MovieChat Forums > Ride the High Country (1962) Discussion > ANOTHER CLASSIC

ANOTHER CLASSIC

posted 19 years ago by ae7641
14 replies | jump to latest

This is one of the greatest westerns of all time. Like the Wild Bunch Butch Cassidy and Shane it has to do with the passing of the old west as a new time is fast coming where gunslingers are out of place. But they make one last stand. It beautifuly done.
Don't anyone think all westerns are brainless shoot em ups. There are many for thinking people but are still full of action. "Ride the High Country" is one of them. Not only for people who like westerns but for people who like great films.

The brothers were awful, but they were realistic. There time was also going fast.

[–] The_Moviegeek 19 years ago

I agree. One of Peckinpah's best films!

J

"He had won the victory over himself. He loved Big Brother”-1984

[–] MuleDeer 18 years ago

"The brothers were awful, but they were realistic"

Agree. To me, they are what makes this Western a bridge to modern Westerns. There have always been bad guys in Westerns but the Hammond brothers were a little more dark than those seen before. Otherwise, this was a rather traditional Western.

[–] csu16387 18 years ago

I've heard Peter Bogdanovich say a couple of times that The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance closes the chapter of the Golden Age of Cinema. I think Ride the High Country should be included as well. This film beautifully shows the passing of one era and the dawning of a new time where hot shots are taking over. Characteristics such as honor, dignity, and loyalty have new meaning or aren't used at all. The anti-hero now comes to light during the late '60s and the 1970s.

I love The Wild Bunch, but I'm drawn more to Ride the High Country. It may not be as violent or "self-romanticized", as Molly Haskell puts it, but the film is equally impressive.

"Dry your eyes baby, it's out of character."

[–] Irving-Joey 18 years ago

Ride the High Country has long been one of my favorite films and even today it remains one of my Top 10 westerns of all time.

There is just so much to savor in this underappreciated classic. Not least of is the superb acting by two of the greatest western icons, Joel McCrea and Randolph Scott, in the strongly contrasting lead roles. There is great interplay between McCrea as the noble, dignified and morally decent Judd, and Scott as the morally corrupted and embittered Westrum, who has sadly lost his way in the world due to a long series of disappointments. Ron Starr and Mariette Hartley are also well cast as the star-crossed young lovers Heck and Elsa, and the Hammond brothers add a touch of creepy menace to proceedings. You also have Lucien Ballard’s beautiful widescreen cinematography and the breathtaking natural scenery of the rugged, windswept black mountains. Everything in this film is rich, vivid and deeply felt.

The Wild Bunch has more violence, but Ride the High Country is the unbeatable Peckinpah western in terms of grace, subtlety and sheer beauty.

[–] bronzescag 18 years ago

My favorite Peckinpah film after THE WILD BUNCH. I wish more people would give this one a shot.

[–] Percivalx 18 years ago

A classic indeed. A wonderful film about character, friendship, and trust.

"When the legend becomes fact, print the legend."

[–] 18 years ago

[deleted]

[–] macliggett1 16 years ago

I have been a fan of this film for years. As has been stated, it is terribly underrated. I must disagree with one comment made initially. The Hammonds are not at the end of their era, they are timeless, white trash will always act like white trash. There are as many Hammonds today as there were back then. I hear the banjo strumming.

[–] dcox29 16 years ago

Great film....I've been a western fan for as long as I can remember, but just finally saw this for the first time this afternoon on TCM. I had no idea what I was missing. The first 30 minutes or so had me thinking average, but WOW - I was wrong. Peckinpah was a master. Joel McCrea and Randolph Scott were superb. It's pretty interesting that Randolph Scott knew it was something great, even though it wasn't supported by the studio from what they just said on TCM, and chose to retire on a high note. Anyone with XM radio should listen for Joel McCrea on "Tales of the Texas Rangers" on channel 164 radio classics. It very entertaining. That channel is the whole reason I have XM. For us western fans, it also carries several other "adult" westerns - unlike the Lone Ranger and Cisco Kid stuff - "The Six Shooter" with Jimmy Stewart, "Gunsmoke", "Have Gun Will Travel" and "Frontier Gentlemen". Sorry to sound like and ad - just an FYI to those of you interested.

David

[–] SteveB-NY 16 years ago

David I almost envy you getting to experience this movie for the first time. It seems like you have an inkling of why this has been my favorite movie ever [any genre] for years and years.

IF you enjoy the old time radio westerns you can find many of then free on Itunes. I've downloaded a bunch and my 12 year olde son loves listening to them as do I.

[–] Chaco1942 16 years ago

I love a good western, but this one just leaves me shaking my head. What is the appeal? Looks below average to me. Down there with Roy Rogers, Lash LaRue, Sunset Carson, etc...I must be overlooking something, but what?

[–] turtletommy 16 years ago

It's a decent western certainly not a classic- it had good location scenery and photography and most important what separates it in my mind from many lesser fare is the nice dialogue and chemistry between Scott and McCrea. It certainly looks great on the new DVD release.

[–] europ36 15 years ago

"what separates it in my mind from many lesser fare is the nice dialogue and chemistry between Scott and McCrea"

Not mentioning the great story, photography, the meaningful characters, the fantastic landscapes, the more than memorable mining town, good supporting actors, and the reliable genre music (superb track for the duel btw.)

***** out of *****

[–] turtletommy 15 years ago

No I mentioned good location scenery and cinematography, and I left posts with positive impressions of the film in other threads besides just this one after first watching it. Anyway, I've long since changed my tune about whether this was a classic or not- it's a classic. I own the DVD now. Also when I wrote the previous post I hadn't seen any Randolph Scott westerns nor much of Joel McCrea's work. Now that I have seen a ton of them I have a better appreciation of their body of work, how fitting and poetic their teaming was in this film and finally how good this film is for the reasons you mentioned- it's a classic. The final scene is one of the best ever. The main music theme is a very haunting piece. One of my favorite westerns now.