Yesterday I tweeted about the Ox Bow Incident. A couple of days prior I had been on the phone with my brother – we started out by discussing our reactions to the latest installment of True Blood. At some point, the conversation moved to Clint Eastwood’s Unforgiven (1992); how we got there I cannot tell you. My brother was marvelling at the allegory conveyed in this modern masterpiece. In his estimation this was a film that broke the standard conventions of what people traditionally think about the “wild” West; especially its mythic standing portrayed over the years on the silver screen.
It was at this moment that I took the opportunity to tell him, that while I am no expert on the genre, throughout cinematic history, turning the myth of the American West on its head is not totally a new idea. I first started talking about The Searchers (1956), but soon moved on to my favorite Western, 1943’s The Ox Bow Incident. It is a very intimate film, not something one finds in a traditional Western. Based on a novel of the same name, it is a moving story of what happens when one’s conscience yields to mob rule and the actions that mob (posse) fly in the face of reason, logic and justice.
I do not want to reveal the details of the plot because I want you to experience the film as I did – a lovely wonderful surprise on a random weekend afternoon. I assure you if you have not seen it, it will leave you thoroughly satisfied.
*The Ox Bow Incident is playing Sunday, September 5, 2010 (12:00 Noon) at the Film Society of Lincoln Center.
m00ch says
I hadn’t really heard anything about this film until your post. Needless to say the internet shopping fairies are carrying it to me as we speak. Should have it tomorrow!
iluvcinema says
Excellent. I absolutely love it! Let me know what you think.
m00ch says
Wow – that was a pleasant surprise. What an awesome film – way better than I was anticipating. Hopefully have the review or at least a few notes up on my blog about it tomorrow, but I agree with you that the main appeal is how it defies all the usual genre trappings. I have hardly seen any westerns because I perhaps naively assumed they were all machismo and no conscience, but this film is quite the opposite. Thanks very much for the recommendation.
iluvcinema says
Glad to see that you enjoyed it. It really is a wonderfully moving film. I LOVE it when movies surprise me and exceed my expectations.
I have not been able to see any of your recs this weekend because I was at the US Open. Will try to get to a couple as soon as possible.