MovieChat Forums > High Plains Drifter (1973) Discussion > Unreported goofs, paved roads

Unreported goofs, paved roads

posted 3 years ago by MonStar (12898)
18 replies | jump to latest

At the beginning of the film, it is rather obvious that the road leading to the town has lanes paved with gravel. It is even more obvious that the main road in the town is completely paved with blacktop. By the end of the film, the road was much more covered with dust and dirt.

The 14 buildings in the town were built for the film. and burned down when they finished.

Years ago, Clint Eastwood said that the Stranger was originally the dead marshal's brother. They decided to leave it ambiguous in the film, perhaps even supernatural.

[–] andersonb85 (2062) 3 years ago

I just watched it. Those are dirt roads from what I can see. If you are talking about the mirage scene you can clearly see the dust getting kicked up by the horse. BTW rip to Mitchell Ryan, who passed away. The Kino Lorber blu ray release has a recent interview with him over the making of the film with Clint Eastwood.

[–] strntz (12230) 3 years ago

Years ago, Clint Eastwood said that the Stranger was originally the dead marshal's brother. They decided to leave it ambiguous in the film, perhaps even supernatural.

Ambiguous or not, I'm going with the Marshall's bro. There was zero incidents of anything supernatural about the Stranger shown, including his using trickery to have to shoot the three thugs in the barbershop, ducking from the skank's bullets, and having to ride a horse to get from place to place, such as when he tossed dynamite at the gang and hid from their sight.

[–] FilmBuff (7235) 3 years ago

I'm in the opposite camp. The way he appears out of the heat at the beginning of the film is somewhat supernatural. Moreover, once the Marshal has been given a proper burial, and we get the final lines of the film,

"I never did know your name..."
"Yes, you do,"

the camera pans to the Marshal's name on the tombstone, after which Eastwood disappears, like a ghost, into the air, just as he'd arrived.

It's ambiguous, but can be interpreted either way. Personally, I like the story better if it's the ghost of the Marshal returned for vengeance, rather than a relative that we are never told exists.

[–] DeathbySnuSnu (1008) 3 years ago

Completely agree. I never even knew there was any debate about it.

[–] strntz (12230) 2 years ago

The way he appears out of the heat at the beginning of the film is somewhat supernatural.... the camera pans to the Marshal's name on the tombstone, after which Eastwood disappears, like a ghost, into the air, just as he'd arrived.

Ever been in the desert, a highway in Texas, or even a hot airport runway? The shimming heat waves are exactly what you see when looking over a long flat distance on a hot day.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/31603030@N08/15160263440/in/photostream/

In fact, that's how they shot that scene..

[–] FilmBuff (7235) 2 years ago

I live in Texas, and I know what you mean. Doesn't change the effect of the shot, or the insinuation of the film.

[–] chilone (17865) 2 years ago

Supernatural doesn't necessarily mean super human or immortal.

[–] strntz (12230) 2 years ago

My response was to the OP who said the stranger was the dead Marshall's brother. Can't get much more supernatural than that.

[–] chilone (17865) 2 years ago

I know, but you mentioned things like ducking bullets, riding horses, etc. Supernatural entities have had to fit within natural parameters (including not being invincible) in many many stories and movies.

[–] strntz (12230) 2 years ago

I did mention those things, yes. I can't remember many supernatural characters (like a Marshall's ghost) who would duck bullets, shoot bad guys through a newspaper to get an advantage, light dynamite and escape before it blew up, avoid being beaten with clubs, etc. In other words, other than the cryptic "yes you do" to Mordecai's question of not knowing the stranger's name, there was nothing that would lead us to think that the stranger was anything but a human.

For that reason, I see the presented evidence favoring the stranger being the Marshall's brother instead of a vengeful wraith.

[–] chilone (17865) 2 years ago

Fair enough.

[–] strntz (12230) 2 years ago

I just thought of one more to support the supernatural side - after the post-coital glow of rogering the Stranger, Mrs. Belding was telling him about the murdered marshal and how he's buried in an unmarked grave. She said she heard the dead don't rest without a marker of some kind.

Although I haven't changed my opinion, it's clear they meant the Stranger's character to be vague.

[–] 123Guy (7268) 2 years ago

He clearly vanished at the end. Not down a hill, not hidden by heat waves that still show the trees in the distance... he ghosts away to the eerie music.

[–] strntz (12230) 2 years ago

That means nothing - the whole background also changed as the stranger disappeared. The same effect was used in Unforgiven at the end when William Munny faded into the shot of his wife's grave changing. Eastwood liked that effect.

[–] 123Guy (7268) 2 years ago

Don't you think they knew what they were doing with the effect?
Seems pretty obvious

[–] strntz (12230) 2 years ago

Not really. In order for the stranger to be both visible at the beginning of the shot *and* disappear into the heat distortion seamlessly, the shot would have to be 10 minutes or longer.

[–] 123Guy (7268) 2 years ago

so you dont think the DISSAPEARING shot instead of a simple fade to black meant he was supernatural?
I felt the whole movie setup that he was, but kept you guessing, and the final shot was the nail.

How can I see it any other way? I need to rewatch it

that said, I FULLY RESPECT your interpretation and not trying to change your mind. Enjoy it however you like. :)

[–] strntz (12230) 2 years ago

I've said many times that the ending is ambiguous certainly (and I also have no interest in changing anyone's mind), but the fade in or ending fade out in the desert heat isn't enough to push *me* over to believing the stranger is some sort of avenging supernatural wraith. Since this is fiction, we can only go on what the writer/director presents us, and what they give us is often contradictory.

Kind of like the ending to the Sopranos, but let's not open that can of worms!!