The Ballad of Cable Hogue (1970)

Thirsty for a good western? Here it is.

This is a great western. Nontraditional? Yes, but in a good way. The story is a quick tale of revenge and regret. A window into how a man's soul can be spoiled be hate and greed. All in all, not a bad example of the 60s western. I would suggest everyone see this one. May 9, 2008

Love Stella Stevens

Oh My; Stella Stevens! How do I love you!? Let me count the ways! Love this film. April 11, 2008

My Favorite Peckinpah Western

The Shut Mouth Society
The Shopkeeper

An unusual and great Western--well worth owning

The Ballad of Cable Hogue may seem like a departure for Peckinpah, but that's only because his reputation in westerns was set by the more popular The Wild Bunch. This film shows a much more subtle side of Peckinpah and his view of the Old West. (Well, not quite the Old West. The story takes place in 1908.)

Jason Robards is perfect in this role. His portrayal of Hogue as a cantankerous character that gave up his youthful dreams years ago is engaging and compelling. This is a lament (ballad) about a dying lifestyle--a mythical time perhaps, but when it faded into history, it crushed people's dreams and aspirations for a new life just beyond civilization.

The Ballad of Cable Hogue is a well-executed film with great acting.

The Wild Bunch - The Original Director's Cut (Two-Disc Special Edition)
March 17, 2008

A Peckinpaugh Keeper

This movie, suddenly became available, as I continue

to add to a completion of Sam Peckinpaugh legends. I had

no expectations, so I just enjoyed watching Jason Robards

operate. November 1, 2007

Not really a great film...but it stays with you...

I've always been a big fan of Sam Peckinpah and a bigger fan of Strother Martin so when I ran across this film some years ago on late night television I was hooked. Recently I bought a copy of the DVD and watched it again and I think it is better than I remembered it being, which is always a nice surprise.
Peckinpah's noted fixation on extreme violence isn't really present here, to any notable degree; in fact this film is rather sweet, or at least bitter-sweet. There is the obligatory killing or two but they're rather incidental.
Robard's performance is excellent as to be expected, but then so is everyone else's. One thing about Sam was that he had an eye for characters.
Unfortunately he didn't have much of an ear for music. I've long noted that in nearly all of his films the soundtracks are awful and this one is no exception. The tunes are intended to be mellow and invocative but in reality are maudlin and syrupy. In the end they don't do much damage and I'm sure that there are folks out there who feel quite differently about the music than I do.
Still it is an interesting film and it does have "staying power". In the final analysis it may be one of Peckinpah's finer efforts.
October 17, 2007

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