The Hired Hand (1971)

Harry returns home to his wife and farm after drifting with his friend Arch and has to make a difficult decision regarding his loyalties.

Director:

Peter Fonda

Writer:

Alan Sharp

Stars:

Peter Fonda, Warren Oates, Verna Bloom

2 nominations.

Cast

Complete credited 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)

Storyline

Harry Collings returns home to his farm after drifting with his friend, Arch. His wife, who had given up on him, reluctantly allows him to stay, and soon believes that all will be well again. But then Harry has to make a difficult decision regarding his loyalties and priorities.

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Plot Keywords:

old west | bathing in a river | fishing | river | three friends | 

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Taglines:

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

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Genres:

Drama | Western

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for western violence and some sexual content

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

27 September 1971 (Sweden)

Also Known As:

A bérmunkás

Filming Locations:

Espanola, New Mexico, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$820,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Pando Company Inc.,Universal Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

90 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (original version) Dolby Digital (restored version)

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Voted best film of the year 1971 by the magazine "Films and Filming".

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Quotes

Arch Harris: [to an insistently insinuating stranger in a bar] You can always tell a man who's got something on his mind. He keeps talkin' to people he don't know. Now what is it you're tryin' to tell me?

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Connections

Featured in No Subtitles Necessary: Laszlo & Vilmos (2008)

User Reviews

Atmospheric, Visual, Sensitive Western

I had forgotten about renting "Hired Hand" until I saw the DVD in my mailbox. Looking at the printing on the disk, I shook my head, thinking the movie had to have been a mistake. But the whole film simply embraced my senses and I didn't want them to let go, even as the film ended.

Visually, it was no typical Western, Spaghetti or traditional. In fact, this isn't the kind of movie to watch if you're into the drama of the shoot-out or chase. Emotionally, it captured nuances and a sensitivity that the likes of masters John Ford and Sergio Leone steered clear of. Please, watch this film in its completely, and then play it with the commentary of director Peter Fonda. He adds some interesting information, including that the voice of Larry Hagman was even used for just a moment at one point in the film.

The characters gallop far from the typical. The movie simply looks western, but doesn't feel western. Nor do the sounds, as the music was beautifully atmospheric. This film should have been included for submission to the Academy Awards. The cinematography might make some feel somewhat put off by the layers of fades and dissolves, but relax and let yourself become absorbed by the acting, writing and production.

Overall, this movie, while it has an incredible climax, lives through subtlety, which is captured by a director who seems to been a labor of love.