Review of Ride the High Country (1962) by Henri L — 14 Apr 2009

A brilliant western flick from a master at the genre. This was only Peckinpahs second feature movie but even this early in his career did he show perfect character studies of the gun men in the old west. Yep, this is indeed all about the characters rather than the actual plot, but with characters this complex you don't miss anything. This is about moral redemption more than anything else but the movie is still big on both excellent shoot outs and gritty looking whisky drinking villians, like only Peckinpah can make them (you can sure see why, Peckinpah was considered the director of "Deliverance" before he got in a fight with Warner Bros. and John Boorman came on board). To put it short: You don't miss a thing when watching this one.

Aestetically, "Ride the High Country" is no less than a wonder of cinematic enjoyment. Lucien Ballards cinemascope photography is grand and at times almost as perfect as Tonino Delli Collis work with Sergio Leone. With this one Sam Peckinpah has made one of the greatest westerns of all time.