|
Actors: Paul Hogan, Cuba Gooding Jr., Beverly D'Angelo, Pat Hingle, L.Q. Jones
|
|
| Review Summary and Plot Commentary about Lightning Jack |
|---|
Australian outlaw "Lightning Jack Kane" is "the fastest gun alive" in the American Wild West, and the only one of Cole Younger's gang to escape after robbing the Junction City Bank. Yet Marshal Dan Kurtz sees him as a brainless no-account, not worth chasing now that the Younger brothers are gone. Insulted, Jack sets out to make himself an outlaw legend.
When his solo attempt to rob the Bank of South Fork is wrecked by a slew of witnesses, he gallops away with a merchant's mute ward - Ben Doyle - as a hostage. Ben is free to go when the posse danger passes, but opts to tag along. As they hit the Bank of City Merchants together, nervous Ben shoots his own boot, and they depart to a chorus of laughter. Jack's lessons begin. He teaches Ben how to ride safely through Indian territory; how to shoot a gun; how to exude confidence.
Meanwhile, back in Junction City, Marshal Kurtz notices that Jack is making headlines, and fears that his own bid for governor is threatened for having let him escape. Soon, Jack's saloon girl Lana informs Jack that he is wanted, dead or alive, for a bounty of $200.00. Again, he feels insulted: He thinks he's worth more than that. Jack plans one last big robbery in order to fund keeping his 9-year promise to take Lana away for a fresh start. He leaves with Ben, promising to return for her at the end of the month.
Their target is Junction City. It is a rich "big city" bank, and on the day they plan to hit it, it will be the deposit point for a huge cattle auction. Besides, who'd expect Lightning to strike twice in the same place? It's a good plan, but there are obstacles. In another town along the way, Jack uses his speedy gun to defend Ben from a gunfighter in a saloon, and is thrown in jail. Ben torches the jail to free him, but the network of lawmen searching for them is closing in. When they arrive in Junction City, its new Association for Law and Order is ready to nip any crime in the bud. And another gang has chosen the same day to rob the same bank.
--vjm, Resident Scholar
|
| Analysis of Lightning Jack |
|---|
Our unique search engine provides a wealth of detail about
books by breaking them down into many different literary
elements, all of which are searchable (click here). |
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale (Low to High)
Plot
Composition of Movie
Actual chase scenes or violence - 40%
Planning/preparing, gather info, debate puzzles/motives - 20%
Feelings, relationships, character bio/development - 40%
Time/Era of Movie:
- 19th century
Western
Yes
Kind of western:
- robbing bank
- hunting down outlaws
Romance
Yes
Main Character
Identity:
- Male
Profession/status:
- thief/con artist
Age:
- 40's-50's
Hair color?
- blonde
Hair style
- short/standard straight (man)
Body type
- average (man)
Events of movie makes character more...
- aggressive
Ethnicity/Nationality
- Australian
How sensitive is this character?
- sensitive to others' feelings
Sense of humor
- Strong but gentle sense of humor
Intelligence
- Smarter than most other characters
Physique
- very athletic
Secondary Main Character
Identity:
- Male
Hair color
- brunette (Black)
Hair style
- (man) very short/crewcut
Body type
- average build (man)
How much in movie?
- 90%-100%
Ethnicity/Nationality
- Black
Main Adversary
Identity:
- Male
Age:
- 40's-50's
Profession/status:
- police/lawman
How much of work is main antagonist actually present in:
- 40%
Hair color
- brunette (Brown)
Hair type
- (man) short/standard straight
Body type
- fat (man)
Ethnicity/Nationality
- White (American)
Intelligence
- Dumb
How sensitive is this character?
- mean, arrogant
Setting
United States
Yes
The US:
- West
Small town?
Yes
Style
Accounts of torture and death?
- non-gory references to death/punishment
Movie makes you feel...
- full of laughter
How many deaths in film?
- 8 or more
Sex/nudity in movie?
Yes
What kind of sex:
- vague references only
- kissing
Kind of violence:
- guns
Any profanity?
- None
|
| Most similar reviews by Gordonator ranking |
|---|
| Forty Guns
starring Barbara Stanwyck, Barry Sullivan, Dean Jagger, John Ericson, Gene Barry
|
| Gun Fury
starring Rock Hudson, Donna Reed, Philip Carey, Roberta Haynes, Leo Gordon, Lee Marvin, Neville Brand
|
| Hang'em High
starring Clint Eastwood, Pat Hingle, Inger Stevens, Bruce Dern, Ben Johnson, Dennis Hopper, Ed Begley, L.Q. Jones
|
| Open Range
starring Kevin Costner, Robert DuVall, Annette Bening
|
| Johnny Guitar
starring Joan Crawford, Sterling Hayden, Mercedes McCambridge, Ernest Borgnine, John Carradine, Ward Bond
|
|
Resident Scholar Profiles
TOP SCHOLAR:
 vjm
SCHOLARS:
|
|
Note: the views expressed here are only those of the reviewer(s). | |
|
