This is an outstanding film. An offbeat western set in the snowy northwest. We know little about McCabe as the movie opens with him coming into a small town with little more than a nice set of clothes, a deck of cards and a tablecloth. A professional gambler, McCabe immediately sets up a card game in the local saloon and soon inquires about buying property. Within no time he is building his own saloon and brothel. The townsfolk seem low key and unassuming and are impressed with McCabe but also begin to wonder about his background. Some spread stories that he is a famous gunfighter. But Warren Beatty portrays McCabe as a simple man who just wants to become successful in business. When Mrs. Miller (Julie Christie) arrives and convinces McCabe that he needs her services as the madam for his brothel, his reliance on her reveals his own flaws as a businessman.
His problems intensify when 2 representatives from a large mining company come to town intent on acquiring his property either by sale or by more nefarious means. McCabe's shortcomings are never more apparent than when he thinks he can negotiate a large sum from these men who believe they are merely giving him the chance to sell his property rather than die for it. When negotiations fail and McCabe becomes aware that he is in danger, he doesn't do the typical western thing and prepare for a fight but rather visits a lawyer in a futile attempt for legal help.
The offbeat story is a refreshing change from typical westerns. And beatifically filmed by Robert Altman, who liked to use indistinguishable background conversations in many scenes for added realism. Like most westerns, this one does contain a gunfight. But true to its form, it's far from what we are used to seeing in westerns. The mining company sends 3 goons to town to deal with McCabe. And he is clearly frightened and out of his element. After failing to reason with the henchmen, including a desperate offer to sell his property cheaply, he realizes that it's kill or be killed. The climax is a disjointed gunfight between 3 hired killers and a desperate businessman in a raging snowstorm. And by the film's end we are left wondering if there might have been something to those stories the townsfolk had spread about McCabe.
A wonderfully written, acted and directed movie that includes familiar faces such as Shelley Duvall and a very young Keith Carradine. It was generally under the radar when it was released but definitely worth watching.
His problems intensify when 2 representatives from a large mining company come to town intent on acquiring his property either by sale or by more nefarious means. McCabe's shortcomings are never more apparent than when he thinks he can negotiate a large sum from these men who believe they are merely giving him the chance to sell his property rather than die for it. When negotiations fail and McCabe becomes aware that he is in danger, he doesn't do the typical western thing and prepare for a fight but rather visits a lawyer in a futile attempt for legal help.
The offbeat story is a refreshing change from typical westerns. And beatifically filmed by Robert Altman, who liked to use indistinguishable background conversations in many scenes for added realism. Like most westerns, this one does contain a gunfight. But true to its form, it's far from what we are used to seeing in westerns. The mining company sends 3 goons to town to deal with McCabe. And he is clearly frightened and out of his element. After failing to reason with the henchmen, including a desperate offer to sell his property cheaply, he realizes that it's kill or be killed. The climax is a disjointed gunfight between 3 hired killers and a desperate businessman in a raging snowstorm. And by the film's end we are left wondering if there might have been something to those stories the townsfolk had spread about McCabe.
A wonderfully written, acted and directed movie that includes familiar faces such as Shelley Duvall and a very young Keith Carradine. It was generally under the radar when it was released but definitely worth watching.