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List Price: $14.98 | | Label: 20th Century Fox
Salesrank: 28938
Released: November 4, 2003 |
| Our Price: $8.80 |
| Used Price: $5.49 |
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MPAA Rating: Unrated
Media: DVD |
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Editorial Review:
Two drifters are passing through a Western town, when news comes in that a local farmer has been murdered and his cattle stolen. The townspeople, joined by the drifters, form a posse to catch the perpetrators. They find three men in possession of the cattle, and are determined to see justice done on the spot.
Description of The Ox-Bow Incident:
The Ox-Bow Incident is one of the essential Westerns, directed by William Wellman. A study of the effects--and aftereffects--of mob violence, this film (based on a true story) begins with the murder of a popular rancher. Angry townspeople form a posse, find suspects, and, without waiting for a trial, summarily hang them in an expression of biblically tinged frontier justice. But the one cowboy who tried to turn the mob aside ultimately proves that they executed innocent men. Made in 1943, the film features stunning black-and-white cinematography and a solid dramatic sense about what a deadly combination ignorance and self-righteousness can be. Fonda made this film between The Grapes of Wrath and My Darling Clementine, at a point when he was at the peak of his powers as a young actor. --Marshall Fine
The Ox-Bow Incident Reviews:
This western will get you thinking about justice 
2009-12-28 - As many have noted, the Ox-Bow incident is not your typical Western. It does not contain a lot of action, the scenery is pretty limited, and the cast is not that great, but it really will get you thinking about justice. Many other reviewers have described the plot, so I will not detail it here. Needless to say, the scenes that are most riveting are the ones where the men are trying to decide what to do with the supposed guilty men. The theme of this film is as relevant today, as it was when it was released. We so easily jump to our own conclusions that we sometimes get things wrong. In this case, the mistake is fatal.
If you are looking for a pretty short film, based on a classic novel, that will get you thinking, then Ox-Bow incident is a good choice. I enjoyed and think you might as well.
A SHORT FILM THAT SPEAKS VOLUMES!
2009-11-09 - 'The Ox-Bow Incident' is truly a classic western that is so much more than just a "shoot 'em up" cowboy picture. Fonda is at the top of his game here and although not his finest performance, it certainly deserves merit. The film is rather short, but this doesn't effect its impact on you as we see just how horrible things can get when we try to speed up the justice system and take the law into our own hands. I enjoyed this film even though it is the type of film that leaves you angry. If you're a fan of the genre this is a must see film.
Injustice is the worst kind of pain... 
2009-09-16 - You know those films that just make you angry; the films that grab at some sense of inner justice and make you just squirm in frustration as you try and try and try to make sense of the abhorrent injustice taking place on the screen? I think the first time I experienced that was when I saw `The Crucible'. I remember getting all choked up in and clenching my fists in rage as I watched these horrible atrocities befall innocent people. I remember similar feelings watching the more recent `House of Sand and Fog'. When I related my feelings to my father after seeing `The Crucible' a few years back he told me of this movie and told me that it would send me into a rage. Since then I've been planning on seeing this movie, I just never made the time.
I finally saw this last weekend and I must say; I was PISSED.
Adapted from the novel written by Walter Van Tilburg Clark, and based on a true story, William A. Wellman's 1943 film `The Ox-Bow Incident' is as tragic as they come, and is surely going to send shivers down your spine. The film centers on a dusty Western town that is thrown into a frenzy when one of their friends and neighbors is reportedly murdered for his cattle. Instead of waiting for the sheriff to return and justice to be handed out legally, a group of overzealous men (and one woman) form a lynching mob and set out to find to guilty party. When they find three strangers who claim to have purchased the deceased cattle that morning they struggle with whether or not to believe the men.
The film tragically shows how power can corrupt and how imperfect justice is never `just'. There are few in the party who feel a lynching is unfair, but the majority rules and thus results in an unspeakable tragedy.
I haven't seen too many films with Henry Fonda. His later works I wasn't too fond of (I always use the term "I'm none to fond of Fonda" when I'm referring to his daughter Jane, but I can't say that for Henry), but the earlier work I've seen have been refreshing for me. His powerful presence is seen here as well. The way he reveals his characters emotional resolve is flawless, letting us see just enough of this man to comprehend just who he `really' is. The acting as a whole is very good, especially from Dana Andrews, who just shatters my soul as the doomed Donald Martin (why was he not nominated for an Oscar?).
My only issue here is the films brisk nature. The tale is so tragic and so poignant and yet the running time is only 75 minutes, not even an hour and a half. Yes, there are some brilliant `short' films (just look at Charlie Chaplin's career) but to be honest, a film of the emotional weight NEEDS some length to build that depth. The film almost feels incomplete upon its ending because they didn't take advantage of the story to really flesh out everyone involved. There could have been a lot more character development going on here. Instead they develop little more than the storyline. It is still a great film, and the gut-punch is still there, but I can't help but think of what another thirty or forty minutes of pure character development would have done for the films overall impact.
I also was not a fan of the content of Martin's letter, for I felt that it was a cheep way at expressing a moral. It didn't make any sense that Martin would have penned those words to his wife, no sense at all, but the director used his letter as a way to express to the audience how he wanted them to feel about the actions taken. If he had slowed the film down and really got into the meat of the people involved then that letter would have been unnecessary. In fact, in the novel the contents of that letter is never revealed, and personally I feel that that should have been left alone.
In any case, the film is a must see. It is hailed as a classic and one of Fonda's best films. I can say that he is very good in this, and the film itself is well worth watching. Injustice can be very aggravating. If only enough people would allow themselves to be transformed over by the mistakes of others.
I hate it when things like this happen.
The OX-Bow Incident DVD Review
2009-09-14 - An excellent western with fine acting and superb script. The picture and sound are very good.
The oxbow incident
2009-08-20 - This is a classic not your ordenary Western. It one that makes you think throughout the whole movie Enjoy. The Railroad man
