Review of The Ballad of Cable Hogue (1970) by Harry W — 30 Apr 2014

After the success of The Wild Bunch (1969), Sam Peckinpah shocked audiences again, by doing a gentle and cheeky western which was in complete contrast to the ultra-violence of his previous film. Peckinpah always claimed this was his favourite film of all his films, and it showed he didn't have to resort to ultra-violence to make his films interesting.

In this one, he resorts to comedy. Prospector Cable Hogue (Jason Robards) is abandoned by his partners Taggart (L. Q. Jones) and Bowen (Strother Martin) in the middle of the desert with no water. On the verge of death, he stumbles on a muddy pit, and digs to find a spring of water.

As it's the only source of water for miles, Cable is able to make a business of his little water hole, his first paying customer is the Rev. Joshua Duncan Sloane (David Warner), who helps Cable out with making the place livable.

Cable goes into town to get money for his water hole, while that's quite hard, he ends up with local prostitute Hildy (Stella Stevens), and the two become lovers. It's a very compelling film, and it manages to be very funny in places, with some moments channeling Benny Hill and the Carry On films, It's well made with good performances, but Peckinpah's reckless behaviour got him sacked from Warner Bros.

Undeterred, Peckinpah headed over to England to make Straw Dogs (1971).