High Plains Drifter

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High Plains Drifter

R

1973

1h 45m

Western

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

94%

Tomatometer

32 Reviews

85%

Popcornmeter

25,000+ Ratings

In this Western, a drifter with no name wanders into a small town, where his gun-slinging abilities are in high demand. When the drifter rides into Lago, he is met with incredulity and disapproval by the townspeople. But once he shows his skills with a pistol, the locals realize he may be able to help them fend off a band of criminals who have been terrorizing the town. He agrees to help the townspeople, but does so with his own secret agenda.

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Critics Consensus

Clint Eastwood's sophomore outing as director sees him back in the saddle as a mysterious stranger, and the result is one of his most memorable Westerns.

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Perry Stewart

Fort Worth Star-Telegram/DFW.com

06/14/2022

The difference between this and all those “Dollars” pictures is that Clint has gone and refined the art of steel-eyed enigma. Eastwood directed this one himself and, like his earlier Play Misty for Me, it shows he has some savvy behind the camera.

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Noel Murray

The Dissolve

10/28/2013

4/5

Eastwood holds fast to the rebel spirit of the spaghetti Westerns and revisionist "New Hollywood" Westerns of the previous decade, but packages it in a film that's slicker and more mainstream-friendly.

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Richard Schickel

TIME Magazine

10/26/2008

As a director, Eastwood is not as good as he seems to think he is. As an actor, he is probably better than he allows himself to be.

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Danielle Solzman

Solzy at the Movies

04/05/2023

4/5

In High Plains Drifter, Clint Eastwood already shows off his promising talents as a filmmaker in only his second directing gig.

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Josh Larsen

LarsenOnFilm

02/11/2023

2.5/4

A nasty, eerie Clint Eastwood Western...

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Robin Holabird

Robin Holabird

08/10/2021

I admit Mono looks phenomenal in this memorable piece where Eastwood spins off his Spaghetti Western persona during a violent round of vengeance.

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Scott M

@RT75128960 Feb 20

Clever movie about a town of cowards who have a horrible secret. Really well made. Eastwood plays the man with no name again and is great. But its really his direction that is what I loved. All of the characters have memorable parts. Even the town tart.

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Per S

@RT83737705 Jan 16

High Plains Drifter is a different and obviously still controversial western with Clint Eastwood directing Clint Eastwood, the edgeless people of a high plains village, and the continuous myth about the Man With No Name, which probably would have been a better title.

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Rob H

@Devilsmetsjets Dec 29

Clint Eastwood is amazing!

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razvan p

@n1mr0d Dec 24

cool built, and non explanatory. the romance was gratuitous. best cut out.. can see a great remake for it

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Daniel C

@RT79233068 Dec 7

One of the best films of all time especially given it's age. I like most of Clint Eastwood's western films but this one is in the top 3. Mysterious stranger turns up at Lago to the dismay of the Town's people but why is he there? Revenge movie with an eerie atmosphere but it does have some comic moments too.

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Joe D

@RT53872997 Nov 26

definitly a learning to walk production with no sense of what happens next. its all to simple minded to be believeable.

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Clint Eastwood

Director

Clint Eastwood

The Stranger

Verna Bloom

Sarah Belding

Marianna Hill

Callie Travers

Mitch Ryan

Dave Drake

Jack Ging

Morgan Allen

High Plains Drifter: Official Clip - Whipped to Death

2:15

High Plains Drifter: Official Clip - Whipping the Outlaw

2:22

High Plains Drifter: Official Clip - Blowing Up The Hotel

1:45

High Plains Drifter: Official Clip - The Sheriff and the Mayor

2:44

High Plains Drifter: Official Clip - Shave and a Shootout

2:52

High Plains Drifter: Official Clip - Shooting Up Hell

1:57

High Plains Drifter: Official Clip - Killing the Outlaws

3:05

High Plains Drifter: Official Clip - Target Practice

2:47

High Plains Drifter: Official Clip - He Shot My Ear Off!

3:17

High Plains Drifter: Official Clip - The Stranger Rides Away

2:30

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Synopsis

In this Western, a drifter with no name wanders into a small town, where his gun-slinging abilities are in high demand. When the drifter rides into Lago, he is met with incredulity and disapproval by the townspeople. But once he shows his skills with a pistol, the locals realize he may be able to help them fend off a band of criminals who have been terrorizing the town. He agrees to help the townspeople, but does so with his own secret agenda.

Director: Clint Eastwood
Producer: Robert Daley
Screenwriter: Ernest Tidyman
Production Co: Universal Pictures, The Malpaso Company
Rating: R
Genre: Western
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Apr 19, 1973, Original
Release Date (Streaming): May 7, 2015
Runtime: 1h 45m

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