| Too bad, this movie is better than 95 percent of John Wayne's movies. Here Eastwood takes advantage of what he has learned in the spaghetti western with a plot that is fully attached to the genre. The town's solution to their quarrel with the marshal. Though his laconic sense of humor often drags out the pacing of the movie, Eastwood uses his camera with intelligence and flair. It is the first Western film that he both directed and starred in. The young actor had come to Hollywood from the San Francisco Bay area in the early 50s, and thanks to his 6-foot-4-inch stature and good looks was signed to a $100-a-week contract at Universal, where he was quickly put to work in a string of hokey B-movies like Revenge of the Creature and Tarantula. A Stranger (Clint Eastwood) rides into in the dusty mining town of Lago, where the townspeople are living in the shadow of a dark secret. Geoffrey Lewis plays one of the badguys and the idea to paint a town red is strange but it worked well, the whipping scenes are great and the shootings and violence Clint Eastwood's acting is faultless and perfect and the story never gets boring. Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. The stranger was Marshal Jim Duncan himself come back to exact his revenge (perhaps through a deal with the devil.). Check this excellent film out. TVTropes is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License. Regal He could also be some sort of avenging spirit as well. "I never did know your name" "Yes you do", as the camera pans to show the previous marshal's gravestone and name. As always, Clint Eastwood performance is spectacular as "the stranger" or nameless cowboy as he known for. Clint: The Life and Legend . He later orders the hotel owners, Lewis and Sarah Belding, and all the other guests to vacate the premises, leaving him its sole occupant. A gunfighting stranger comes to the small settlement of Lago and is hired to bring the townsfolk together in an attempt to hold off three outlaws who are on their way. A mysterious drifter referred to only as "The Stranger" rides into the dismal mining town of Lago, which has a crisis on its hands: three ruthless gunmen are making their way to the town so they can settle scores over an old wrong done to them by the townspeople. The townspeople then turned in the outlaws on false robbery charges to avoid paying them, and they have vowed revenge. Ernest Tidyman's script has some raw violence for the kinks, some dumb humor for audience relief, and lots of arch characterizations befitting the serio-comic-strip nature of the plot. Over the course of the movie, Eastwoods Stranger acts as if hes Lagos savior, but hes not interested in protecting them, he wants them to pay for Duncans murder. Dee Barton wrote the film score. 978-1-84511-902-7 . Three hired "town security" gunmen taunt and threaten him; he kills all three with little effort. Morrisville . []. A gunfighting stranger comes to the small settlement of Lago and is hired to bring the townsfolk together in an attempt to hold off three outlaws who are on their way. Universal released the R-rated High Plains Drifter in the United States in April 1973, and the film eventually grossed $15.7 million domestically,[2] ultimately making it the sixth-highest grossing Western in North America in the decade of the 1970s and the 20th highest-grossing film released in 1973. And maybe it stung the young director at the time. It made its Blu-ray debut on October 15, 2013, with a newly remastered transfer, and was reissued on October 27, 2020, by Kino Lorber with commentary tracks and new interviews. The next morning, Sarah tells the Stranger that Duncan cannot rest in peace because the town buried him in an unmarked grave. As an actor, he is probably better than he allows himself to be. Dee Barton's score is genuinely refreshing, capturing the supernatural feel of the film through a fusion of classic western themes and a whimsy which ranges from colorful to rather intense, while Bruce Surtees' cinematography, despite being not quite as playful as Barton's still-underused efforts, is also attractive in its bleakness, with a rugged palette over gritty art direction by Henry Bumstead. But more than anything, its a ghost story (if you choose to see it that wayand I do) in frontier drag. Before the film is finished fire is raging throughout the town and everyone who was involved in the Marshall whipping gets some kind of upcommance for their actions. That night, in his hotel room, the Stranger dreams of Jim Duncan, a U.S. The allegory cant get blunter then him literally put up a signpost that says hell and have the town paint all the buildings red. Theyre already in hell for their sins (at least everyone other than Verna Bloom, who was the only person who tried to help Duncan). The angel of death, who is the Satan depicted in Paradise Lost, is not inherently evil, being created by God, but is that creation of God who Himself contends with evil, and, indeed, tempts it. Except where otherwise indicated, Everything.Explained.Today is Copyright 2009-2022, A B Cryer, All Rights Reserved. [5] An uncredited rewrite of the script was provided by Dean Riesner, screenwriter of other Eastwood projects. Holes in the plot were filled in with black humor and allegory, influenced by Sergio Leone. Submissions should be for the purpose of informing or initiating a discussion, not just to entertain readers. Fordham University Press . 978-0786449613 . 17 June 2019. Machoism is also a meaty theme of most westerns but that is given a slap to the face also in the film. Crucially, he's your grandfather's idea of Christ, one who Eastwood in The Good, The Bad, And The Ugly. Tidyman's screenplay was inspired by the real-life murder of Kitty Genovese in Queens in 1964, which eyewitnesses reportedly stood by and watched. [3] [10] The Italian, Spanish, French and German dubbings restored it. After scouting locations alone in a pickup truck in Oregon, Nevada and California,[7] he settled on the "highly photogenic" Mono Lake area. among the people watching him get whipped to death in the flashback. Link to Are You There God? 1h 45m, Production Co: That isn't the American people who settled this country. I don't have much to say about 'High Plains Drifter'. [8] The film was completed in six weeks, two days ahead of schedule, and under budget. When the attractive, blond townswoman Callie Travers flirtatiously insults him, he rapes her in the livery stable. Terms and Policies High Plains Drifter is a 1973 Western directed by (and starring) Clint Eastwood, with a screenplay by Ernest Tidyman ( The French Connection, Shaft ). As they unknowingly beat a dummy in the bed, the Stranger tosses a stick of dynamite into the room, destroying most of the hotel, then shoots two of his attackers dead, as Morgan flees wounded. But he took a what-the-hell gamble and flew to Spain to shoot the first installment in what would become Leones stylish, international sensation Man With No Name trilogy (which would also include 1965s For a Few Dollars More and 1966s The Good, The Bad and The Ugly). Over the years, a number of fans have asked where was High Plain Drifter filmed. High Plains Drifter is a 1973 American Western film directed by Clint Eastwood, written by Ernest Tidyman, and produced by Robert Daley for The Malpaso Company and Universal Pictures. The Best, Craziest, Weirdest Moments From Cannes, Your Privacy Choices: Opt Out of Sale/Targeted Ads. Dialogue earlier in the film, and the final scene with Mordecai strongly imply, however, that he's. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. Still from the opening scene. Clint Eastwood became a star starring in Westerns, so it wasn't new to see him in this role. A series of events soon has the townspeople questioning whether siding with the Stranger was a wise idea, as they quickly learn the price that they each must pay for his services. University Press of Mississippi . Edit, This is purposely left ambiguous to give it an almost supernatural feel, but the theories put forth are as follows: (1) The stranger is Marshal Jim Duncan's brother who learned that the three men who killed his brother were being released from prison and would likely return to their town, so the stranger "passed through" in order to take revenge on the three men and on the town itself for simply standing by and watching as his brother was brutally murdered. [8], The character of Marshal Duncan was played by Buddy Van Horn, Eastwood's long-time stunt double, to suggest that he and the Stranger could be the same person. Mordecai says, "I never did know your name," to which the Stranger replies, "Yes, you do." "Eastwood Again". Even when the film is traditional in structure, it's often distancing, for Eastwood's quiet directorial intensity is often more quiet than intense, and therefore more dry than Eastwood can handle as a sophomore directorial storytelling, resulting in dullness that is the biggest issue of the final product. When the attractive, blond townswoman Callie Travers flirtatiously insults him, he rapes her in the livery stable. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "High Plains Drifter". Book: McGilligan, Patrick . He. But being his second directorial movie, and his first Western, he worked quite safe, just doing what he learnt working as an actor in previous Westerns, especially "A Fistful of Dollars" (1964). The Stranger lures one of the Carlin brothers outside and whips him to death, then kills the remaining outlaws one at a time. the townspeople had the marshal killed. Duncan made a Faustian bargain with the devil. Actor Geoffrey Lewis, who appeared in many Clint Eastwood films and made several appearances in TV shows throughout the '60s and '70s, has died of natural causes, a family friend told Variety. Given that he was mentored by the likes of Don Siegel and my personal favourite director Sergio Leone it's no wonder that Eastwood went on to make hits like The Outlaw Josey Wales and Unforgiven. It was Eastwood's second film as director, and the first Western he directed. This kind of uncertain pussyfooting around from us as the viewer is much like the townspeoples choice of not choosing a side when the poor man was being whipped. The most eye-catching and best-known sequence in the film occurs when Eastwood tells the cowering citizens of Lago to paint every building in the town red as they await the three murderers return. (2) The stranger was Marshal Jim Duncan himself come back to exact his revenge (perhaps through a deal with the devil.). High Plains Drifter is a 1973 American Western film directed by Clint Eastwood, written by Ernest Tidyman, and produced by Robert Daley for The Malpaso Company and Universal Pictures. Verified reviews are considered more trustworthy by fellow moviegoers. Aim for the Heart . . Wayne, who it turns out wasnt a fan of the film, wrote an angry letter back, saying that High Plains Drifter isnt what the West was all about and that it isnt the American people who settled this country. The Duke may have thought that he was putting the young Eastwood in his place. He keeps things lean and simple. In this Western, a drifter with no name (Clint Eastwood) wanders into a small town, where his gun-slinging abilities are in high demand. The Stranger assembles a group of citizens to defend the town and has them practice shooting, but soon realizes that none have the necessary skills. Clint Eastwood's orchestration of subtle stylization begets subtle color that rarely allows entertainment value to slip too far, and when slow spells do enter, upon being met with a genuine sense of thoughtfulness, rather than the dryness which plagues this drama as much as anything, they bite, with high tension. In an interview, Eastwood said that earlier versions of the script made the Stranger the dead marshal's brother. 2013 . In this, then, is also created the possibility of free will. Because maybe you didn't go back for more? Read our extensive list of rules for more information on other types of posts like fan-art and self-promotion, or message the moderators if you have any questions. "[16] Tom Zito of The Washington Post called it "an enjoyable, well-constructed work that suffers only from a slightly tedious tone that makes the film seem longer than its 105 minutes."[17]. The next morning, Sarah tells the Stranger that Duncan cannot rest in peace because the town buried him in an unmarked grave. [7], Complete buildings, rather than facades, were built, so that Eastwood could shoot interior scenes on the site. He favored a less explicit and more supernatural interpretation, and excised the reference. The direction was great, the cinematography was great, and cast fit well into there characters. Do we, then,find ourselvesunable to know how to act ethically in oursociety a society that glorifies, Den Vergulden Turk, where Mahler and Freud met, Breestraat, Leiden, Netherlands The subject of Mahler and Freud Meet in, Constellations of Desire Constellations of Desire forms the third part of Solitary Ethics, a sequence on ethical and moral, The Meadow Trail, as it leaves the forest for the light, Stanley Park, Vancouver. [22], American musician Kirk Hammett included a song named High Plains Drifter, which takes its title from the film, on his 2022 extended play, Portals. Obviously he's not okay with rape and he's sure as hell not trying to glorify it - but the execution seems miscalculated, to say the least. We wont be able to verify your ticket today, but its great to know for the future. One you unglue your eyes from the gorgeous scenery, filmed on location, you understand that this is definitely not your typical John Wayne flick. From a moviemaker's point of view, they're not necessary to drive the plot. Before he could despair over his flailing, fledgling career, he would be saved by the Westerna genre that immediately fit him like a bespoke duster. It was a hit. The Stranger replies, "Yes, you do." Holes in the plot were filled in with black humor and allegory, influenced by Sergio Leone. Portions of the town aflame in the night produce the backdrop of the lake of fire. Coming Soon. Book: Gentry, Ric . A film version broadcast on the Sundance Channel in 2020 has a few words noticeably cut out. Your AMC Ticket Confirmation# can be found in your order confirmation email. I suppose that would be cooler if this film was more exciting, because even though it is decent, it does indeed drift, more so than it ought to. With the possible exception of John Wayne, no actor was more synonymous with the movie Western during the second half of the 20th Century than Clint Eastwood. Haunting. Genre: Book: Green, Philip . That, however, is small comfort as this cold, gory and overthought movie unfolds. While seemingly an act of meanness, particularly in the way he said it, in truth he wants them to stay out of harm's way. When the drifter rides into Lago, he is met with incredulity and disapproval by the townspeople. At any rate, Ted Nugent fits better here, because you know that there is going to be some serious hard rocking when Clint Eastwood takes on this role, and I specifically mean "this" role. Particularly bad is the scene where Callie ambushes the Stranger while he's taking a bath, unarmed, and fires several shots at him. Knee is a concern, and might not be only one, de The result is one of the best Westerns of the 1970s. The librettist is Temistocle Solera. The movie concerns awell, drifter who wonders into a small town from the high plains. By continuing, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Thomas, Kevin (April 6, 1973). . This, An astounding composition, that still reveals more of itself six decades after I first heard it. This most interesting film is a story of the avenging angel, who comes to the town of Lago (lake), which is indeed on the shore of a lake, and proceeds to mete out brutal retribution. High Plains Drifter Is Clint Eastwood's Mysterious, Overlooked Masterpiece Before he was known as a conservative filmmaker (both stylistically and politically), he made this strange and. English, Director: A gun-fighting stranger comes to the small settlement of Lago and is hired to bring the townsfolk together in an attempt to hold off three outlaws who are on their way. who rides into the small mining town of Lago and immediately begins to toy with the locals, playing judge, jury, and executioner for their sins. Clint Eastwood brought the movie in on time and under budget, so he must have concentrated on the town's businessmen and a few choice townspeople to tell the story efficiently.If it helps from the viewpoint of telling the story, keep in mind that most of the scenes were shot in daylight. "[21], The film was recognized by American Film Institute in 2008 on AFI's 10 Top 10 in the category "Nominated Western Film". 1-57806-070-2 . "It's just an allegory," Eastwood said, "a speculation on what happens when they go ahead and kill the sheriff, and somebody comes back and calls the town's conscience to bear. Not in 2023" Callie and several men including Morgan Allen conspire to kill the Stranger. It is the first Western film that he both directed and starred in. and our As they unknowingly beat a dummy in the bed, the Stranger tosses a stick of dynamite into the room, destroying most of the hotel, then shoots two of his attackers dead, as Morgan flees, wounded. It's also a pretty violent business that won't disappoint the millions who flocked to the Leone westerns. As he leaves, he paints over the town sign with a single word: "Hell". Wayne wrote back saying this movie is terrible because of the violence and it's revisionist portrayal of westerns. Coming Soon. The Stranger finds Bridges and the Carlins, who just "finished off" Morgan, and harasses them with dynamite and rifle fire, leading the outlaws to believe the townspeople are responsible. One of my absolute favorites. [6] An uncredited rewrite of the script was provided by Dean Riesner, screenwriter of other Eastwood projects. The Stranger suddenly returns and kills the outlaws one by one, whipping Cole to death, hanging Dan with another whip, and shooting Stacey. Cinemark Here its different though, and we see the cruel behaviour for what it is, even if some of the victims deserve retribution. A mysterious, unnamed stranger rides out of the desert into the isolated mining town of Lago in the American Old West. Lago is a mining town, so presumably the stores are making money selling things to the miners. Book: Cornell, Drucilla . Starring: Clint Eastwood, Verna Bloom, Marianna Hill The Stranger opens up healthy debate on who or what exactly he is. Once the plains have peaked, a few draggy spots and conventional spots behind natural shortcomings that thin out dramatic value even more when accompanied by moments of overstylization and dull dryness winds the final product shy of rewarding, but through a neatly whimsical score, rugged visual style, some effective direction and some solid performances, all behind a story that, for all its thin spots, boasts intriguing thematic depth, "High Plains Drifter" stands as an effective, if improvable supernatural western and sophomore effort for Clint Eastwood.
