The Outlaw Josey Wales (1976)

Director:

Clint Eastwood

Writers:

Forrest Carter (book)
Philip Kaufman (screenplay) ...
(more)

Release Date:

30 June 1976 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Adventure | Drama | Thriller | Western

Tagline:

...an army of one.

Plot:

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

Plot Keywords:

Farmer | Vengeance | Confederate | Missouri | Surrender

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 1 win

Cast

Clint Eastwood	...	Josey Wales
Chief Dan George	...	Lone Watie
Sondra Locke	...	Laura Lee
Bill McKinney	...	Terrill
John Vernon	...	Fletcher
Paula Trueman	...	Grandma Sarah
Sam Bottoms	...	Jamie
Geraldine Keams	...	Little Moonlight
Woodrow Parfrey	...	Carpetbagger
Joyce Jameson	...	Rose
Sheb Wooley	...	Travis Cobb
Royal Dano	...	Ten Spot
Matt Clark	...	Kelly (as Matt Clarke)
John Verros	...	Chato
Will Sampson	...	Ten Bears
William O'Connell	...	Sim Carstairs
John Quade	...	Comanchero Leader
Frank Schofield	...	Senator Lane
Buck Kartalian	...	Shopkeeper
Len Lesser	...	Abe
Doug McGrath	...	Lige
John Russell	...	Bloody Bill Anderson
Charles Tyner	...	Zukie Limmer
Bruce M. Fischer	...	Yoke
John Mitchum	...	Al
John Davis Chandler	...	First Bounty Hunter (as John Chandler)
Tom Roy Lowe	...	Second Bounty Hunter
Clay Tanner	...	First Texas Ranger
Robert F. Hoy	...	Second Texas Ranger (as Bob Hoy)
Madeleine Taylor Holmes	...	Grannie Hawkins (as Madeline T. Holmes)
Erik Holland	...	Union Army Sergeant
Cissy Wellman	...	Josey's Wife
Faye Hamblin	...	Grandpa
Danny Green	...	Lemuel
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Kyle Eastwood	...	Josey's son (uncredited)
Richard Farnsworth	...	Comanchero (uncredited)

Directed by
Clint Eastwood

Writing credits
Forrest Carter		(book "Gone to Texas")
Philip Kaufman		(screenplay) (as Phil Kaufman) and
Sonia Chernus		(screenplay)

Produced by
Robert Daley	....	producer
James Fargo	....	associate producer (as Jim Fargo)
John G. Wilson	....	associate producer

Original Music by
Jerry Fielding

Cinematography by
Bruce Surtees

Film Editing by
Ferris Webster

Casting by
Jack Kosslyn

Production Design by
Tambi Larsen

Set Decoration by
Charles B. Pierce		(as Chuck Pierce)

Makeup Department
Joe McKinney	....	makeup supervisor
Lorraine Roberson	....	hair stylist

Production Management
John G. Wilson	....	unit production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Alan Brimfeld	....	second assistant director (as Alan Brimfield)
James Fargo	....	assistant director (as Jim Fargo)
Win Phelps	....	second assistant director

Art Department
Edward Aiona	....	property master (as Eddie Aiona)
Al Litteken	....	construction coordinator
John Rozman	....	leadman (uncredited)

Sound Department
Bert Hallberg	....	sound
Tex Rudloff	....	sound re-recording mixer
Keith Stafford	....	sound editor
Alex Bytnar	....	boom operator (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Robert MacDonald	....	special effects
A. Paul Pollard	....	special effects (as Paul Pollard)

Stunts
Walter Scott	....	stunt coordinator
Bennie E. Dobbins	....	stunts (uncredited)
Jerry Gatlin	....	stunts (uncredited)
Robert F. Hoy	....	stunts (uncredited)
John Hudkins	....	stunts (uncredited)
Mike H. McGaughy	....	stunts (uncredited)
George Orrison	....	stunt double: Clint Eastwood (uncredited)
George Orrison	....	stunts (uncredited)
Larry Randles	....	stunts (uncredited)
Neil Summers	....	stunts (uncredited)
Greg Walker	....	stunts (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Kenneth Adams	....	key grip (as Ken Adams)
Richard Barth	....	assistant camera (as Dick Barth)
Doug Cook	....	second grip
Thomas Del Ruth	....	camera operator (as Tom Del Ruth)
Joseph Hernandez	....	assistant camera (as Joe Hernandez)
Charles Holmes	....	gaffer
Jack Kennedy	....	best boy
Charles W. Short	....	camera operator (as Charles Short)
Timothy E. Wade	....	assistant camera (as Tim Wade)

Casting Department
Jack N. Young	....	extras casting (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Glenn Wright	....	costume supervisor

Editorial Department
Joel Cox	....	assistant editor

Music Department
Dan Carlin Sr.	....	music editor (as Dan Carlin)

Transportation Department
Art Rimdzius	....	transportation captain

Other crew
John Franco	....	script supervisor
Fritz Manes	....	assistant to producer
James Moffett	....	first aid
Rudy Ugland	....	wrangler

Production Companies

• Malpaso Company, The

Distributors

• Warner Bros. Pictures (1976) (USA) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros. Pictures (1976) (UK) (theatrical)
• Warner-Columbia Film (1976) (France) (theatrical)
• Warner-Columbia Filmverleih (1976) (West Germany) (theatrical)
• Argentina Video Home (19??) (Argentina) (VHS)
• Argentina Video Home (2002) (Argentina) (DVD)
• Argentina Video Home (2002) (Argentina) (VHS) (re-release)
• National Broadcasting Company (NBC) (1979) (USA) (TV) (original airing)
• Warner Bros. (2002) (Argentina) (all media) (re-release)
• Warner Bros. (Spain)
• Warner Home Video (2001) (Germany) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (1993) (USA) (laserdisc)
• Warner Home Video (1998) (USA) (VHS)
• Warner Home Video (1999) (USA) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (2001) (USA) (DVD)
• Warner Home Vídeo (Brazil) (DVD)
• Warner Home Vídeo (Brazil) (VHS)

Other Companies

• Pacific Title  titles and opticals
• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  camera cranes

Runtime:

135 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Singapore:NC-16 | Iceland:16 | Norway:16 (1976) (heavily cut) | Peru:18 | Argentina:Atp (re-rating) | Argentina:16 (original rating) | Canada:14A | Finland:K-18 | Norway:18 | Spain:18 | Sweden:15 | UK:15 (edited tv version) | UK:18 (video rating) (1986) | UK:AA (original rating) | USA:PG | West Germany:16 | Australia:M | Australia:MA (DVD rating)

Filming Locations:

Glen Canyon, Utah, USA

Company:

Malpaso Company, The

Trivia:

Because of Chief Dan George's age, he would have trouble remembering his lines so during takes, Clint Eastwood would begin to mouth his lines without realizing it and had to be told to stop because it would ruin the take.

Goofs:

Crew or equipment visible: During the rape scene, crew members can be seen through the legs of a bandit.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Josey's wife: Little Josey! C'mon in, let's get you cleaned up!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Aurora Borealis (2005)

One Of My Favorite Westerns

Clint Eastwood has directed, played in or starred in a lot of westerns. We all have our favorites and this my favorite Eastwood western, along with the more set-in-modern-day western, "Bronco Billy." (The latter is really a drama more than a western.)

This is simply an extremely entertaining story with two lead characters - played by Eastwood and Chief Dan George - who were fascinating to watch. Also, as in most westerns, I enjoyed the good photography and was surprised, considering the year of release, that the language was pretty tame.

George has always been a favorite Native American actor for many people. He gets choice roles playing likable guys, and "Lone Watie" character here is no exception. Eastwood, as " Josey Wales," reverts successfully back to his "Man with no name" persona: you know, the strong silent and somewhat mean type. He's a lot like the characters John Wayne played late in his career. He best portrays this with scenes like the one in which he spits tobacco on his dog!

In addition, there are some solid actors in minor roles, people like John Vernon, Sondra Locke and Bill McKinney, Will Sampson, Sheb Wooley and Sam Bottoms, among others. I was surprised Locke, Eastwood's girlfriend or wife at the time, didn't have a bigger role. With her youthful looks and great big eyes, she looked prettier than I've ever seen her, although she never was a glamor girl or got many good parts.

At 136 minutes, this is a bit long but it never drags. This is one of the very few movies I ever watched twice within two weeks and enjoyed it immensely both times....and each time since.