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Ox-Bow Incident(1943) Is A Gothic Western


Dear Folks,
This writer always thinks of Ox-Bow Incident(1943) as being a gothic western.
It is not at all a traditional western:
1)This is a very dark and atmospheric film.
2)Town appears largely abandoned.
3)It's own small population is willing to hang someone at the drop of a hat.
4)It's grim score
5)When the vigilantes go after the "killers",the film switches to nighttime for a large portion of the film.
To Better Days,
BRAD

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Yes, you have a point there.
At least it's not a mainstream 1940s western. Immediately after the titles, you see a lonely, sandy town street with wooden houses and two men on horses riding into the town, while a lonely harmonica plays Red River Valley.
This at once places the film in a small universe, call it gothic or existential.



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[deleted]

Well, Murnau and Fritz Lang and other goths were already in Hollywood, and that's where the film noir comes from: a mixture of silent old Hollywood and European expat expressionism.





"The Beamer Xperience: 9 feet wide home cinema bliss."

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