The Steve Brodie character is not just a "woman killer, he shoots the Anne Jeffreys character in the back! Even his own henchmen turn against him! Don't remember seeing too many guys shooting a woman in the back in a movie. I think it is remarkable every time I see this film.
John 3:16
Just saw it for the first time today and I was already in disbelief when Maury (Brodie) raised the rifle. I hoped one of his gang would have at least tried to dissuade him from shooting Ruby (Jeffreys). What a cad he was.
shareJust finished watching Trail Street for the first time and was just thinking that it seemed unusual to show killing a woman, in the back no less, in that era of film-making. But I also felt that Steve Brodie was the weakest link in such a strong cast and having him kill a woman in that manner was a ham-handed way to elevate his role as the villain. Having a Brian Donlevy or a Robert Preston type actor as the villian would have really punched up the movie.
"Anybody who doesn't wanna hang, step out and get shot!"
I am not a fan of Brodie, and I agree that he was the weak link. The film would have benefitted from a villain with a stronger presence. Donlevy or Preston would have been good. Stephen McNally, who is very underrated, also comes to mind. Robert Ryan...
John 3:16
That was a very nasty scene. I can't be sure if Barbara Stanwyck is shot in the back while going out of a gate in one of her movies.
shareI am a huge fan of Barbara Stanwyck, who was shot in the stomach at close range - twice. But I do not recall her being shot in the back. I googled for the film without any luck. If you figure it out, please let me know.
John 3:16
After thinking about it more, I have a feeling that it is 'Rough Company' AKA 'The Violent Men' that I'm thinking of. I think that there is a website where you can check how people died in a movie. I'll try to find it to check up on Barbara Stanwyck's screen deaths. Strangely enough, I saw another movie yesterday in which a woman is shot in the back. But don't look any further if you don't want SPOILERS for 'Destry Rides Again' (1939):-
SPOILERS: Marlene Dietrich takes a bullet in the back to save James Stewart in 'Destry Rides Again' (1939).
Thanks for your reply. I have seen The Violent Men 2 or 3 times, but I confess that I don't recall Barbara Stanwyck's fate.
I have seen Destry Rides Again many more times. It is true that Marlene Dietrich gets shot in the back, she is not the intended target. That makes her shooting very different. She dies selflessly shielding Jimmy Stewart, as you point out. Donlevy does not commit the same intentional, heinous crime that Brodie commits.
I suspect there may be other cinematic instances where a woman gets shot in the back - just not as the intended victim of a premeditated crime.
John 3:16
It could be that 'Trail Street' is fairly unique where a woman intentionally gets shot in the back. Another example of a woman getting shot in the back to save James Stewart is 'The Far Country.' Ruth Roman dies in the street, a bit like Trail Street' with the hero bending over her.
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