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The Ox-Bow Incident

The Ox-Bow Incident

Western · 1943

A posse discovers a trio of men they suspect of murder and cow theft and are split between handing them over to the law or lynching them on the spot.

Movie details

The Ox-Bow Incident

“Lynch law rules the mob!”

1943 Western 1h 16m

Critical arithmetic

One number, for now.

TMDB

7.7 / 10

Community rating

A posse discovers a trio of men they suspect of murder and cow theft and are split between handing them over to the law or lynching them on the spot.

CriticWise case file

What this film says about your taste.

Not a recommendation score. A measure of how closely the film’s taste signals resemble yours.

The archetype split

Who fights over The Ox-Bow Incident?

The split comes from the same five-axis model used by the test, not audience ratings or review sentiment.

Taste neighbourhood

Nearby on the taste map.

TMDB supplies the candidates. CriticWise reorders them by craft, strangeness, prestige, emotion, and pace.

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Harvard graduate James Averill serves as the sheriff of prosperous Jackson County, Wyoming, standing at the center of a conflict between impoverished immigrants and affluent cattle farmers. Politically connected ranchers enlist mercenary Nathan Champion—who is also vying for the affections of local madam Ella Watson—to combat the immigrant uprising. As tensions escalate, both Averill and Champion start to question their decisions.

Rio Bravo

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A small-town sheriff in the American West enlists the help of a disabled man, a drunk, and a young gunfighter in his efforts to hold in jail the brother of the local bad guy.

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Ride Lonesome

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Chisum

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3:10 to Yuma

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Dan Evans, a small time farmer, is hired to escort Ben Wade, a dangerous outlaw, to Yuma. As Evans and Wade wait for the 3:10 train to Yuma, Wade's gang is racing to free him.

Chato's Land

Chato's Land

Western · 1972

In 1870s New Mexico, a half-breed kills a bigoted sheriff in self-defense but the posse that eventually hunts him finds itself in dangerous territory.

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Names above the title

The people responsible.

Directed by

William A. Wellman

Written by

Lamar Trotti

Henry Fonda

Henry Fonda

Gil Carter

Dana Andrews

Dana Andrews

Donald Martin

Mary Beth Hughes

Mary Beth Hughes

Rose Mapen/Rose Swanson

Anthony Quinn

Anthony Quinn

Juan Martínez/Francisco Morez

William Eythe

William Eythe

Gerald Tetley

Harry Morgan

Harry Morgan

Art Croft

Jane Darwell

Jane Darwell

Ma Grier

Court is in session

Put The Ox-Bow Incident on trial.

Two incompatible taste archetypes. One film. Read the arguments, then issue a completely binding cultural ruling.

The defence The Auteur Devotee

“Ambition earns the room.”

The film reaches for consequence and scale, accepting the risk of seriousness instead of shrinking from it.

The prosecution The Popcorn Loyalist

“Importance has entered the chat.”

The production keeps announcing its significance, as though awards-season posture were proof of insight.