MovieChat Forums > The Cowboys (1972) Discussion > Longhair's ONE redeeming quality (SPOIL...

Longhair's ONE redeeming quality (SPOILERS)

posted 12 years ago by vinidici
10 replies | jump to latest

Sure, he was total scum! A liar, thief, coward, racist and murderer. But he not only granted Nightlinger "a last request" by allowing the latter to make peace with his Maker, but Longhair even took off his hat!

Anyone want to explore and analyze this brief scene? Or include this aspect of Longhair in a character study in this thread? I could probably do it, but suffice it to say that, quite often even among the worst of people, there's SOME spark of human decency even in them!

Whatever you do, DO NOT read this sig--ACKKK!!! TOO LATE!!!

[–] Etherdave 12 years ago

Longhair is a bully, and like most bullies, a complete coward. His reactions to the invocation of the Almighty is in perfect compliance with this fact.

[–] bastasch8647 12 years ago

It was a huge script error, completely out of keeping with Dern's character. Long Hair most likely would have shot Nightlinger in the back just to get rid of him instead of wasting time on hanging him. Moreover, Long Hair is plausibly a racist. If he was driven to lynch Nightlinger as the most appropriate means of executing a "N----r", then certainly he wouldn't for a moment respect Nightlinger's last request to say a prayer. The hanging scene seems to be an editorial insert to build suspense while the "Boys" are preparing their revenge, and to give Rosco Lee another chance to show off his striking acting skills via his "goodbye, world" monologue.

The real Long Hair has no more respect for, or belief in, God, than he cares for any human being - except for himself. He's a pure sociopath. He's the center of the world, in his own eyes, and the God of that world. He would not be moved by Nightlinger's last-minute plea for prayer-time.

[–] vinidici 12 years ago

You are perhaps quite right in your assessment, bastach. However, some of the most evil and foulest wretches who've ever lived aren't / weren't atheists. Many an evildoer who happen to believe in God have rationalized that they will "repent and get right with God later," but continue on their greedy, self-seeking and crooked path.

Okay folks, show's over, nothing to see here!

[–] bastasch8647 12 years ago

Late reply, but yes, you're correct _some_ sociopaths are "believers". But I'm theorizing - based on how Long Hair is written - that the character, if consistent, would have simply shot Nightlinger, not go thru the hanging farce, and not permit N. to do any praying - imho.

[–] vinidici 12 years ago

Well, maybe the scene was written that way to showcase Roscoe Lee Brown's acting prowess. This movie was made not so long after the heyday of the civil rights era, let's not forget. Having a wise black character who outsmarts a villainous white character was still a pretty new thing back then.

Another thing to remember is Longhair's cruel streak. And lynching black men wasn't exactly an unheard of thing during the era depicted.

Okay folks, show's over, nothing to see here!

[–] ecarle 12 years ago

One thing I noticed is how Dern removes his hat at first, but as Browne's speech goes on wonderfully long -- Dern puts the hat back on in disgust. Its an actor's moment -- Long Hair will go through the motions of giving his victim final words, but only so far before "reverting to type".

[–] star_in_the_zenith_79 10 years ago

Even evil scumbags sometimes have peculiar sets of quirks that resemble good morals. These are more habitual whims than anything, there is usually very little substance behind it if you go out and do things like Long Hair did.

[–] joekiddlouischama 10 years ago

It was a huge script error

I would not call it "a huge script error," simply because allowing Nightlinger to deliver that dialogue is important to the film. It is, rather, a typical movie convention: some villainous character allows his victim a chance to say his piece before he dies, and then that victim is able to turn the tables. As Eli Wallach's Tuco Ramirez stated in a similar situation in The Good, the Bad and the Ugly, "When you have to shoot, shoot, don't talk!"

[–] jmillerdp 10 years ago

He should have been gutted with a Rambo knife.

I. Drink. Your. Milkshake! [slurp!] I DRINK IT UP! - Daniel Plainview - There Will Be Blood

[–] mdonln 9 years ago

vinidici says > Sure, he was total scum! A liar, thief, coward, racist and murderer. But he not only granted Nightlinger "a last request" by allowing the latter to make peace with his Maker, but Longhair even took off his hat!

I don't think it had anything to do with religion. Longhair was simply reacting to Jeb's acceptance of his fate. For that environment it was probably as automatic a reaction as someone saying 'bless you' after someone sneezes. It doesn't mean they're necessarily religious, it's just ingrain behavior that comes from repetition. Longhair had been in jail and was probably familiar with the practice of removing one's hat and giving the condemned man a chance to clear his conscience.

Woman, man! That's the way it should be Tarzan. [Tarzan and his mate]