Review of The Ox-Bow Incident (1943) by Stephen M — 04 Jun 2009
To simplify this film by calling it a Western is an injustice. This is one of the more daring American films of the 1940s - it explores the very real dangers of mob mentality without ever taking an easy route.
Working on sets rather than shooting on location, William A. Wellman uses the potential setback to his advantage. The enclosed spaces steer the audience away from associating the film with its genre standards (vast, glorious Western landscapes).
The picture has a singular focus, and it is executed in a stimulating fashion. Henry Fonda, excellent as always, headlines a unanimously convincing cast in what is ultimately a very unsettling portrait of human potential.
This review of The Ox-Bow Incident (1943) was written by Stephen M on 04 Jun 2009.
The Ox-Bow Incident has generally received very positive reviews.
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