MovieChat Forums > Hang 'Em High (1968) Discussion > One of Clint's Best!

One of Clint's Best!

posted 13 years ago by hkronin
5 replies | jump to latest

This movie is WAY underrated in my opinion. Maybe it was just my mindset when I first saw this, but I was very pleasantly surprised. The characters in this movie were deep and 3 dimensional, the plot was unpredictable, and the storyline contained moral conflicts and ambiguity that isn't typically addressed in western films.

Even as the last minute of the film unfolded, I still had no idea which direction it was going to go.

Most westerns (most movies for that matter) take a very narrow look at morality, politics, or law. You have good guys, and bad guys, and that is about it. This movie explores the broader conflicts of law, politics, and morality, and shows that there is no easy answer. I thought that was the strength of this movie, and I was very pleasantly surprised.

This is by far one of the best westerns I have seen. Very original, very deep, and very unpredictable.

[–] MonteCarloMan 13 years ago

I agree. I put the re-watchability factor for this movie on the "8" scale. There is really not a dull moment to be found in the film except arguably Clint's love scene with Inger. It is the only scene I skip. Pat Hingle almost steals the show from Clint. I enjoy the interaction between the two on screen.

[–] hatr 13 years ago

No it's not.

[–] RynoII 13 years ago

I thought this movie was a little unfocused actually. By the end you feel like nothing was really resolved. Maybe it was suppose to be that way though. But usually those types of endings are more dark and dramatically effective. This one just seemed kind of unsure. It has a lot of good moments though. A 6 or 7 out of 10 for me for the good individual moments.

[–] Hey_Sweden 12 years ago

Well said. I liked the themes and the tone of the movie, and how the lynch mob wasn't portrayed as a bunch of moustache twirling villains.

What do you think this is, a signature? It's a way of life!

[–] intuitsteve 12 years ago

No doubt about it.