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India Press Store - The Outlaw Josey Wales
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List Price: $12.98
Our Price: $5.85
Your Save: $ 7.13 ( 55% )
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
Starring: Sam Bottoms, Matt Clark, Royal Dano, Chief Dan George, Joyce Jameson
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Average Customer Rating:  
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Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1
Audience Rating: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Binding: DVD
EAN: 9780790762777
Format: Closed-captioned
ISBN: 0790762773
Label: Warner Home Video
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
Number Of Items: 1
Publisher: Warner Home Video
Region Code: 1
Release Date: 2001-11-20
Running Time: 135
Studio: Warner Home Video
Theatrical Release Date: 1976-06-30
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Spotlight customer reviews:
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Customer Rating: 
Summary: Eastwood's near classic Western
Comment: This film marked a change of pace for Clint Eastwood, the director. Rather than just another minor Western, Eastwood turned the genre around by focusing more on character than just action and earned an accolade from one of the greatest filmmakers ever, Orson Welles. In an interview with Dick Cavett, Welles stated that this film ranks with some of the best Westerns that John Ford ever made and is one of the best American films ever made. To further state this point, Welles even sent a letter to Clint expressing his delight in viewing this film. Like Ford, this film has some interesting characters from Chief Dan George's wayward Indian to Granny to the characters in the saloon(Royal Dano, Sheb Wooley, etc). Phil Kaufman, the original director, differed in view from Clint about the conception of this film since Clint wanted it to be more of an epic rather than a small western--so Kaufman was fired and Clint took the reins. I almost would give this 5 stars but "The Unforgiven" is so high on my list of classic films that this film would gain at 4 stars in my estimation---and that's still pretty high. Recommended for Eastwood fans and Western buffs alike.
Customer Rating:
Summary: One of Clint Eastwood's finest achievements....
Comment: I initially saw this film when I was in high school. It was OK, but I've recently revisited it (seeing it in a widescreen, digital transfer on DVD over the pan and scan crap on VHS does wonders for it), and it's one of Clint Eastwood's greatest achievements as director and as actor. It was only his fifth film as director, and it shows a deep maturity and intelligence that usually wasn't seen in Westerns (or Hollywood, for that matter). It's a great film, a work of art, a true epic, and a poetic, complex, and profound depiction of the West, the Civil War (and war itself), history, and America.
There are so many thing to admire and love about this film. One is its depiction of southern rebels in the Civil War. Too often the press and Hollywood always make the Civil War to be about slavery, when the reasons for war were far more complex and convoluted than an easy, misleading Holllywood history lesson would show. The Confederate soldiers are portrayed with much more complexity and empathy than usual, and the Union soldiers are depicted as cruel and as unforgiving as soldiers (especially in times of war) can be. There are many great scenes in the film. There's an early shootout in the film where many Confederate soldiers, who have finally surrendered, are mowed down viciously and thoughtlessly. It's a searing indictment of the "kind" victors in war. The scene where Josey Wales and Little Bear (the leader of the local Commanche tribe) make peace is one of the most powerful and moving scenes in the film, and one of the greatest scenes in Western history. The film is beautifully shot by Bruce Surtees, an early Clint favorite and one of Hollywood's greatest cinematographers. Clint wasn't the original director on this film. The co-screenwriter, Philip Kaufman (who went on to direct great films like Henry and June and The Right Stuff), actually directed the film for about a week, but then Clint fired him and took over the direction himself, as Clint felt Philip was going too slow. Clint ended up coming in with the film 8 days ahead of schedule, despite the change in directors. Even though Kaufman's career and ego were deeply hurt, he eventually recovered and went onto his own distinguished career. Eastwood was really the only choice to direct this film.
The performances here are some of the best in any of Eastwood's work. John Vernon as Josey Wales's mentor Fletcher gives a real towering performance. Sam Bottoms is fine as the young sidekick of Josey. Chief Dan George is wonderful as an old Native American that tags along, and Will Sampson is wonderful and moving as Chief Little Bear. Even Sondra Locke, who is often criticised by just about everybody, is very good here.
The film has some great dialogue, with two of the most memorable lines in Western history. "Dyin' ain't much of a livin', boy" and "don't piss on my back and tell me it's raining" are forever in Western folklore.
The DVD is excellent too, with 2 documentaries, one made during filming, and a recent one made a few years back. Both are excellent, and shed some fascinating light on this film, which grows in depth and meaning during repeated viewings. It's one of Eastwood's finest films, and one of the greatest Westerns ever made.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Enjoyable night of action
Comment: The pace of the action is good. The dialogue has some humor and does not get in the way of the story telling or the scenes of gun fights. The story of betrayal and retribution is worth watching again and again. The gunning down of the redlegs (villians) by the outlaw Josey Wales (hero) will have you cheering for more. This is an enjoyable action film. Be sure to have hot, fresh popcorn available.
Customer Rating:
Summary: disintegration of Missouri
Comment: This film had every chance of being a great movie but lost its course somewhere along the way. The movie, especially the last half of the movie, should have been tightened up plenty. Because it wasn't, the movie is too long.
The first part of film is excellent. Clint Eastwood, as the poor farmer, Josie Wales, is attacked by the Yankee Red Legs who have swept in from Missouri. He is sabered, his child killed and his wife raped and murdered. The grief-ridden Wales, buries his family, recovers his revolver from the burned-out wreckage of his home, and starts to practice. At his low point, he is visited by Confederate guerillas under the famous "Bloody Bill Anderson", a man who has also lost his entire family to the Yankees.
Wales is happy to join up and fights in multiple battles against the hated Federals. As we know, however, the southern fighters are eventually driven to their knees. Wales' small group is one of the last to consider surrender. Most--but not the vengeful Wales--decide to accept Federal amnesty. It is a mistake. They are mowed down by the deceitful Union troops.
With a Yankee company hot on his heels he retreats towards Texas, taking revenge on Federal troops every time he can. By this time, of course, Wales has become one of the best and those who stand against him, die. He meets an old Cherokee man, Lone Watie, who himself hates the Federal Government. Together, they make an dangerous pair. Wales rescues a Navajo woman from the hands of criminals. She becomes a devoted, if somewhat unlikely member, of Wales new anti-Yankee band.
The movie probably should have ended here with some kind of terrific climax--maybe Wales and his two comrades fighting their enemies in some kind of last-ditch stand.
Unfortunately the movie doesn't end here. Eastwood's old girlfriend and nemesis, Sandra Locke [along with her miscast mother] are introduced. They are rebel-hating Yankees and, therefore, present the opportunity for redemption for both Wales and the women. Artistically, it just doesn't work. It's almost like Eastwood added an extra hour to his film just to make room for his girlfriend. It might not be what happened but that's what it looks like. Really a terrible shame.
By the way, the old Cherokee, Lone Watie, is taken from an actual historical character. Most members of the "Seven Civilized Tribes" of the Cherokee supported the Confederacy and many fought and died for the South. Chief Stand Watie was the last Confederate general to surrender, not surrendering until 1866.
People who think that Southern Secession and the Civil War were primarily about slavery must consider several things brought out by this film. First, Missouri had relatively few slaves and slave-owning families fought for both the Union and Confederacy. Nevertheless, Missori was one of the most violence-torn states during the War. People fought--no quarter--against people they opposed politically, culturally and personally. Finally, as we see with Wales, the violence became self-perpetuating. Enough people had been injured that they fought desperaely for motives of pure revenge.
Also, why is it that the vast majority of Native Americans who fought, side with the Confederacy? Few, indeed, were slaveholders. In my opinion, these American natives simply felt more sympatico with the laid-back, hunting, fishing Southerners.
Ron Braithwaite author of novels--"Skull Rack" and "Hummingbird God"--on the Spanish Conquest of Mexico
Customer Rating:
Summary: A true gun-slinger
Comment: My husband loves this movie, and so does my 3-year-old son who loves to pretend to be a cowboy and shoot guns. But it's not for me. :)
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Editorial Reviews:
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Josey Wales is a farmer turned fugitive in the post-civil war south who is chased by the law after he avenges the murder of his family and friends. DVD Features:
Introduction:Introduction by Clint Eastwood
Other:"Hell Hath No Fury" - 30:25 "Eastwood in Action" - 7:45
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