The Hired Hand
1971
Drama / Western

The Hired Hand
1971
Drama / Western
Plot summary
Harry Collings returns home to his farm after drifting with his friend, Arch. His wife, who had given up on him, reluctantly allows him to stay, and soon believes that all will be well again. But then Harry has to make a difficult decision regarding his loyalties and priorities.
Director
Top cast
Tech specs
720p.BLU 1080p.BLUMovie Reviews
Beautiful film--but...
Worth watching, excellent film, but not a masterpiece
I agree with the above commenter though there were distracting storytelling and editing flaws that kept me from considering this excellent film a "masterpiece". I watch movies carefully but I am not clear what the story was of those kidnappers - something didn't connect for me. And who did Harry & Arch shoot when they left that miserable town the first time?
Also minor problems with some of the cuts - creative (I loved the fading freeze-frame as an old life gets left behind), but not always well executed (he lifts the glass of the kerosene lamp, the flame goes out, THEN he blows on the flame, THEN the light fades).
But these are quibbles. The film takes its languid time with wonderful Vilmos Zsigmond cinematography and Bruce Langhorne soundtrack, with pauses and silences galore that makes me ache for more movies with that quality. The relationships work themselves out and hearts reveal themselves in the looks, the silences, and the visuals, a hallmark of the best Westerns. Verna Bloom's part is very strong.
Well done, Peter Fonda.