A posse, led by a former Confederate soldier, Captain Quincey Whitmore(Jack Palance) decide to head out to find an "Injun" responsible for the murder of a no-good sheriff, the hunted(or, more appropriately, the hunter) an Apache named Chato(Charles Bronson). Listen to this fabulous cast of recognizable veteran character actors which accompany Whitmore on this journey..Simon Oakland, Ralph Waite, Richard Jordan, James Whitmore, Victor French and Richard Basehart. Other actors tagging along are William Watson, Paul Young, and Roddy McMillan.
Jubal Hooker(Oakland)decides he and his boys, Elias and Earl(Waite and Jordan), will tag along to find that half-Apache, relishing the thought of hanging an Injun. Racists them all, pretty rough around the edges and foul in demeanor and attitude. Earl keeps his mind of the ladies while always having to start up something with the posse's Mexican scout. When members of the posse(mainly Elias and Earl)find Chato's home, his squaw inside, they rape and molest her, leaving the woman's naked body tied out in the open as bait for her mate. This act, along with the eventual murder of Chato's Apache comrade(who helps tend to his home), hanging him upside down, setting his body on fire, will be the posse's downfall. You see, for most of the film before this act, Chato was just tormenting and teasing them. He'd shoot some of their horses, or stab open their water bags. But, when they resort to violence in order to draw him out, Chato will respond in kind. We watch as Jubal and Elias become tyrannical in their desire to find and kill Chato, after Earl goes out looking for the squaw saved by her mate, getting himself mutilated for his heinous actions regarding the rape for which he was an active, enthusiastic participant..when Quincey speaks of turning back when catching Chato seems futile, the Hookers pull a gun on him, shooting down two who attempt to leave in cold blood. The rape of Chato's squaw and murder of his friend sealed their fates.
As impressively shot by cinematographer Robert Paynter(a veteran director of photography, he shot many of Winner's early work, including THE MECHANIC), the sun downs are particularly awe-inspiringly beautiful, while the days look unforgiving and treacherous, land which seemed to have been forgotten by God, only Chato, it seems, could live on it. We see that the white man can not survive on this land, never at any point one step ahead of Chato, truly at his mercy. And, that's really the point, these men start out with great confidence, their heads held high, believing that Chato will be caught by nightfall, further following the half-breed into the sunbaked abyss. We see that this posse begin to tear at one another, their camaraderie and swagger deteriorating the longer they remain in pursuit of Chato, doubt and fear starting to flower. Especially disconcerting for them is how Chato picks them off systematically, not in a hurry, gallantly riding his horse, mostly overhead peering down at the posse, using his surroundings as a tool against the group, wiser and more restrained. Not halting the rape, in my mind, costs the entire group, even if some of the posse didn't participate in the act..in allowing it to continue, each is just as guilty and must pay with their life. I was a bit disappointed we never get to see Chato and Quincey(or Chato and Jubal, for that matter)face off, but even if they had, we know what the outcome would've been. Once Earl was found with his crotch destroyed by fire, Jubal would not allow this to go unabated, and his mania is the upending of the posse's efforts. As is often the case, when things don't go according to plan, usually dissension and friction develop until members of the posse are at each other's throats. This is not the traditional western many grew up watching, it casts white man in a negative light while the Apache is presented as smart, brave, and ingenious in his cunning. Using the Hookers as an example, we see white man as the savages instead of the "Injuns" often depicted as such.
Jubal Hooker(Oakland)decides he and his boys, Elias and Earl(Waite and Jordan), will tag along to find that half-Apache, relishing the thought of hanging an Injun. Racists them all, pretty rough around the edges and foul in demeanor and attitude. Earl keeps his mind of the ladies while always having to start up something with the posse's Mexican scout. When members of the posse(mainly Elias and Earl)find Chato's home, his squaw inside, they rape and molest her, leaving the woman's naked body tied out in the open as bait for her mate. This act, along with the eventual murder of Chato's Apache comrade(who helps tend to his home), hanging him upside down, setting his body on fire, will be the posse's downfall. You see, for most of the film before this act, Chato was just tormenting and teasing them. He'd shoot some of their horses, or stab open their water bags. But, when they resort to violence in order to draw him out, Chato will respond in kind. We watch as Jubal and Elias become tyrannical in their desire to find and kill Chato, after Earl goes out looking for the squaw saved by her mate, getting himself mutilated for his heinous actions regarding the rape for which he was an active, enthusiastic participant..when Quincey speaks of turning back when catching Chato seems futile, the Hookers pull a gun on him, shooting down two who attempt to leave in cold blood. The rape of Chato's squaw and murder of his friend sealed their fates.
As impressively shot by cinematographer Robert Paynter(a veteran director of photography, he shot many of Winner's early work, including THE MECHANIC), the sun downs are particularly awe-inspiringly beautiful, while the days look unforgiving and treacherous, land which seemed to have been forgotten by God, only Chato, it seems, could live on it. We see that the white man can not survive on this land, never at any point one step ahead of Chato, truly at his mercy. And, that's really the point, these men start out with great confidence, their heads held high, believing that Chato will be caught by nightfall, further following the half-breed into the sunbaked abyss. We see that this posse begin to tear at one another, their camaraderie and swagger deteriorating the longer they remain in pursuit of Chato, doubt and fear starting to flower. Especially disconcerting for them is how Chato picks them off systematically, not in a hurry, gallantly riding his horse, mostly overhead peering down at the posse, using his surroundings as a tool against the group, wiser and more restrained. Not halting the rape, in my mind, costs the entire group, even if some of the posse didn't participate in the act..in allowing it to continue, each is just as guilty and must pay with their life. I was a bit disappointed we never get to see Chato and Quincey(or Chato and Jubal, for that matter)face off, but even if they had, we know what the outcome would've been. Once Earl was found with his crotch destroyed by fire, Jubal would not allow this to go unabated, and his mania is the upending of the posse's efforts. As is often the case, when things don't go according to plan, usually dissension and friction develop until members of the posse are at each other's throats. This is not the traditional western many grew up watching, it casts white man in a negative light while the Apache is presented as smart, brave, and ingenious in his cunning. Using the Hookers as an example, we see white man as the savages instead of the "Injuns" often depicted as such.