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Flame of the West

Name: Flame of the West
Director: Lambert Hillyer
Released: 1945
Duration: 71 min

Representation Score

0.3/10

Minimal

1945

Passed

Director

Lambert Hillyer

Runtime

71 minutes

Average Rating

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New Showbiz Analysis

Flame of the West is a typical mid-century Western that emphasizes traditional masculine heroism. The plot follows established genre clichés, focusing on a doctor who leaves his medical practice to seek justice after a lawman is killed. The film reinforces existing social structures rather than challenging them. It relies on the archetypes of the honest lawman and the vigilante to drive the narrative forward. Since the story adheres strictly to the conventions of 1945 Monogram Westerns, it lacks diverse representation or any subversion of the era's standard social frameworks.

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Category Breakdown

Does Flame of the West have LGBTQ+ representation?

Minimal

The film does not include any LGBTQ+ characters or narratives.

How does Flame of the West portray gender?

Limited

The story emphasizes male roles and masculine stereotypes. It follows a doctor's transformation into a combatant without highlighting strong female roles.

How racially and ethnically diverse is Flame of the West?

Minimal

The film focuses on a predominantly white cast involved in a conflict between a US Marshal and gamblers. It lacks diverse racial representation.

How does Flame of the West represent religion and culture?

Limited

The movie upholds traditional Western values such as the importance of the law and frontier justice. It follows a conventional moral storyline without challenging systemic issues.

Does Flame of the West include disability representation?

Minimal

There are no characters with visible or invisible disabilities in the film. Disability is not used as a narrative element.

Present on Screen

Douglass Dumbrille delivers a sincere and effective performance as the honest US Marshal Nightlander.

Limited or Absent

The film lacks strong female roles and diverse racial or ethnic representation.
The narrative heavily relies on traditional masculine archetypes and conventional moral arcs.
There is no representation of LGBTQ+ identities or characters with disabilities.

Official Synopsis

Flame of the West has always attracted more attention than most of Johnny Mack Brown's Monogram westerns, if for no other reason than the offbeat casting of Douglass Dumbrille. Usually seen in villainous roles, Dumbrille herein offers a sincere, effective performance as a scrupulously honest US marshal named Nightlander. When he takes on a gang of crooked gamblers, Nightlander is shot down in cold blood, compelling frontier doctor John Poole (Johnny Mack Brown) to put his Hippocratic oath on the back burner and strap on the shootin' irons.

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