Review of The Ox-Bow Incident (1943) by Johannes J — 09 May 2010

Not bad for a 75 minute black-and-white Western movie. Henry Fonda (Grapes of Wrath) has to have one of the best movie voices of all-time. My only complaint might be the lack of characterization. It's a very simple movie with basically no backstory, so getting to know the characters is a little tricky.

But I already knew all the characters. Living in the rebirth of the American right wing, I know all about dishonesty, cowardice, self-righteousness, hypocrisy, etc. The characters fit that bill perfectly even though they are nearly 70 years old.

I guess this is supposed to be one of the best anti-lynch mob movies ever made. It does succeed there, but it's a great movie about humanity as well. Unfortunately, it's an all too familiar tale of the lack of humanity that drives this film.