“The Outlaw Josey Wales” (1976) starring Clint Eastwood / Z-View

The Outlaw Josey Wales (1976)

Director: Clint Eastwood

Screenplay:  Phil Kaufman, Sonia Chernus; based on GONE TO TEXAS by Forrest Carter.

Stars:  Clint Eastwood, Chief Dan George, Sondra Locke, Bill McKinney, Paula Trueman, Sam Bottoms, Woodrow Parfrey, Joyce Jameson, Sheb Wooley, Royal Dano, Matt Clark, Will Samson and John Vernon.

Tagline:  …an army of one.

The Plot…

As the Civil War rages, Josey Wales tries to make a go of it as a peaceful farmer.  That changes when Union Soldiers burn down his farm and kill his wife and young son.  With nothing left to live for, Josey joins a group of Confederate renegades.

When the Civil War ends, the Confederate renegades are given a chance to surrender with their lives.  They’re told if they come in, swear alliegence to the Union, they will be pardoned.  All of the renegades except for Josey Wales goes in.

Josey watches from a distance.  As he suspected it is a death trap.  Josey rides in, killing several soldiers as he takes over a gattling gun.  Josey continues to mow down Union soldiers using their weapon.

Josey makes his escape.  Now he has a price on his head.  Every bounty hunter as well as a squad of Union soldiers wants Josey Wales dead.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

The Outlaw Josey Wales received one 1977 Academy Award Nominaton for Best Music, Original Score – Jerry Fielding

The Director’s Guild of America instituted a new rule after Clint Eastwood replaced director Philip Kaufman after filming had started.  It bans any crew of cast member from replacing a director.  It was dubbed the “Eastwood Rule”.

The Outlaw Josey Wales is the first of six times Eastwood and Sondra Locke co-starred.

David Geffen says he was a young executive at Warner Bros. asked to provide notes after an early screening of The Outlaw Josey Wales.  None of the other execs had any.  Geffen suggested to Eastwood that the film be shortened by a half hour.  Eastwood’s response was that he could cut it, if that’s what was needed.  Geffen asked, “Where will you be?”  “Across the street at Paramount cutting a new deal.”  Needless to say, the movie was not cut.

I prefer The Outlaw Josey Wales to Unforgiven… or any of Eastwood’s other westerns.  It is a classic.

Chief Dan George is a treasure.

The Outlaw Josey Wales (1976) rates 5 of 5 stars.