The Hired Hand (1971)

Director:

Peter Fonda

Writer:

Alan Sharp

Release Date:

11 August 1971 (USA)

Genre:

Western

Tagline:

Peter Fonda is riding again... To the woman he lost ... for the revenge he craves!

Plot:

Harry Collings returns home to his farm after drifting with his friend, Arch. His wife, who had given up on him...

Plot Keywords:

Ranch | Husband Wife Relationship | Directorial Debut | Drifter | Friendship

Awards:

1 win

Cast

Peter Fonda	...	Harry Collings
Warren Oates	...	Arch Harris
Verna Bloom	...	Hannah Collings
Robert Pratt	...	Dan Griffen
Severn Darden	...	McVey
Rita Rogers	...	Mexican Woman
Ann Doran	...	Mrs. Sorenson
Ted Markland	...	Luke
Owen Orr	...	Mace
Al Hopson	...	Bartender
Megan Denver	...	Janey Collings
Michael McClure	...	Plummer
Gray Johnson	...	Will
Len Marsal		(as Len Marcel)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Larry Hagman	...	Sheriff (uncredited)

Directed by
Peter Fonda

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Alan Sharp

Produced by
William Hayward	....	producer
Frank Mazzola	....	producer (2002 restoration)
Stanley A. Weiss	....	executive producer

Original Music by
Bruce Langhorne

Cinematography by
Vilmos Zsigmond

Film Editing by
Frank Mazzola

Production Design by
Lawrence G. Paull

Art Direction by
Lawrence G. Paull

Set Decoration by
Robert De Vestel

Costume Design by
Richard Bruno

Makeup Department
Frank Griffin	....	makeup artist

Production Management
Jack Bohrer	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Hawk Koch	....	assistant director (as Howard W. Koch Jr.)
John M. Poer	....	second assistant director (uncredited)

Art Department
Mazzola Anthony	....	property master (uncredited)

Sound Department
Richard Portman	....	sound re-recordist
Christopher B. Reeves	....	sound editor: 2002 restoration
Le Roy Robbins	....	sound
James Nelson	....	supervising sound editor (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Roger George	....	special effects

Visual Effects by
Brad Reinke	....	digital restoration producer (restored version) (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Ronald Vidor	....	assistant camera (uncredited)
Sven Walnum	....	camera operator (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Natasha Nicholson	....	wardrobe consultant

Other crew
Mary Bartelt	....	assistant to producer
Marshall Schlom	....	script supervisor
Kathy Speer	....	assistant to producer

Production Companies

• Pando Company Inc.
• Tartan Films
• Universal Pictures

Distributors

• Universal Pictures (1971) (USA) (theatrical)
• Cinema Internazional Corporation (1971) (West Germany) (theatrical)
• National Broadcasting Company (NBC) (1972) (USA) (TV)
• Kartes Video (1996) (USA) (VHS)
• Koch Media (2007) (Germany) (DVD)
• Koch Media (2008) (Germany) (DVD) (restored version) (special edition)
• Palisades Tartan (2009) (UK) (all media)
• Kartes Video (198?) (USA) (VHS) (Pan and scan for MCA Home Video)
• Universal Home Entertainment (19??) (USA) (DVD)

Other Companies

• Pando Company  artwork
• Universal Pictures  artwork

Also Known As:

MPAA:

Rated R for western violence and some sexual content (2003 re-rating)

Runtime:

90 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

UK:12 (re-rating) (2001) | UK:AA (original rating) | UK:15 (video rating) (1986) | Iceland:12 | Germany:16 (DVD rating) | West Germany:16 (f) | Finland:K-16 | Sweden:15 | USA:GP (original rating) | USA:R (2003 re-rating)

Filming Locations:

Cabezon, New Mexico, USA

Company:

Pando Company Inc.

Trivia:

After the success of Easy Rider (1969), Universal Pictures hit upon the idea of letting young filmmakers make "semi-independent" films for low budgets in hopes of generating similar profits. The idea was to make five movies for low budgets ($1 million or less), not interfere in the filmmaking process and give the directors final cut. The other movies were: The Last Movie (1971), Taking Off (1971), Silent Running (1972), American Graffiti (1973).

Quotes:

Harry Collings:Arch, If it gets, you know, the way it can out there... You just turn around.

Slipping through the cracks

It is hard to believe that this film has toiled in relative obscurity for so long. This is a wonderful western with a great cast, shots and a mesmerizing score. The movie is deliberate, and allows the viewer to contemplate all that occurs. Peter Fonda has done away with overblown action scenes to craft a real character study with consequences we can all identify with. If you are a fan of Unforgiven do not miss this!