MovieChat Forums > The Sons of Katie Elder (1965) Discussion > Just watched this recently....

Just watched this recently....

posted 15 years ago by mittelbergjr
7 replies | jump to latest

Don't get me wrong. I love this film. It's in my top 10 favorite John Wayne films of all time.

But after re-watching this film again last night on Turner Classic Movies I have two questions regarding the beloved Katie Elder.

There is a scene where Martha Hyer tells John not to look for his fathers killer because that meant killing and Katie hated killing. Then later on when Bud is mad at John for not standing up to Curley because he said bad things about their dad Bud grabs a gun and says "This was moms and now it's mine." What? I thought Katie hated killing. Why did she have a gun?

Also the scene where that guy from El Paso comes up to see Katie and is informed that she has died and explains that he was going to let her buy 200 head of horses on credit because she was horse poor. What was she going to do with 200 horses by herself??? This just went through my head as I watched.

Anyone else find these things amusing or have any thoughts?

[–] joebananas 14 years ago

I assume the gun was for protecting herself and her property. Just because she hated killing doesn't mean that she wouldn't do it if necessary, remember this was the "wild west".

[–] janerami 14 years ago

I thought that she "knew," somehow, that her sons were going to show up and help her with the horses.

Jane

Being silly is a very important thing in life.--David Dayan Fisher

[–] lewis-51 14 years ago

Yes, the part about the 200 horses is weak. It was a good plot element though, as it got them out of town at the right time to further the story.

- henry

[–] stagebandman 14 years ago

Some time had passed since the guy in the buggy got the letter from Katie, and she may have still had the ranch then. There was not room at "the lupin place" for 200 horses, but there would have been at the Elder Ranch, and she would have been able to find help that she could pay when the job was done.

I'm disappointed that the horses were released to the wild, and never mentioned again. 200 head is an awful lot of money to lose for the poor guy.

If we all liked the same movie, there'd only be one movie!

[–] porfle 13 years ago

I'm disappointed that the horses were released to the wild, and never mentioned again. 200 head is an awful lot of money to lose for the poor guy.

Since Ben Latta thought the horses were stolen, I imagine he had some of his posse round them up and herd them into a corral somewhere till the owner could be found.

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[–] star_in_the_zenith_79 13 years ago

Just because someone keeps guns around doesn't mean they like killing.

This is a problem with our society and why there are so many gun control advocates. Guns are associated to much with killing. They are for self defense when they aren't abused. They can be used for evil or good, just like anything else. They are good when used to protect yourself and your family. They are bad when used for robberies, rape or anything else like that.

Guns don't kill people, people kill people. Plenty of people who own guns go there whole life and never hurt anyone.

[–] Captain_Augustus_McCrae 10 years ago

In fact, most police officers- trained in the use of firearms, and carrying one daily- never even draw their weapon during their entire careers.

"It ain't dying I'm talking about, it's LIVING!"
Captain Augustus McCrae