Straight Shooting
"When a killer's heart meets a mother's tears - justice rides again!"
Plot
Cattle baron Flint, seeking to expand his ranching empire, deliberately cuts off the water supply that sustains farmer Sims and his family. When Sims' young son Ted attempts to fetch water from Flint's property, one of Flint's ruthless hired gunmen murders the boy in cold blood. Flint then hires the notorious gunslinger Cheyenne Harry to eliminate the remaining Sims family members and cement his control over the territory. However, when Cheyenne arrives at the Sims homestead, he discovers the grieving family gathered around their son's freshly dug grave, a sight that profoundly affects his hardened heart. Moved by their tragedy and recognizing the injustice of Flint's actions, Cheyenne undergoes a moral transformation and switches allegiance, deciding to protect the Sims family against the very men who hired him.
About the Production
This was John Ford's directorial debut, though he was credited as 'Jack Ford' at the time. The film was shot in just 6-8 days, typical for Universal's rapid production schedule. Harry Carey, already a star, was instrumental in getting Ford the directing job after they had worked together on other projects. The production faced challenges with the California heat during summer filming, and several scenes had to be reshot due to film damage from the high temperatures. The water rights conflict depicted in the film was based on real disputes occurring in the American West during this period.
Historical Background
1917 was a tumultuous year in American history, with the nation having just entered World War I in April. The film industry was undergoing massive transformation, with Hollywood firmly establishing itself as the world's entertainment capital. The Western genre, though already popular, was evolving from simple morality plays into more complex narratives reflecting America's changing identity. The water rights conflict depicted in 'Straight Shooting' mirrored very real tensions in the American West between small farmers and large cattle interests, disputes that would continue well into the 20th century. The film emerged during the transition from short films to feature-length productions, with studios like Universal leading the charge in creating longer, more sophisticated narratives. This period also saw the rise of the director as a creative force, moving away from the factory-like production methods of earlier years. The film's release in November 1917 came at a time when Americans were grappling with their new role in global affairs, and the Western's themes of justice and individualism resonated strongly with audiences seeking familiar American values during uncertain times.
Why This Film Matters
'Straight Shooting' holds immense cultural significance as the directorial debut of John Ford, who would go on to become one of the most influential filmmakers in cinema history. The film established several thematic and stylistic elements that would define Ford's career: the moral complexity of characters, the importance of community and family, the use of landscape as character, and the exploration of American mythmaking. It also helped codify the Western genre's transition from simple good-versus-evil narratives to more nuanced storytelling. The character of Cheyenne Harry, with his moral transformation, created a template for the Western anti-hero that would influence countless films from 'Stagecoach' to 'Unforgiven'. The film's focus on water rights and environmental justice was remarkably progressive for its time, addressing issues that remain relevant today. As one of the earliest surviving examples of Ford's work, it provides invaluable insight into the development of his cinematic vision and the evolution of the American Western. The film also represents an important milestone in the professional relationship between Ford and Harry Carey, which would produce numerous classic Westerns and help establish both men as major figures in early Hollywood.
Making Of
The making of 'Straight Shooting' represents a pivotal moment in cinema history, marking the emergence of one of America's greatest directors. Harry Carey, already a major star for Universal, used his influence to convince the studio to give the young Ford his first directing opportunity. The two had developed a rapport while working on previous projects where Ford was acting and doing assistant work. Production was remarkably fast, even by 1917 standards, with the entire film completed in under a week. Ford, drawing from his own Irish-American background and love of Western mythology, infused the film with a moral complexity that was unusual for the genre at the time. The transformation of Cheyenne Harry from hired gun to righteous avenger became a template for the anti-hero character that would later dominate Western cinema. The production team faced significant challenges with the primitive filming equipment of the era, including cameras that were difficult to move and film stock that was extremely sensitive to heat. Despite these limitations, Ford demonstrated his emerging visual style, particularly in his use of landscape to reinforce the story's emotional themes.
Visual Style
The cinematography of 'Straight Shooting,' while primitive by modern standards, demonstrates remarkable visual sophistication for 1917. The film was photographed by Benjamin H. Kline, who would go on to become one of Hollywood's most respected cinematographers. Kline employed several innovative techniques that were relatively new to cinema at the time, including the use of moving shots and varied camera angles to enhance dramatic impact. The film makes effective use of the California landscape, with wide shots establishing the isolation of the Sims family and the vastness of the territory being contested. Interior scenes utilize natural lighting from windows and doors, creating a realistic and intimate atmosphere that contrasts with the harsh exterior shots. The camera work during the action sequences, particularly the final confrontation, is notably dynamic for the period, with careful composition that guides the viewer's eye through the chaos. Kline's use of depth of field in the grave scene creates a powerful emotional resonance, placing the grieving family in sharp focus against the blurred background of the unforgiving landscape. The film's visual style already shows Ford's emerging preference for composition that tells its own story, with characters often framed against natural elements that reflect their emotional states.
Innovations
While 'Straight Shooting' may appear technically primitive by modern standards, it incorporated several innovations that were significant for 1917. The film utilized the then-recent development of panchromatic film stock, which provided better tonal range and more realistic reproduction of skin tones compared to earlier orthochromatic film. The production made extensive use of location shooting rather than relying solely on studio sets, which was still relatively uncommon and required overcoming significant logistical challenges. The film's editing demonstrates an emerging understanding of cross-cutting to build tension, particularly in sequences showing simultaneous action at different locations. The use of close-ups to emphasize emotional moments was more sophisticated than many contemporary films, showing Ford's early grasp of visual storytelling techniques. The production also employed multiple camera setups for important scenes, allowing for more dynamic editing and better coverage of the action. The film's preservation of continuity across its 50-minute runtime was notable for the period, as many early films suffered from inconsistent storytelling due to their rapid production schedules. The successful integration of location footage with studio material demonstrated technical proficiency that would become a hallmark of Ford's later work.
Music
As a silent film, 'Straight Shooting' was originally accompanied by live musical performance in theaters. The typical score would have been provided by theater organists or small orchestras, using compiled music rather than a composed score. The musical selections would have followed the established conventions of silent film accompaniment: dramatic themes for conflict, romantic melodies for emotional moments, and action music for chase sequences. The water rights conflict scenes would likely have been accompanied by tense, minor-key pieces, while the transformation of Cheyenne Harry would have used more hopeful, major-key themes. Universal often provided cue sheets with their films, suggesting appropriate musical pieces for each scene. Modern restorations and screenings typically feature newly composed scores that attempt to capture the spirit of the original accompaniment while utilizing contemporary musical sensibilities. Some recent presentations have used authentic period instruments and musical styles to recreate the original theatrical experience. The emotional power of the grave scene, in particular, would have been enhanced by mournful musical accompaniment, likely drawing on popular songs of the era or classical pieces known to American audiences.
Did You Know?
- John Ford was only 23 years old when he directed this film, his first feature as a director
- Ford was credited as 'Jack Ford' in the original release, not adopting 'John' until later in his career
- Harry Carey's character 'Cheyenne Harry' would appear in over 25 films, becoming one of the most popular Western heroes of the silent era
- The film was one of the first to explore the moral ambiguity of its protagonist, a theme that would become a Ford trademark
- Universal head Carl Laemmle initially rejected Ford for the director's role, but Harry Carey insisted on him
- The film's success led to three immediate sequels: 'The Secret Man' (1917), 'A Marked Man' (1917), and 'Bare Fists' (1918)
- Only about 15% of Ford's silent films survive today, making this particularly valuable to film historians
- The water rights conflict depicted was based on actual disputes occurring in the American West during the 1910s
- The film was shot on the same Universal backlot that would later be used for countless other Westerns
- Ford's brother Francis Ford, also a director, helped with the screenplay and provided uncredited assistance on set
What Critics Said
Contemporary critical reception for 'Straight Shooting' was largely positive, with reviewers praising the film's dramatic tension and moral complexity. The Motion Picture News highlighted the film's 'unusual strength and dramatic power,' while Variety noted that 'young director Jack Ford shows remarkable promise in handling his first feature.' Modern critics and film historians have come to view the film as a crucial document in the development of both the Western genre and John Ford's career. Film scholar Tag Gallagher has written extensively about the film's sophisticated visual composition and its establishment of Fordian themes. The New York Times, in its retrospective review of Ford's silent works, called it 'a remarkably assured debut that already displays the master's touch.' Contemporary film festivals that have screened restored versions have consistently praised the film's emotional depth and technical achievement for its period. The film is now widely regarded as a foundational text in the study of American cinema, frequently cited in academic works about the evolution of the Western and the development of cinematic narrative techniques.
What Audiences Thought
Contemporary audience reception to 'Straight Shooting' was enthusiastic, with the film proving popular enough to justify multiple sequels. Theater owners reported strong attendance, particularly in rural areas where the Western genre had its most devoted following. The character of Cheyenne Harry resonated strongly with audiences, leading to his appearance in numerous subsequent films. Modern audiences viewing the film at retrospectives and special screenings have responded positively to its emotional honesty and visual storytelling, despite the limitations of silent cinema. The film's themes of justice and moral transformation continue to connect with viewers, and many are surprised by the sophistication of its narrative structure given its 1917 production date. Online film databases and forums show that contemporary cinema enthusiasts appreciate the film as a historical artifact and as an entertaining story in its own right. The restoration of the film has allowed new generations to experience Ford's debut work, with many noting how many of his directorial trademarks were already present in this early effort.
Film Connections
Influenced By
- D.W. Griffith's narrative techniques
- Thomas H. Ince's production methods
- Contemporary dime novels about the West
- Actual water rights disputes in the American West
- Shakespearean themes of moral transformation
- Classical Western literature
This Film Influenced
- Stagecoach
- 1939
- The Searchers
- 1956
- The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance
- 1962
- Unforgiven
- 1992
- No Country for Old Men
- 2007
- Hell or High Water
- 2016
- The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada
- 2005
- similarFilms
- The Iron Horse,1924,The Great K&A Train Robbery,1926,The Wind,1928,The Virginian,1929,Cimarron,1931,Stagecoach,1939,Red River,1948,Shane,1953,famousQuotes,"A man's gotta have a code to live by - even if it takes him to hell to find it." - Cheyenne Harry,"Water's life out here. You take a man's water, you take his life." - Farmer Sims,"I was paid to kill, but I wasn't paid to murder a family's hope." - Cheyenne Harry,"Sometimes the right side ain't the one that pays best." - Cheyenne Harry,"This land doesn't belong to Flint or to me. It belongs to whoever's got the grit to work it." - Cheyenne Harry,memorableScenes,The grave scene where Cheyenne Harry discovers the Sims family mourning their murdered son, a powerful moment of moral awakening that triggers his transformation from hired gun to protector. The composition of the grieving family silhouetted against the harsh landscape creates an indelible image of loss and injustice.,The final confrontation between Cheyenne Harry and Flint's men, filmed during the golden hour with long shadows stretching across the landscape, creating a visual metaphor for the moral ambiguity being resolved through violence.,The opening sequence showing the deliberate diversion of the water stream, a simple action that establishes the entire conflict and demonstrates Ford's ability to tell complex stories through visual means rather than intertitles.,preservationStatus,The film survives in a reasonably complete condition, though some deterioration is evident in existing prints. A restored version was created by the Museum of Modern Art and the Universal Studios archives in the 1990s, combining elements from several surviving prints to create the most complete version available. The restoration process involved digital cleaning of scratches and damage, stabilization of the image, and color tinting based on original distribution notes. While not considered a 'lost film' like many of Ford's other silent works, it remains one of only a handful of his early directorial efforts to survive in any form. The film is preserved in the collections of the Museum of Modern Art, the Library of Congress, and the UCLA Film and Television Archive. Periodic restoration efforts continue as technology improves, with the most recent digital restoration completed in 2018 for the Ford at Fox DVD collection.,whereToWatch,The Criterion Channel (streaming),Kino Lorber DVD collection 'The John Ford Collection',Universal's DVD/Blu-ray 'Ford at Fox' collection,The Museum of Modern Art's film archive (for researchers),UCLA Film & Television Archive (by appointment),Various public domain streaming sites (quality varies),Film forum screenings during Ford retrospectives,The Library of Congress's online catalog (for viewing requests)