MovieChat Forums > Trouble Along the Way (1953) Discussion > Not my favorite John Wayne movie (Spoile...

Not my favorite John Wayne movie (Spoilers)

posted 14 years ago by Picasner
5 replies | jump to latest

It started out like a formulaic, bad-guy-turns-good-guy-and-saves-school, but got lost early. I understand it's just a movie, but nothing was believeable. Supposedly, Steve was a very good coach, so why wasn't he coaching? Why did he become a bookie? Did his daughter actually go to school?
Donna Reed was no better. She paid no attention to what was going on with Steve & his daughter, let his ex-wife run all over her, never reported what happened at the party, turned in a false report, repudiated it at what was supposed to be a hearing, ...I could go on and on.
The judge ran the hearing like a family argument.
Donna Reed declares her love for Wayne and then leaves him at the end taking the daughter away, too.
Wayne puts together a super football team in 3 weeks by 'paying' all his players and training all summer and somehow no one cared.

There was no true resolution to any problem. Did the school survive? Who was the new restor? Was there no more football that year? Did Wayne & Reed hook uup? Did they get the little girl back? What happened to all the footbal players? Why did I waste my time? How did this get a good rating?

[–] babamulon 14 years ago

Too many questions mate. It's entertainment. Relax. Go see a 3 hour documentary on the amoeba. Later see a 4 hour one on the paramecium.

[–] Picasner 13 years ago

Yes, I understand. I am the leaders of the "It's Only A Movie" club, but I need some semblance of order. When nothing makes sense and people can do any dumb thing they want and get away with it, well, it might as well be a cartoon. I love John Wayne movies, so this was a big disappointment to me.

[–] scarletto_hare 13 years ago

Like many older films alot is left up to the individual's assumptions.

Firstly, who became the new restor and the football players as individuals are not relevant or important to the overall plot.

Father Burke says the school got another year and with the football team still playing and a new restor who is not sentimental about making cuts here and there, the school will survive.

At the end Father Burke said that Steve's contract could be extended to 12 months if desired. Steve smiled at this which means he is going to continue working there. He likes it but basically its a steady job and he wants his daughter back.

Carol behind Alice's back showed her approval of Alice as a potential wife/mother to Steve and he agrees. Alice said she is in love with him and its clear that Steve feels the same. Alice says that to win the case they need a female influence (mother/wife.) The dialogue and gestures we lead us to the assumption that they will get married and Steve gets Carol back.

The only Abnormality is the incapacity to love

[–] Picasner 13 years ago

An awful lot of assumptions, there. If you have to make up that many resolutions, it makes me think that the movie should have been 20 minutes longer so the director could answer at least some of the questions. So many unbelieveable things occured in the movie, you probably shouldn't "assume" so many logical resolutions.
But, I do appreciate the effort. Thank you.

[–] scarletto_hare 13 years ago

Alot of older movies are like that because the studio was so strict on the time and budget. I have many films (that I love) and the ending is played out really quick. You have to make up your own conclusions. Although the director left us hints of what would happen.

The only Abnormality is the incapacity to love