The Hired Hand (1971)

User Rating:

7.0/10   

Director:

Peter Fonda

Writer:

Alan Sharp (writer)

Release Date:

11 August 1971 (USA)

Genre:

Western

Tagline:

Peter Fonda is riding again... To the woman he lost ... for the revenge he craves!

Plot:

Harry Collings returns home to his farm after drifting with his friend, Arch. His wife, who had given up on him...

Plot Keywords:

Ranch | Husband Wife Relationship | Directorial Debut | Drifter | Friendship

Cast

Peter Fonda	...	Harry Collings
Warren Oates	...	Arch Harris
Verna Bloom	...	Hannah Collings
Robert Pratt	...	Dan Griffen
Severn Darden	...	McVey
Rita Rogers	...	Mexican Woman
Ann Doran	...	Mrs. Sorenson
Ted Markland	...	Luke
Owen Orr	...	Mace
Al Hopson	...	Bartender
Megan Denver	...	Janey Collings
Michael McClure	...	Plummer
Gray Johnson	...	Will
Len Marsal		(as Len Marcel)

MPAA:

Rated R for western violence and some sexual content. (2003 re-rating)

Runtime:

90 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

UK:12 (re-rating) (2001) | UK:AA (original rating) | UK:15 (video rating) (1986) | Iceland:12 | West Germany:16 (f) | Germany:16 (DVD rating) | Finland:K-16 | Sweden:15 | USA:GP (original rating) | USA:R (2003 re-rating)

Filming Locations:

Cabezon, New Mexico, USA

Company:

Pando Company Inc.

Trivia:

After the success of Easy Rider (1969), Universal Pictures hit upon the idea of letting young filmmakers make "semi-independent" films for low budgets in hopes of generating similar profits. The idea was to make five movies for low budgets ($1 million or less), not interfere in the filmmaking process and give the directors final cut. The other movies were: The Last Movie (1971), Taking Off (1971), Silent Running (1972), American Graffiti (1973).

Quotes:

Arch Harris: [to an insistently insinuating stranger in a bar] You can always tell a man who's got something on his mind. He keeps talkin' to people he don't know. Now what is it you're tryin' to tell me?

A Beauty of a Film

If you're into film that has to have a cut every 3 seconds to stay interesting, skip this one. But if you're into film as an art form, this is a must see.

The photography is masterful by Vilmos Zsigmond. From the deeply rich silhouettes made with the natural light of a sunset to the shading and textures of lamp and fire light, this film is a profound lesson in painting with light.

The montage scenes blend the beautiful images into a pensive and graceful passage of time. The editing creates a deliberate pace that recreates a time when a horse trot was the natural speed. But when the gun battles begin the pace quickens to a gallop.

The delicate music is perfect blend of instruments for the visuals and provides the emotional depth that music should.

Under Peter Fonda's creative direction the film's elements deliver a story of a man who returns home to make things right because he had the courage to change. And just when the man and his wife restore their love and trust in each other, he had the courage go away again to save his longtime friend.