- Actors: Clint Eastwood, Sondra Locke, Chief Dan George, Bill McKinney, John Vernon
- Directors: Clint Eastwood
- Writers: Forrest Carter, Philip Kaufman, Sonia Chernus
- Producers: James Fargo, John G. Wilson, Robert Daley
- Format: PAL
- Language English, French
- Subtitles: English, Spanish, German, French, Italian, Portuguese, Dutch, Arabic
- Region: Region 2 (This DVD may not be viewable outside Europe. Read more about DVD formats.)
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9 - 2.35:1
- Number of discs: 1
- Classification: 18
- Studio: Whv
- DVD Release Date: 1 Oct 1999
- Run Time: 135 minutes
- Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (34 customer reviews)
- ASIN: B00004CZ6I
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 14,876 in Film & TV (See Top 100 in Film & TV)
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Amazon.co.uk Review
During the Civil War, Union "Redlegs" attack Southerner Josey Wales's dirt farm and wipe out his family. Seeking vengeance, Wales throws in with a company of Reb guerrillas. Tagged as a renegade after the surrender, he flees west into the vastness of the Indian Territories, where, quite unintentionally, he finds himself cast as the straight-shooting paterfamilias of an ever-growing, spectacularly motley community of misfits and castaways. Which is to say, Josey's personal quest for survival and something like peace of mind evolves into a funky, multicultural allegory of the healing of America.
The Outlaw Josey Wales (1976), Clint Eastwood's 31st film as an actor, 20th as international star and 5th as director, was the first to win him widespread respect. Critics had grumbled when the producer-star replaced Philip Kaufman (The Right Stuff) in the director's chair a week into shooting. They ended up cheering when Eastwood delivered both his most sympathetic performance to date and--with the heroic collaboration of cinematographer Bruce Surtees--an impressive Panavision epic that stresses the scruffiness, rather than the scenic splendors, of frontier life.
Though it's been honoured with a place in the National Film Registry, Josey Wales is good, not great, Eastwood. The big-gun fetishism can get tiresome, and too many characters exist only to serve as six-gun (and at one point Gatling gun) fodder. But mostly the film is agreeably eccentric, and almost furtively sweet in spirit--a key transitional title in the Eastwood filmography, and one of his most entertaining. --Richard T. Jameson
Amazon.co.uk Review
The Outlaw Josey Wales (1976), Clint Eastwood's 31st film as an actor, 20th as international star and fifth as director, was the first to win him widespread respect. Critics had grumbled when the producer-star replaced Philip Kaufman (The Right Stuff) in the director's chair a week into shooting. They ended up cheering when Eastwood delivered both his most sympathetic performance to date and--with the heroic collaboration of cinematographer Bruce Surtees--an impressive Panavision epic that stresses the scruffiness, rather than the scenic splendours, of frontier life.
During the Civil War, Union "Redlegs" attack Southerner Josey Wales's dirt farm and wipe out his family. Seeking vengeance, Wales throws in with a company of Reb guerrillas. Tagged as a renegade after the surrender, he flees west into the vastness of the Indian Territories, where, quite unintentionally, he finds himself cast as the straight-shooting paterfamilias of an ever-growing, spectacularly motley community of misfits and castaways. This is to say, Josey's personal quest for survival and something like peace of mind evolves into a funky, multicultural allegory of the healing of America.
Josey Wales is good, not great, Eastwood. The big-gun fetishism can get tiresome, and too many characters exist only to serve as six-gun (and at one point Gatling gun) fodder. But mostly the film is agreeably eccentric, and almost furtively sweet in spirit--a key transitional title in the Eastwood filmography, and one of his most entertaining. --Richard T Jameson
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
One of the great Westerns,
By
This review is from: The Outlaw Josey Wales [DVD] [1976] (DVD)
Until Dances with Wolves and then Eastwoods own Unforgiven this was the best western post 1970. Eastwood plays the title role who is a certainly a match for the man with no name, but unlike that character Josey Wales is not amoral, in fact quite the contrary.
This is the first movie that Eastwood directed that made people sit up and notice him as a filmmaker rather than an action hero. Some classic trademark Eastwood lines are in this film, perhaps the best of which is: Bounty Hunter - "You're wanted Wales" Josey Wales - "Reckon I'm right popular. You a Bounty Hunter?" BH - "A man's got to do something for a living these days" JW - "Dyin' ain't much of a livin' boy" The difference with this film (over say the spagetti westerns) is that Eastwoods character gradually becomes part of a family like gang of people. Most noteably an aging Indian (played by Chief Dan George) which makes for some wonderfully understated comic moments. One of the strengths of this film is you do care what happens. Yes there are gun fights and people are killed but in the end there is a sort of reconcilliation. Already by this stage of his career Eastwood had a regular team around him to make the film. Standout amongst which is Bruce Surtees cinematography. This really is beautiful looking film.
11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Eastwood at his best...,
By Matthew Mercy (Wigan, England) - See all my reviews
This review is from: The Outlaw Josey Wales [DVD] [1976] (DVD)
Thirty years after it was made, The Outlaw Josey Wales still stands up as Eastwood's finest outing as director. Like the later Unforgiven, it casts Eastwood in his traditional role of legendary gunfighter, but explores and humanizes the character, carrying him on a journey of genuine change and development. For me, this makes for a far more meaningful and enjoyable film than something like High Plains Drifter, in which Eastwood is just an inexplicable figure of vengeance; he isn't given a lot of credit for his acting skills, but when called upon do something other than just shoot people and look mean, Eastwood can deliver the goods. The Outlaw Josey Wales is one of only three films in which he cries onscreen, and in the opening scenes of the film he actually convinces as a meek farmer unable to stop his family`s murder. Whilst, throughout the film, he projects an image of violence and hatred, we see this image punctured as he continually comes into contact with other, weaker outcasts from society whom he is compelled to help. A story about redemption, not revenge, the film finally acknowledges that Josey Wales' true nature, of a family man, provider, and protector, still exists inside the feared outlaw he has become, and when he finally confronts the man who killed his wife and child, he is willing to forgive, and only kills him because the man in question is unable to comprehend this forgiveness. Ending on an upbeat note of new life, The Outlaw Josey Wales is Eastwood's most positive and emotionally complex work.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A chillingly realistic epic of the post civil war era,
By buckshotbob_99@yahoo.com (Norway) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Outlaw Josey Wales [VHS] (VHS Tape)
This film marks a transition in the western genre. Instead of the typical triggerhappy John Wayne and the spaghetti westerns simple view of good guy - bad guy, this film goes deeper into human relations and the emotions caused by the horrors of war and persecution. A must for the western history buff looking for more than just the typical guns girls and gambling scheme.
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