It’s no secret I’m a fan of Clint Eastwood’s work, especially his westerns. As both an actor and director he has created a body of work within the genre that had (and still does) far reaching influence. Now Universal has rereleased the film on Blu-ray in what is touted as a “40th Anniversary Edition” but the only special feature is the film’s theatrical trailer. No featurettes looking back at the film or Clint Eastwood, no audio commentary by film historians, just the film itself.
But what a film.
As Eastwood’s second film as director he gets criticism for showing his influences so clearly. Directors Don Siegel and Sergio Leone heavily informed his style here, and there’s even a tribute to them at the end of the film in the graveyard. What Eastwood does here is begin to find his voice as a director as informed within the genre by those who directed him.
Drifting into town Clint Eastwood is “the stranger” a man with no name, but not the same character from the Sergio Leone films. Lago is a remote town, and small. Unfortunately a few criminals have taken over the town, not with corruption, but with fear. A few low-lifes have a hold on the town, but are quickly dispatched by Eastwood. They are, however, not the problem. Three criminals who murdered the town’s previous sheriff are due to be released from prison. Of course the folks in charge are afraid because they know the criminals are coming back to town.
By the time an hour has passed the criminals are out of jail and on their way. How is the town dealing with this? By employing Clint Eastwood’s stranger to establish an ambush. Only thing is, it’s just not going the way the townsfolk thought it would. Then there’s the secret the town hides, and it’s not about how the previous sheriff was murdered.
Violent? Yes. The film earned an “R” rating and it would earn it again today. There’s a scene early on where the stranger “takes” a woman. It’s not overly graphic but it is rather explicit as to what is taking place. And yes, it’s an important scene because it establishes characters, both hers and the stranger.
I do wish Universal had put a little something into the Blu-ray release. It’s a great film that is still relevant today, standing as a statement about vigilante justice and social complacency.