The Outlaw Josey Wales

Name: The Outlaw Josey Wales
Genre: Western
Released: June 30, 1976
Duration: 135 min
Rating: 69
Cast: Bill McKinney, Chief Dan George, Clint Eastwood, Geraldine Keams, John Vernon

1976

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Generally favorable reviews based on 9 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Universal acclaim based on 30 Ratings

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8.3

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8.3	User Score Universal acclaim based on 30 Ratings

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The Outlaw Josey Wales

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Movie Details & Credits

Warner Bros. | Release Date: June 30, 1976 | PG

Starring: Bill McKinney, Chief Dan George, Clint Eastwood, Geraldine Keams, John Vernon, Joyce Jameson, Paula Trueman, Sam Bottoms, Sondra Locke, Woodrow Parfrey

Summary: A Missouri farmer joins a Confederate guerrilla unit and winds up on the run from the Union soldiers who murdered his family.

Director: Clint Eastwood

Genre(s): Western

Rating: PG

Runtime: 135 min

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Critic Reviews

TV Guide Magazine Staff (Not Credited)

A cautiously optimistic epic, deeply rooted in American history. Bolstered by Surtees's magnificent cinematography, Fielding's fine score and an excellent supporting cast highlighted by the scene-stealing dry wit of Chief Dan George, Josey Wales affirms life and community with bracing conviction. Read full review

Time Out London Staff (Not Credited)

After a period of directorial uncertainty, the film demonstrated Eastwood's ability to recreate his first starring role, as the mythic Man with No Name of the Italian Westerns, and to subtly undercut it through comedy and mockery. Read full review

Empire Ian Nathan

A truly great Western from Clint that is bleakly atmospheric and charming in turns. Read full review

Chris Cabin

The remnants of war are fractious and far-flung in Clint Eastwood's impressive revisionist western. Read full review

Dave Kehr

Although the last part of the film becomes repetitive and slightly confused, Eastwood manages the picaresque plot with skill, and his visuals have a high-charged, almost Germanic quality. Wales also possesses a touching emotional vulnerability that marks another significant step away from Eastwood's often-overcriticized macho image. All in all, a very creditable film. Read full review

This directorial style seems to spring naturally from the man, assuming that Eastwood's screen character, in its mature, or post-spaghetti, formulation is a true reflection of his sensibility. The flat, quiet voice, the understated grace of his movements, the sweet almost boyish manner, contrasting so curiously with the violent deeds he performs, have a remarkable way of gaining sympathetic interest not so much through command as through insinuation. Read full review

Richard Eder

The movie tends to muffle and sell short whatever points it may be trying to make. There seems to be a ghost of an attempt to assert the romantic individualism of the South against the cold expansionism of the North. Every Unionist is vicious and incompetent, whereas Wales, despite his spitting, is really a perfect gentleman. There is something cynical about this primitive one-sidedness in what is not only a historical context, but happens also to be our own historical context. To the degree a movie asserts history, it should at least attempt to do it fairly. Read full review

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User Reviews

Robwinz

Jul 31, 2020

Don't piss down my back and tell me it's raining.
The Outlaw Josey Wales is honestly a masterpiece and a half, the movie's plot is great and it's about Josey Wales (Clint Eastwood) going to help the Indians who are in need of help and he does so. Also, the movie's got some great acting fromDon't piss down my back and tell me it's raining.
The Outlaw Josey Wales is honestly a masterpiece and a half, the movie's plot is great and it's about Josey Wales (Clint Eastwood) going to help the Indians who are in need of help and he does so. Also, the movie's got some great acting from all the cast especially the legend Clint Eastwood. Finally, the movie has got a great love interest which features the man himself Josey Wales and throughout this movie, it's got some bloody but brilliant action scenes from start to finish which are honestly amazing. Overall, it's a masterpiece and a half of a western with a great plot, great acting from all the cast, a great love interest and some bloody but brilliant action scenes throughout. It's honestly worth the watch, I'd honestly recommend this one.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

FrancisDG

Jun 3, 2019

A wonderfull western, lovely directed and performed by Clint Eastwood, good job!

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

kyle20ellis

May 4, 2022

Clint Eastwood has turned in some great performances in some great movies, these include Unforgiven, Dirty Harry, and this film The Outlaw Josey Wales. Eastwood himself gives one of his finest performances here, and he is well served by a very talented cast who turn in equally impressiveClint Eastwood has turned in some great performances in some great movies, these include Unforgiven, Dirty Harry, and this film The Outlaw Josey Wales. Eastwood himself gives one of his finest performances here, and he is well served by a very talented cast who turn in equally impressive performances and also the film is superbly directed.

The film looks wonderful, the production values are very meticulous and the film is beautifully shot. Jerry Fielding's score compliments the film perfectly, and the dialogue and characters are all memorable.

I must also give credit to the story. The story here for me has very rare a dull moment and, from the shocking opening sequence to the ending that appeals to me every time I see this film, is swiftly told.

Overall, great and one of Eastwood's best. 10/10 Bethany Cox… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

Allanbaxter

Oct 5, 2018

I've been viewing this film since I was a teenager. It's gritty, real and the acting is pretty darn good. If you like the good the bad and the ugly you will like this film. The action scenes are right on and Clint as a real as it gets as Josey. Give it chance!

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

r96sk

Jan 28, 2022

A little overlong, though 'The Outlaw Josey Wales' is an entertaining watch - with cool action sequences and a pleasing ending.

You have a strong performance from Clint Eastwood and good support showings from the likes of Chief Dan George and John Vernon. The plot is interesting and theA little overlong, though 'The Outlaw Josey Wales' is an entertaining watch - with cool action sequences and a pleasing ending.

You have a strong performance from Clint Eastwood and good support showings from the likes of Chief Dan George and John Vernon. The plot is interesting and the road-esque nature of it keeps it moving well. I do think they could've trimmed the run time slightly, while Eastwood's character really didn't need to spit so much - on a dog and some insects, no less. Just bizarre, it adds zero and simply becomes an irritation.

A sequel, without the involvement of Eastwood, was released ten years after this - I'm intrigued to check it out.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Broyax

Oct 10, 2018

Son fils et sa femme ayant été assassinés, Josey Wales décide de se venger... c'est sur cette idée absolument géniale que Clint Eastwood bâtit son film et déroule un scénario incroyable...

Oui, je me fous effectivement de ta gueule, Clint : ne t'énerve pas et ne défouraille pas tout deSon fils et sa femme ayant été assassinés, Josey Wales décide de se venger... c'est sur cette idée absolument géniale que Clint Eastwood bâtit son film et déroule un scénario incroyable...

Oui, je me fous effectivement de ta gueule, Clint : ne t'énerve pas et ne défouraille pas tout de suite, car j'apprécie dans ton film ces quelques réminiscences de l'homme au poncho, de l'homme sans nom ("blondin" !) que tu incarnais sous la houlette merveilleusement ironique de Sergio Leone. Mais ça, c'était avant et tu n'es certainement pas ici Sergio Leone à l'apogée de sa carrière (la fameuse trilogie du dollar qui t'a mis le pied à l'étrier !).

Donc mon Clint fait quelques grimaces et nous ressort sa moue légendaire tandis qu'il flingue plus vite que Lucky Luke les importuns et les malfaisants... Mais c'est vraiment tout ce qu'il y a à tirer ou retirer de ce western poussif et c'est pour ça que j'irai jusqu'à deux, pour ta gamelle.

La mise en scène est mollassonne pour ne pas dire maladroite, la photographie est terne et les acteurs ont l'air perdu... ils n'en paraissent que plus gauches et maladroits eux aussi, tout ça pour servir la soupe à notre grande star... Comme je le disais, ce western est une limace qui pédale dans la choucroute et distille plus vite l'ennui que le whisky. Il ne fait pratiquement que ça entre deux mimiques et quelques sourcils froncés de ce sudiste très vindicatif.

Il aurait fallu un scénario digne de ce nom mais Clint n'avait pas ça sous la main, alors il a improvisé : bonjour les dégâts !… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

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