A Few Words About A few words about…™ Ride the High Country — in Blu-ray (1 Viewer)

[Richard Gallagher]

Getting into minutiae, one thing has always disturbed me about this film.

I've tried to attach a guesstimate of a historical year, and keep coming up very pre-WWI, possibly more 1910.

And then every time I see it, there's that blasted Mercury dime that's set down, which would logically, especially based upon the wear on said dime, place it in the 1920s.

It's hard to see how it could have been later than 1910, given that Elsa's mother, Hester Knudsen, died in 1885. Mariette Hartley was 21 years old during filming and she couldn't pass for much older. The headstone shows that Hester died at the age of 40 - perhaps she died in childbirth. Elsa doesn't say anything about remembering her or missing her.

I haven't listened to the commentary track yet, but I'll see if the film historians mention the dime and what year it is supposed to be.

 

[Peter Apruzzese]

Just finished watching - my favorite Peckinpah film and looking so nice - finally to have this in actual color (just look at the clips in Nick Redman's featurette and you'll see how awful the previous transfer was and what I mean by brown color). Scott and McCrea are so moving in this - and funny - and brilliant. We simply don't have actors like this anymore, and that is NOT meant as a compliment to today's actors, not a one of whom could do either of these roles. These men are not only consummate film ACTORS, they also carry a lot of history - I've always loved Scott, but for me McCrea was one of the all-time greats, and he worked with so many brilliant directors and was always stellar - and unique - no one else like him. That's right - actors who were unique - doesn't happen today.

I finally got this on the screen last night...wow, what a beautiful transfer (aside from the windowboxed main titles, though the boxing is slight). I don't have a reference other than a repertory print or two back in the 80s, but this Blu-ray looks fantastic color-wise and every-other-wise. As for the movie, it's simply phenomenal. What Bruce says above is correct regarding the actors - the movie comes alive through the history that's etched in their faces. Scott relishing the thought of absconding with the gold...McCrea reciting that he just wants to "Go into my House justified" - fantastic moments. I got a genuine thrill up my spine when Scott comes riding in at the end to rescue his partner; I was sitting there alone and I still wanted to cheer like I did the first time I saw it. Just great, thanks to the WAC for this one. Don't hesitate...this is one of the great ones, folks.

 

[Race Bannon]

Don't hesitate...this is one of the great ones, folks.

+1

 

[Alan Tully]

The thing about this film is that the two leads, Scott & McCrea, could have easily played each others part & the film would have worked just as well.

 

[F451]

I've read that initially the actors had the other's part and both separately phoned the director asking if they could switch into the roles now on film. McCrea didn't want to break his image to be the bad guy and Scott wanted to play against type to be the villain for a change.

This is one gorgeous film and the leads are naturals. One of Scott's finest performances.

Now, please, Warner -- 7 Men from Now!