Actors: Clark Gable, Eleanor Parker, Jean Willes, Barbara Nichols, Sara Shane, Jo Van Fleet
Review Summary and Plot Commentary about The King and Four Queens
Directed by Raoul Walsh in 1956. Dan Kehoe learns that Ma McDade, the mother of the McDade brothers, who were once famous outlaws, lives in a ranch with her four daughter-in-laws. Ma and the women are still waiting for the hypothetical return of one of the brothers, the only survivor of the family. As they don't know who's the one who survived, Ma doesn't want anybody to come near the ranch and the girls. She also hid somewhere in the ranch a loot of $100,000 in gold she intends to give back to her surviving son.
Attracted by the hidden gold, Dan Kehoe rides to the ranch and is soon shot in the arm by Ma. Ma then accepts that Dan stays for a few days at the ranch in order to recover. As the four girls are eager to seduce Dan, the first man they've seen in two years, the smart thief uses this occasion to question them about the gold as though Ma is closely watching her daughter-in-laws. Sabina, the smartest of the women, tells Dan Kehoe that she knows where is hidden the gold and that she'll accept to split the loot in half if only Dan takes her along with him, away from the despotic Ma McDade.
--Daniel Staebler, Resident Scholar
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Analysis of The King and Four Queens
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Ratings are on a 1-10 scale (Low to High)
Plot
Composition of Movie Actual chase scenes or violence - 10% Planning/preparing, gather info, debate puzzles/motives - 20% Feelings, relationships, character bio/development - 70%
Time/Era of Movie:
- 19th century
Western
Yes
Kind of western:
- searching for stashed treasure
Romance
Yes
Main Character
Identity:
- Male
Profession/status:
- thief/con artist
Age:
- 40's-50's
Hair color?
- brunette (Black)
Hair style
- short/standard wavy (man)
Body type
- average (man)
Events of movie makes character more...
- caring
Ethnicity/Nationality
- White (American)
How sensitive is this character?
- sensitive to others' feelings
Sense of humor
- Strong but gentle sense of humor
Intelligence
- Average intelligence
Physique
- average physique
Secondary Main Character
Identity:
- Female
Hair color
- red
Hair style
- (woman) long curly
Body type
- average (woman)
How much in movie?
- 80%
Ethnicity/Nationality
- White (American)
Main Adversary
Identity:
- Female
Age:
- 60's-90's
Eccentric:
Yes
- obsessed
How much of work is main antagonist actually present in:
- 80%
Hair color
- white
Body type
- average (woman)
Ethnicity/Nationality
- White (American)
Intelligence
- Average intelligence
Physique
- average physique
How sensitive is this character?
- hard edged
Setting
United States
Yes
The US:
- West
Style
Accounts of torture and death?
- no torture/death
Movie makes you feel...
- very happy
How many deaths in film?
- 0 (not a murder mystery)
Sex/nudity in movie?
Yes
What kind of sex:
- kissing
How much use of techno gadgets?
- 1 (None)
Any profanity?
- None
