The Ox-Bow Incident
In research for my Great Western Detective League series based on actual cases of the Rocky Mountain Detective Association, I learned how common lynching was in the nineteenth century west. Seen in that light, the dramatic last lines of the film take on powerful effect.
Drifters Art Croft (Harry Morgan) and Gil Carter (Henry Fonda) ride into Bridger’s Wells Nevada. They tie-up at Darby’s saloon where the atmosphere is tense as a result of a recent rash of cattle-rustling. Strangers Art and Gil are greeted with suspicion. News arrives a local rancher named Kinkaid has been murdered. Rustlers are suspected. A sheriff’s deputy organizes a posse. Art and
Gil join to avoid suspicion.
The posse gets a tip, three men with a herd bearing Kinkaid’s brand have been seen near Ox-Bow Canyon. That night the men are apprehended in the canyon.
One of them, a young man named Martin (Dana Andrews), claims he bought the herd from Kinkaid; but does not have a bill of sale. A second man is recognized as gambler, Francisco Morez (Anthony Quinn). He is found in possession of Kinkaid’s gun. A vote is taken on returning the three to stand trial or hanging them in the morning. Art and Gil, along with a few others vote to take them in for trial. The vote is for hanging. Martin writes a letter to his wife and gives it to the only member of the posse he trusts.
Gil tries to stop the lynching; but is overpowered. After the hangings the posse rides back toward Bridger’s Wells. Along the way they meet the Sheriff returning to town. He informs them Kinkaid is alive and the men who shot him are under arrest. The posse returns to Darby’s saloon. Gil reads Martin’s letter. In it he expresses sorrow for posse members “Who will live with what they have done for the rest of their lives.”
The Ox-Bow Incident was one of Henry Fonda’s favorite films. Critics generally gave it favorable reviews despite a story Variety called a “Powerful preachment against mob lynching”. Nominated for Best Picture, The Ox-Bow Incident lost to Casablanca. Though a box office bust, the film is preserved in the Library of Congress National Film Registry.
Next Week: My Darling Clementine
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Ride easy,
Paul
Drifters Art Croft (Harry Morgan) and Gil Carter (Henry Fonda) ride into Bridger’s Wells Nevada. They tie-up at Darby’s saloon where the atmosphere is tense as a result of a recent rash of cattle-rustling. Strangers Art and Gil are greeted with suspicion. News arrives a local rancher named Kinkaid has been murdered. Rustlers are suspected. A sheriff’s deputy organizes a posse. Art and
Gil join to avoid suspicion.
The posse gets a tip, three men with a herd bearing Kinkaid’s brand have been seen near Ox-Bow Canyon. That night the men are apprehended in the canyon.
One of them, a young man named Martin (Dana Andrews), claims he bought the herd from Kinkaid; but does not have a bill of sale. A second man is recognized as gambler, Francisco Morez (Anthony Quinn). He is found in possession of Kinkaid’s gun. A vote is taken on returning the three to stand trial or hanging them in the morning. Art and Gil, along with a few others vote to take them in for trial. The vote is for hanging. Martin writes a letter to his wife and gives it to the only member of the posse he trusts.
Gil tries to stop the lynching; but is overpowered. After the hangings the posse rides back toward Bridger’s Wells. Along the way they meet the Sheriff returning to town. He informs them Kinkaid is alive and the men who shot him are under arrest. The posse returns to Darby’s saloon. Gil reads Martin’s letter. In it he expresses sorrow for posse members “Who will live with what they have done for the rest of their lives.”
The Ox-Bow Incident was one of Henry Fonda’s favorite films. Critics generally gave it favorable reviews despite a story Variety called a “Powerful preachment against mob lynching”. Nominated for Best Picture, The Ox-Bow Incident lost to Casablanca. Though a box office bust, the film is preserved in the Library of Congress National Film Registry.
Next Week: My Darling Clementine
Return to Facebook to comment
Ride easy,
Paul
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