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.

---

Plot Keywords:

best friend | farm | death of protagonist | revisionist western | old west | 

---

Taglines:

He deserted his family to explore the frontier. But life is about to lead him home.

---

Genres:

Drama | Western

---

Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for western violence and some sexual content

Did You Know?

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).

---

Goofs

When Harry and Arch are returning from town, they turn off a road revealing modern tire tracks on the road before them made by the camera vehicle.

---

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?

---

Alternate Versions

The version of the film prepared for US television cuts several scenes involving nudity violence and bad language, but restores 17 minutes of footage from the cutting room floor. Added scenes include Larry Hagman's entire role as a sheriff who runs Warren Oates out of town.

---

Connections

Featured in Close Encounters with Vilmos Zsigmond (2016)

User Reviews

Simply a great film

To call this picture a Western is to diminish it, although it is in fact a Western; to call it a picture about male bonding is to do likewise, although it is most assuredly about that. It is so much more. Like the greatest works of art in any narrative medium, it concerns human relationships, including a person's relationship with the self. Because the story is presented with unrelieved seriousness it will not come close to appealing to everyone - but neither will the classic novels, plays, poems, etc. As an example of cinematic art, this obscure film belongs among the greats. All aspects of filmmaking are handled with a firm but sensitive touch. Its obscurity is difficult to explain, and impossible to justify.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

17 July 1971 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Hired Hand

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 (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1