characteristic of someone who values women and their opinions. Perhaps his views came out in the film he was creating, making it a type of throwback film in the women’s movement.