The Ox-Bow Incident
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Movie Reviews of The Ox-Bow Incident
Movie Review: Tragic Adult Film: Suspense in the Real West
Summary: 5 Stars
This film is a gritty portrayal of the old west in the 1880's with a town obviously hard on its luck. This film reminds me a lot of another of Fonda's later work, "12 Angry Men". But instead of a jury, its a mob formed as a posse with vengence on their mind. Some of the characters want to legitimately settle a score with the men or man that killed their friend, others are in for the sheer excitment and entertainment of a hanging. In the mix are new comers Fonda and Morgan who go along partly to ensure that they themselves are not suspects but also go out of some curiousity and sense of fair play. The personalities range from the affluent, powerful and suspicious Tettleton who seems to glory in leading the posse in his Confederate Officer uniform that is rumored to have never seen battle with a myriad number of other unique personalities. The rest are curious parrallels, the right but weak son of Tettleton, the machismo Deputy who lacks cerebal depth, the town drunk who is an insuuferable vigalantee, the store owner who seeks justice and a poor man who comes along as a minister thinking of the potential victims who appear to have no legal alternatives. The posse contains over 30 men with a single woman called "Ma" who is harder than most of the men in the possee. The accused are three contrasts, one old and weak, one strong and good and the other, played by Anthony Quinn who may be a criminal in his past but he is not this day as he travels with what may be innocent men. As the possee captures the three men, a carnival like atmosphere begins for the majority of the possee while a few try to change their mind with Fonda playing an unsophisticated but earnest cowhand that trys to stop the hanging. The final scenes reminds me of a Jesus like portyal as the three men, particularly the obviously wholesome good man who finally, after much disbelief, accepts his fate as some sort of invalid sacrifice. The final scenes are very unusual for a western in that its very adult and surprising with the ramifications of the actions of the whole thrust upon them at the end. A wonderful exchange back in town ocurrs when the vindictive drunk vigalant proclaims that its "all Tettleton's fault and we ought to hang him." "Haven't you had enough hangings for one day", replies Fonda. Its as if to say that regardless of the consequences of their actions, the evil in some men's souls can never be changed for the good.Movie Review: The Darkest of "Films Noire"
Summary: 5 Stars
Wonderfully directed by William Wellman in 1943, this is perhaps the darkest of all "Films Noire." I cannot imagine another movie that would be more appropriately filmed in black and white. It is one of the most heart-wrenching of all western movies, in that the viewers can clearly see the tragic direction the story inexorably moves in.
As others have synopsized, two drifters (Henry Fonda and Harry Morgan) are caught up in a scenario that mixes cattle rustling, murder, and the exacting of blind "justice." Portraying drifter Gil Carter, Fonda's performance is typical of the masterful, low-key portrayals by the actor, such as in "Twelve Angry Men," where he stands out as the lone voice for true justice. Unfortunately, the ending is much different in "The Oxbow Incident." The story in perhaps the thematic predecessor of Clint Eastwood's "Hang "em High," where an innocent man is hanged by a group of "good citizens" who actually epitomize mob mentality, except once again, the ending is quite different.
The is film blends all of the variables that together constitute virtually a perfect film, where it integrates those described above with the omni-present quest for power, the arrogance that almost always accompanies it, the ignorance that pervades mob mentality, and the over-riding theme that in life, things do not always turn out right.
While the story moves rather quickly, the most meaningful and powerful vignettes slow to a pace that emphasize their impacts. Yes, there is a sense of justice at the climax, where the film's focus of power and arrogance, Major Tetley, is dealt with appropriately. But "the" scene that is not to be missed is the moment where Fonda reads to the lynch mob the farewell letter written to his wife by Dana Andrews' character, Donald Martin.
Seriously, this is one of the most powerful films of its era, and still stands out as one of the best ever. The film reiterates human qualities that cross all generations.
Movie Review: "Ox-Bow Incident (1943) ... Henry Fonda ... William A. Wellman (Director) (2003)"
Summary: 5 Stars
20th Century Fox presents "OX-BOW INCIDENT" (1943) (75 min/B&W) -- Starring Henry Fonda, Dana Andrews, Mary Beth Hughes, Anthony Quinn, William Eythe, Jane Darwell & Harry Morgan
Directed by William A. Wellman
Two drifters are passing through a Western town, when news comes in that a local farmer has been murdered and his cattle stolen. The townspeople, joined by the drifters, form a posse to catch the perpetrators. They find three men in possession of the cattle, and are determined to see justice done on the spot.
This was the last film during that period of time ever nominated for the Academy Award for Best Picture which received no other Academy Award nominations. A very unusual film for its time in that it features an Afro-American character as one of the main voices of conscience.
Special footnote: -- The role played by Henry Fonda was originally offered to Gary Cooper, who turned it down. Henry Fonda was generally unhappy with the quality of the films he had to do while under contract with 20th Century Fox. This was one of only two films from that period that he was actually enthusiastic about starring in. The other was The Grapes of Wrath (1940).
BIOS:
1. William A. Wellman [Director]
Date of Birth: 29 February 1896 - Brookline, Massachusetts
Date of Death: 9 December 1975 - Los Angeles, California
2. Henry Fonda [aka: Henry Jaynes Fonda]
Date of Birth: 16 May 1905 - Grand Island, Nebraska
Date of Death: 12 August 1982 - Los Angeles, California
3. Dana Andrews
Date of Birth: 1 January 1909 - Covington County, Mississippi
Date of Death: 17 December 1992 - Los Alamitos, California
Mr. Jim's Ratings:
Quality of Picture & Sound: 5 Stars
Performance: 5 Stars
Story & Screenplay: 5 Stars
Overall: 5 Stars [Original Music, Cinematography & Film Editing]
Total Time: 75 min on DVD ~ 20th Century Fox ~ (11/04/2003)
Movie Review: Justice Western Style
Summary: 5 Stars
Ox-Bow Incident
This is a classic, black and white western about frontier justice gone awry. Based upon a true incident that was memorialized in Walter Van Tilburg Clark's best selling novel, this film was a Best Picture Academy Award nominee in 1943
This timeless and classic western, about how mob rule can carry the day, is set in Nevada around 1885. Cattle rustlers are the bane of the town's existence, when cowboys Gil Carter (Henry Fonda) and his illiterate side-kick, Art Croft (Henry Morgan), return to town. On the heels of their return, word gets around that a popular rancher, Larry Kincaid, has been murdered, shot in the head, and his cattle stolen.
The townspeople, mostly men, decide to have the sole deputy left behind by the sheriff deputize a posse ratherher than wait for the return of the sheriff from the Kincaid ranch.
This is a superb film, deftly directed by William A Wellman, who exacts marvelous performances from the entire ensemble. He is especially good when the subject is strong men mano-a-mano The film deservedly earned its 1943 Academy Award nomination for best picture.
The transfer to DVD is great, as the print has apparently been re-mastered, providing the viewer with clear, crisp visuals and excellent audio. The DVD also provides some extras, such as a commentary by western scholar Dick Eulain and William Wellman, Jr., the director's son, an excellent A & E Network "Biography" episode, "Henry Fonda: Hollywood's Quiet Hero", as well as a stills gallery. This is a well-priced DVD of a great film, which should find its place in the personal collection of all those who love such films.
Highly recommended for fans of classic westerns and Henry Fonda.
Gunner November 2007
Movie Review: Frontier Justice
Summary: 5 Stars
I had read "The Ox-Bow Incident" some time before I had the opportunity to see the movie. I'm not sure what channel I caught it on but I was smart enough to tape it. Unfortunately, I was foolish enough to have a Beta VCR at the time. This is a timeless movie with a superb script that was well-adapted from Walter Van Tilberg Clark's western novel. The acting is terrific with Henry Fonda putting in an outstanding performance along with an excellent cast overall. The movie probably isn't even 90 minutes in length but in the time we have we are witness to an exceptional story. The plot is simple: In the late 1800's, news of the murder of a popular rancher reaches the local western town. In shock and anger, a posse is formed and the chase is on. They find the three men they seek, hold an on-the-spot trial and deliver justice in the frontier form of capital punishment. The bulk of the movie focusses on the "trial" of the three men who protest that they are innocent and unaware of the crime. We see how anger and hatred can close otherwise open minds. We see how people can be intimidated to not speak up against an authoritative majority. It reminds one of the quote of Edmund Burke that the only thing necessary for the success of evil "is that good men do nothing". This movie is a spellbinding drama that came out in the midst of WWII. One can often enjoy many of the "propaganda" slants of the movies of that era. However, this is a very sobering message that suggests that the evils we were then fighting could become our own if we weren't careful. Perhaps the director chose this movie as a way of making a statement about the Japanese internments of the time. If so, it was an excellent yet subtle message. It is a timeless reminder to all of us.