The Ox-Bow Incident

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The Ox-Bow Incident
original movie poster
Directed by	William A. Wellman
Produced by	Lamar Trotti
Written by	Walter Van Tilburg Clark (novel) Lamar Trotti
Starring	Henry Fonda Dana Andrews
Distributed by	20th Century Fox
Release date(s)	May 21, 1943 (USA)
Running time	75 min.
Language	English
IMDb profile

The Ox-Bow Incident is a 1940 western novel by Walter Van Tilburg Clark, in which two drifters are drawn into a posse formed to find the murderer of a local man.

The novel was adapted as a movie in 1943 directed by William A. Wellman and starring Henry Fonda, Dana Andrews, Mary Beth Hughes, Anthony Quinn, William Eythe, Harry Morgan and Jane Darwell. It was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Picture. The film has been deemed "culturally significant" by the Library of Congress and selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry.

[edit] Themes

Spoiler warning: Plot and/or ending details follow.

In the book and the film, a posse is formed and lynches three cattle rustlers against the protests of the local judge; the rustlers are then found to have been innocent. The novel and the movie thus criticize mob rule in favour of the proper workings of justice, even if it is slow-moving. As such, it is partly intended as a wartime defense of American values versus the Nazi Germany. However, by associating Nazi mob rule with the values of the American Old West, it implies that Americans have the potential to succumb to mob rule too. Although this moral appealed to the critics, the film did poorly at the box office in part because moviegoers were dismayed by the downbeat ending and all it implied. Producer Darryl Zanuck reportedly wanted his name on the film but knew it would fail at the box office, so he made it on a very small budget.

Chapter one summary: The novel is narrated by Art Croft from the first person point of view. The book begins as Art and his friend, Gil Carter, cross the Eastern Divide about two o'clock in the afternoon. They pause to look down into the big valley below and excitedly spy the little town that is their destination. Traveling for a long time, often in winter weather, they both look forward to being in civilization once again.

Art and Gil start down the steep road into the valley. They notice that it has been washed clean by the run-off from the winter storms. They also notice bits of brush beginning to grow again, signaling the start of spring. The squirrels and chipmunks have also emerged from their winter hibernation and are scurrying to and fro. Art and Gil have been traveling together for five years. Totally comfortable in each other's company, they do not feel the need to fill their time with idle chatter; silence does not bother them. As they ride into the valley, all is quiet. They finally reach Bridger's Wells, the little town spied from above, at about three o'clock.

Bridger's Valley is a typical Western frontier town. There is a wooden church with peeling paint. Most of the houses and other buildings, usually made of wood, have been left unpainted. Only a few structures are constructed of brick. Since Art and Gil have visited here before, they recognize Arthur Davies' general store, Canby's saloon, the Bridger Inn, and the Union Church. They also know that there are ranches to the north and south of town. Art and Gil immediately head to Canby's saloon, the local gathering place. Passing the Bridger Inn on the way, they note that there are a few horses tied out front. They also spy the town bum, Monte Smith; he is the only man on the street. As they enter into the dark, cool bar, Art and Gil notice the strong smell of stale beer and tobacco. They also see that there are still four green- covered tables on one side of the bar, and the same pictures hang on the walls, including the oil painting called "Woman with Parrot" that Canby calls "The Bitching Hour." Gil comments on the picture, saying that he feels sorry for the man who always seems to approach the woman with the parrot, but is never able to reach her. Canby says he like the man in the picture.

Canby asks Gil and Art what they will have to drink, but Gil answers that he has not yet decided. Canby grumpily responds that he does not like men who cannot make up their minds. When he suggests whisky to them, Art and Gil both order a drink. They note that it is the first drop of whisky that they have had since Christmas. It is also the first time that they have been in Bridger's Wells since the fall. Art tells Canby that in the interim, he and Art have been traveling over the range. He has had to listen to Gil sing the same three songs and tell the same stories about women and himself. He admits that the two of them have fought often during the winter, for Gil is aggressive by nature and does not take criticism well.

As the three men talk, Monte Smith enters. Art and Gil ignore him, but Art pays for him a drink, which he takes and then goes off. Art asks Canby about Rose Mapen, Gil's girlfriend in town. Canby tells them that the married women have driven her out of town, which makes Gil feel bad. He asks Canby what he and Art can do to entertain themselves in Bridger's Wells. He answers that they can eat, sleep, drink, play poker, or fight. As the three continue their conversation, the foreman from Drew's ranch enters and orders a drink. Canby asks him about Sheriff Risley and the cattle rustlers, but it is obvious that Moore does not want to discuss anything in front of the two strangers. Gil continues to order whiskies and gets a little drunk. Canby offers him and Art some hard bread and dried beef. At first Gil refuses the food, but later eats without pretense.

Chapter Two summary:

The second part of the novel begins as the posse is forming to search for the murderers. Farnley is particularly excited and in a hurry. He climbs onto his horse and starts to leave by himself, but Davies stops him. He explains to Farnley that the posse does not know how many rustlers there are, which way they have gone, or how much ahead they have traveled. Osgood, the Baptist minister, comes forward and says that the posse should not be formed without the sheriff. Gil calls Osgood "gran'ma" and says that he should save his preaching until later. Osgood ignores Gil and tells everyone that they must act in a proper and legitimate manner, not as a lawless mob seeking blood instead of justice. No one seems to pay attention to Osgood's words.

Canby suggests that Sheriff Risley be summoned, and Osgood advises them to get Judge Tyler as well. The men shout that they do not want Judge Tyler. Bartlett says that if they wait for the judge, not even one head of cattle will be left by the time he dispenses his slow form of justice. He adds that he will send for his own sons, Carl and Nate, to help in catching the rustlers. Bartlett's words excite all the men, and they shout that they are ready to act together. Osgood tries to calm the crowd and stop the men, but Gil interrupts him. The minister then appeals to Davies, who states that Osgood is right. Then Davies is ridiculed for his support of Osgood. Canby, who has been watching everything, says that the men are wasting their time in arguments.

Greene, the young man who announced the murder of Kinkaid, reminds the posse that the rustlers have guns; therefore, the men all head home to get their own guns. Since Gil and Art are already armed, they stay behind and converse with each other. Gil remembers the hanging of three men by an official posse when he was staying with an old woman in Montana one winter. It makes him feel sad to remember that one of the men was young and scared of dying; he kept crying and telling the men that he had not shot the stagecoach driver, the crime for which he was hanged. Art reminds his friend that they are outsiders and should not get too involved in this posse. As they talk, they see someone coming. It is Bill Winder, who drives the stage between Reno and Bridger's Wells. Gabe Hart, his hostler, is with him; he is a very strong man who loves horses and mules and who supports Winder in everything. Winder questions Davies about what is going on. Davies tells him about the rustlers and the formation of the posse. Worried about his stagecoach, Winder is anxious for the posse to leave and find the rustlers. When Davies wonders out loud where the rustlers have gone, Winder says that they would have gone to the "south end by the draw," for there is no other way out. When Davies talks of forming a legal posse as provided by law, Winder criticizes and ridicules the legal system of the judge and the sheriff. Davies argues that lynching is wrong; if the posse hangs two or three men, they can also be hanged for murder. He says that the men who act according to the law have three things in their favor: "time, precedent, and the consent of the majority." Davies pleads with the men against a lynching party, saying it is a "sin against society." No one, however, really listens to Davies. Saddened by his failure, he confides to Art that he has done all that he can. Art, not sure of the whole thing himself, tries to console Davies. He also says that sometimes it is necessary to change the law, and sometimes the men representing the law need to change.