The Texan

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Movie
German title The Texan
Original title The Outlaw Josey Wales
Country of production United States
original language English
Publishing year 1976
length 135 minutes
Age rating FSK 16
Rod
Director Clint Eastwood
script Philip Kaufman ,
Sonia Chernus
production Robert Daley ,
James Fargo ,
John G. Wilson
music Jerry Fielding
camera Bruce Surtees
cut Ferris Webster
occupation

The Texan (Original title: The Outlaw Josey Wales) is a film adaptation of the novel Gone to Texas by Forrest Carter . The late Western from the year 1976 , who is also an anti-war film is, is the fifth directorial effort from Clint Eastwood , who also played the lead role.

action

The film tells the story of the farmer Josey Wales, whose family was attacked and murdered by irregular soldiers from the northern states , the so-called Jayhawkers , during the American Civil War . In order to get revenge, Wales joins a group of southern guerrillas called Bushwhackers .

When the civil war ends, all Bushwhackers will be pardoned . However, Wales is still deeply driven by feelings of revenge and does not trust its enemies, the Northerners, who triumphed over the Southerners in the civil war. As it turns out, rightly so: when his comrades in arms, the guerrilla fighters , are voluntarily disarmed, the Union soldiers shoot them down from behind. Josey Wales can still shoot some soldiers in old western fashion and then flee. With the only survivor of this action, a young boy, he escapes the pursuers in the direction of Texas .

The road to Texas holds many surprises. His companion dies on the run, then the old Indian chief Lone Watie joins him in the Indian reservation to which he has fled . The young Little Moonlight, whom he saves from rape , also accompanies him. So the trio struggles through several adventures in the direction of Texas. When they managed to save a family from a raid by Comancheros , they escorted them to their ranch and settled there with them. An incident occurs between the settlers and the Comanches of this area. In his usual way as a lone fighter, Josey Wales sets out on his own to face the Comanches so that the family can survive. The courageous but diplomatic demeanor of Wales convinced the chief Ten Bears to live peacefully with the ranchers, because they respect them and there is enough land for everyone. This is celebrated extensively by the ranchers and residents of the nearby village. Wales and the young daughter of the family fall in love and spend the night together.

The next morning, when Josey Wales, inwardly driven, wants to move on, there is a showdown near the ranch. The Jayhawkers, who have clung to Josey Wales' heels, are crushed by him and his companions in a bloody battle. The surviving leader of the Jayhawkers, who was involved in the murder of the Wales family, is shortly afterwards killed by Wales, who knows about it, while fleeing in a single combat in self-defense , which leads to catharsis .

When Josey Wales later meets two US marshals there, he is covered by the citizens of the small town. You tell in his unrecognized presence that Josey Wales was killed a long time ago. The marshals accept the story and leave. Fletcher, the last survivor of his persecutors, a former southern guerrillero in Wales' unit who unknowingly betrayed his comrades in arms and recognizes Josey, also covers him and lets Josey Wales go after Wales both his offer of forgiveness for the event and his offer to get the war over with like this - both are tired of the war. Josey Wales has finally found its peace in freedom and a new perspective for the future.

Trivia

Philip Kaufman was replaced as director by Clint Eastwood during filming. Since then, the Directors Guild of America has had a rule that prohibits any crew member from directing a film. This rule has since been known as the Eastwood Rule .

One of the titles of the American singer Zella Day is called The Outlaw Josey Wales, based on the main character of the film.

The Northern Irish professional snooker Joe Swail is nicknamed "The Outlaw" because his name is similar to that of the film's protagonist.

criticism

  • Lexicon of international film : “A very bloody, dramatically and photographically remarkable Western that combines the traditions of the Spaghetti Western with American narrative styles. What is particularly interesting is the central figure of the outlaw, who emerges 'purified' and 'domesticated' from all events. "
  • prisma : “A brilliant western epic that, despite excellent photography, received little attention in Germany at the time. The impressive images only develop their full potential in the cinema. "
  • cinefacts : “ The Texan shows the transformation of a peaceful citizen into a merciless killer, which is not easy on the nerves. Clint Eastwood [...] draws the unsparing portrait of a bloody epoch in the shape of the TEXAN "
  • cinema : “A perfect mix of toughness and the romanticizing myths of the 1940s westerns. Conclusion: great character study in western garb "
  • Björn Becher ( Filmstarts .de): “Eastwoods […] feature film […] is now rightly recognized as one of the top genre classics, as the film not only convinces with its strong script, the high tension, the great Eastwood playing, but above all by an interesting storyline that stands out from the usual genre food. "
  • Richard T. Jameson ( Amazon.de editorial team): “In the cameraman Bruce Surtees, Eastwood [...] found an ally in the spirit who put the film in the right frame exactly according to Eastwood's ideas and in this way an impressive portrait of life at the Created the boundary between civilization and the wild. […] His predilection for large-caliber weapons cannot be overlooked in this film and many characters exist only to either carry a large weapon - or to serve Eastwood as cannon fodder. "
  • Andreas Böhmer (celluloid): “Once again Clint Eastwood is allowed to play the avenger / fighter. […] Clint Eastwood […] plays the quiet Pistolero so convincingly that you cannot imagine anyone else who would better fill this role. [...] who does not understand Josey Wales when his family is slaughtered and he goes on a campaign of revenge as a result? The other characters complement him wonderfully. Chief Dan George as Lone Watie in particular plays his role with a lot of wit, but the other actors like Sondra Locke just fit in well here. In contrast to Hang Him Up , there are clearly more duels and action scenes here. [...] Definitely worth seeing for western fans and Clint Eastwood fans. "

Awards

literature

  • Forrest Carter: Josey Wales University of New Mexico Press, 1989, ISBN 0-8263-1168-7 .
  • Bernd Kiefer: The Texan - The Outlaw Josey Wales. In: B. Kiefer, N. Grob, with the collaboration of M. Stiglegger (Ed.): Filmgenres - Western. Reclam junior, Stuttgart 2003, ISBN 3-15-018402-9 , pp. 330-335.

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ The Texan ARD . Retrieved March 10, 2018.
  2. ↑ The Texan. In: Lexicon of International Films . Film service , accessed September 29, 2018 .Template: LdiF / Maintenance / Access used 
  3. ↑ prisma.de
  4. ↑ cinefacts.de
  5. ↑ cinema.de
  6. ↑ filmstarts.de
  7. ↑ Andreas Böhmer: The Texan. In: Zelluloid.de. July 6, 2008, archived from the original on December 30, 2016 ; accessed on September 29, 2018 .