A dramatization of the real-life Johnson County War in 1890 Wyoming, in which a Sheriff born into wealth, attempts to protect immigrant farmers from rich cattle interests.
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Cole Thornton, a gunfighter for hire, joins forces with an old friend, Sheriff J.P. Hara. Together with an old Indian fighter and a gambler, they help a rancher and his family fight a rival rancher that is trying to steal their water.
An American bar room pianist and his prostitute girlfriend go on a trip through the Mexican underworld to collect a bounty on the head of a dead gigolo.
Wyoming, 1890. James Averill is the Sherriff of Johnson County, a county largely inhabited by foreign immigrants. The wealthy cattle owners view the immigrant farmers as a nuisance and hindrance to them enlarging their own land. The cattlemen's association, the Wyoming Stock Growers Association, effectively declares war on the immigrant farmers, and gets the state government's blessing. They assemble an army of guns-for-hire, and, backed by the U.S. Cavalry, set out to rid the state of the immigrants. James Averill's heart is with the immigrants, but he is not sure they have a chance of winning the inevitable war.Written by
grantss
Sir John Hurt recalled filming one scene where he walks into town and observes a cockfight. He arrived on-set and was told that the cockfight had been filmed two weeks prior. See more »
Goofs
The pool table over which James and Nathan had their defining discussion in the landowners' club, is a Brunswick Regina model, which was produced between 1922 and 1925 - over 30 years after when the scene was set. See more »
Quotes
Frank Canton:
Mr. Champion, my grandfather was the Secretary of War to Harrison. His brother was the governor of the state of New York. My brother-in-law is Secretary of State. And to you, I represent the full authority of the government of the United States and the President.
Nathan D. Champion:
Fuck him too.
Billy Irvine:
Bravo, sir!
See more »
Alternate Versions
After its disastrous premiere engagement, the film was heavily edited to 149 minutes for wide release in 1981. Full-length version (228 minutes) later restored for home video and syndicated television. See more »
The Trailer describes this as one of the most controversial films of its decade; I would have to say it is one of the dullest films of its or any other decade.
The epic-like story centres on one man, Jim Avril (Kris Kristofferson) his fight for the rights of immigrant farmers against a wealthy elite and his love for a beautiful woman, Ella (Isabelle Huppert). Set in the late 1800's in Montana, the films main themes are racism, intolerance and fear, which could have made for a good semi-historical telling of the goings on in that era, instead we are dragged through a mire of over indulgent cinematography, poor dialogue, bad direction and the performances that could have been great by people like Christopher Walken, Sam Waterston and Brad Dourif are lost amidst all of the above. It is difficult to feel any kind of emotional attachment to the characters at any time throughout the piece, as there is no real opportunity for them to fully develop.
The film runs for close to 3 ½ hours and after 45 mins I still had no clear idea what the story was about, I also nearly cut my wrists when I saw the words INTERMISSION on the screen after 2 hours.
One of the most annoying things about this film is the fact that it was shot using some kind of filter process (apparently named the Doris Day machine) that creates a hazy quality which makes you feel like you are constantly squinting, I remember when the film was first released in the United States in 1980, touted as the most expensive flop of all time, (it was pulled from the theatres after only 3 days) there was much bewilderment over this choice of filming technique.
No one deserves to be subjected to a film like this.
It certainly didn't help director Michael Cimino's (The Deer Hunter) career, although subsequent films, Year of the Dragon and The Pope of Greenwich village were quite good. The performances by Walken, Dourif, Hurt and Jeff Bridges are fine and deserve a better setting than this film. Watch out for a cameo by Willem DaFoe and a bit part by Mickey Rourke also.
If you are a film student or budding director and you want to see what NOT to do this is a must see, for the rest of us this is a film that should be viewed only if you get tired of watching the grass grow.
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The Trailer describes this as one of the most controversial films of its decade; I would have to say it is one of the dullest films of its or any other decade.
The epic-like story centres on one man, Jim Avril (Kris Kristofferson) his fight for the rights of immigrant farmers against a wealthy elite and his love for a beautiful woman, Ella (Isabelle Huppert). Set in the late 1800's in Montana, the films main themes are racism, intolerance and fear, which could have made for a good semi-historical telling of the goings on in that era, instead we are dragged through a mire of over indulgent cinematography, poor dialogue, bad direction and the performances that could have been great by people like Christopher Walken, Sam Waterston and Brad Dourif are lost amidst all of the above. It is difficult to feel any kind of emotional attachment to the characters at any time throughout the piece, as there is no real opportunity for them to fully develop.
The film runs for close to 3 ½ hours and after 45 mins I still had no clear idea what the story was about, I also nearly cut my wrists when I saw the words INTERMISSION on the screen after 2 hours.
One of the most annoying things about this film is the fact that it was shot using some kind of filter process (apparently named the Doris Day machine) that creates a hazy quality which makes you feel like you are constantly squinting, I remember when the film was first released in the United States in 1980, touted as the most expensive flop of all time, (it was pulled from the theatres after only 3 days) there was much bewilderment over this choice of filming technique.
No one deserves to be subjected to a film like this.
It certainly didn't help director Michael Cimino's (The Deer Hunter) career, although subsequent films, Year of the Dragon and The Pope of Greenwich village were quite good. The performances by Walken, Dourif, Hurt and Jeff Bridges are fine and deserve a better setting than this film. Watch out for a cameo by Willem DaFoe and a bit part by Mickey Rourke also.
If you are a film student or budding director and you want to see what NOT to do this is a must see, for the rest of us this is a film that should be viewed only if you get tired of watching the grass grow.