The Hired Hand
Universal thought it had a golden ticket to the next Easy Rider smash hit when they handed the director reins and starring role to Peter Fonda. A first-time director, Fonda chose Vilmos Zsigmond, a cinematographer with no full-length feature experience and unknown composer Bruce Langhorne for his musical score. Both made their mark on a film bolstered by a gifted veteran cast. Too bad about the story. The Hired Hand is another example of what happens when you make a film before its time.
Harry Collings (Fonda) and Arch Harris (Warren Oates) have run out of zest for tramping the west for seven years. A dust up in the dead-end town of Del Norte leads to the murder of a friend and Collings, evening the score by crippling the town boss, a man named McVey. Collings decides he’s had enough saddle tramping and announces he is going back to the wife he abandoned.
Collings heads home with Harris along for the ride. Collings welcome home isn’t warm. Wife Hannah (Verna Bloom) informs him he can stay as a hired hand. Harry and Arch go to work. Gradually Harry’s welcome warms up. Arch packs up to get out of the way. Word reaches Harry, Arch has fallen into McVey’s clutches. Harry rides to rescue his friend. In a shootout with McVey and his men, Arch is rescued. Harry is mortally wounded. Arch returns to Hannah with the news.
Critics in 1971 panned the film in harsh terms. The screen play came off as disjointed by western genre standards. The cinematography and editing were innovative, but got in the way of a story, preoccupied with getting in its own way. The musical score came in for high praise. The Hired Hand cratered at the box office to add insult to injury.
In 2001 the film was rereleased into the film festival circuit. Twenty-first century critics loved it. The cinematography and editing, so disruptive to enjoyment of the film in 1971, became appreciated for its cutting-edge innovation. Elements of the story so off-putting to audiences in the 70’s, aged to excellent fare thirty years later. Still, Universal lost its shirt and Fonda didn’t make a dime at the time.
Next Week: Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Garcia
Return to Facebook to comment
Ride easy,
Paul
Harry Collings (Fonda) and Arch Harris (Warren Oates) have run out of zest for tramping the west for seven years. A dust up in the dead-end town of Del Norte leads to the murder of a friend and Collings, evening the score by crippling the town boss, a man named McVey. Collings decides he’s had enough saddle tramping and announces he is going back to the wife he abandoned.
Collings heads home with Harris along for the ride. Collings welcome home isn’t warm. Wife Hannah (Verna Bloom) informs him he can stay as a hired hand. Harry and Arch go to work. Gradually Harry’s welcome warms up. Arch packs up to get out of the way. Word reaches Harry, Arch has fallen into McVey’s clutches. Harry rides to rescue his friend. In a shootout with McVey and his men, Arch is rescued. Harry is mortally wounded. Arch returns to Hannah with the news.
Critics in 1971 panned the film in harsh terms. The screen play came off as disjointed by western genre standards. The cinematography and editing were innovative, but got in the way of a story, preoccupied with getting in its own way. The musical score came in for high praise. The Hired Hand cratered at the box office to add insult to injury.
In 2001 the film was rereleased into the film festival circuit. Twenty-first century critics loved it. The cinematography and editing, so disruptive to enjoyment of the film in 1971, became appreciated for its cutting-edge innovation. Elements of the story so off-putting to audiences in the 70’s, aged to excellent fare thirty years later. Still, Universal lost its shirt and Fonda didn’t make a dime at the time.
Next Week: Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Garcia
Return to Facebook to comment
Ride easy,
Paul
No comments have been added yet.
