Clete (spoiler thread)

This is a great film, with perhaps both beginning and end becoming the basis for "standard" "coolness in action" for films.

To me, it is always the supporting characters that make a film classic, and here the most interesting character is Clete.

The Masters-Clete relationship is a story in itself.

Now, for the spoiler.

The motivation for Masters killing Clete. And Clete trusting Masters.

One would think, "why kill the man you realize could be a trusted friend from hence forth?"

I think here we see in Masters the desire to end his outlaw days. He actually thinks he can settle down with the beautiful heroine, but if not, perhaps another just as beautiful, with the Gold.

Killing Clete was the "straw that broke the camel's back". It's here that he decides to toss his old life away and live an Eastern life, be a major player with an estate. He couldn't have someone around who knew his past.

I believe this also meant he couldn't chase after the heroine, and that's why he felt sad about gunning for the hero. It was all over. His past life all finished, and a new one beginning, and he felt a sympathy for the hero and heroine, enough of a sympathy that he felt they could live their dream out in another part of the world. He would simply move to some part of the world they weren't even remotely close to.

So, why the betrayal of Clete?

I think this is what turns us finally against Masters. Until then, we can see him as a fairly charismatic villain, with some degree of hope, but the killing of his friend expressed a betrayal that was deep rooted in his character.

This "betrayal" is the signal to us for what caused him to be locked up twice before. This "betrayal" meant that even after beginning his new life, he would have that "betrayal" in him towards those close to him.

It was sad enough that he betrayed Clete, and special pains are made to show he has no feelings about Clete, no remorse, no pity, and what's more, we are shown he probably won't ever "relent", which is the most important thing.

When he approaches Clete's body, I think most of us expected him to at least say, "sorry, old boy", or to kneel by the body a moment.

I expect this ultimate betrayal is also a part of Masters disposing of his "old life", and thinking nothing of the humans he disposes of. He ambushes Clete, but gives the hero a chance.

That's the puzzling question, and I think the answer is that Masters felt himself to have some degree of chivalry, some degree of honor. He felt Clete was low, and the hero worthy. I don't like this about Masters, and think it made him the worst of people, and I wonder if the hero sees this. Trying to read Randolph Scott's steel eyes when Masters says Clete is dead, I wonder if the hero has summed up that Masters betrayed Clete, and can't be allowed to function as a land baron.

Lots to read here. I felt a lot of sympathy for Clete, a character of whom we know little about his past, but I think that's part of what makes him likable, and what makes the betrayal of him stick in our minds.








Now go away or I shall taunt you a second time!