The Outlaw Josey Wales

1976

The Outlaw Josey Wales

Critics Consensus

Recreating the essence of his iconic Man With No Name in a post-Civil War Western, director Clint Eastwood delivered the first of his great revisionist works of the genre.

95%

TOMATOMETER

Total Count: 38

92%

Audience Score

User Ratings: 46,691

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Movie Info

Clint Eastwood's fifth film as a director and eighth Western as a star (ninth if you count Paint Your Wagon), The Outlaw Josey Wales chronicles the hero's violent journey westward after the Civil War. With fresh memoris of his family's slaughter by Red Leg soldier Terrill (Bill McKinney), Confederate Josey Wales (Eastwood) refuses to join his captain Fletcher (John Vernon) and the rest of his comrades in surrender to a U.S. Army regiment. Deemed a dangerous outlaw after a bloody one-man battle with that regiment, Josey is pursued by U.S. cavalry soldiers led by the unwilling Fletcher and the murderous Terrill, as well as by bounty hunters who eventually learn how coolly lethal Wales can be. Despite his desire to remain a lone fugitive, Josey soon has a crew of travelling companions that includes Cherokee Lone Watie (Chief Dan George) and the pretty Laura Lee (Sondra Locke) and her vigorous Grandma Sarah (Paula Trueman), settlers on their way to a ranch near ghost town Santa Rio. The few Santa Rio residents welcome the group, but their peace and Josey's burgeoning romance with Laura Lee are soon interrupted by Terrill's arrival. A skillfully violent man of few, well-chosen words, Josey Wales resembles Eastwood's previous Western heroes in Sergio Leone's trilogy, A Fistful of Dollars (1964), For a Few Dollars More (1965), and The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly (1966). However, the emphasis on friends and family served notice that, in the words of one critic, "the Man With No Name doesn't live here anymore." Indeed, Josey Wales would be Eastwood's last western before 1985's Pale Rider. Although it did not garner similar critical praise when it was released, Eastwood considers The Outlaw Josey Wales to be the equal of the Oscar-winning Unforgiven (1992). ~ Lucia Bozzola, Rovi

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Cast

Clint Eastwood
as Josey Wales
Chief Dan George
as Lone Watie
Sondra Locke
as Laura Lee
Bill McKinney
as Terrill
John Vernon
as Fletcher
Paula Trueman
as Grandma Sarah
Sam Bottoms
as Jamie
Geraldine Keams
as Little Moonlight
Woodrow Parfrey
as Carpetbagger
Joyce Jameson
as Rose
Sheb Wooley
as Travis Cobb
Royal Dano
as Ten Spot
Matt Clark
as Kelly
John Verros
as Chato
Will Sampson
as Ten Bears
William O'Connell
as Sim Carstairs
John Quade
as Comancho Leader
Buck Kartalian
as Shopkeeper
Len Lesser
as Abe
John Russell
as Bloody Bill Anderson
Charles Tyner
as Zukie Limmer
John Mitchum
as Al
Doug McGrath
as Lige
Cissy Wellman
as Josey's Wife
Bruce M. Fischer
as Yoke
Clay Tanner
as First Texas Ranger
Bob Hoy
as Second Texas Ranger
Erik Holland
as Union Army Sergeant
Danny Green
as Lemuel
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Critic Reviews for The Outlaw Josey Wales

All Critics (38) | Top Critics (6)

  • Wales also possesses a touching emotional vulnerability that marks another significant step away from Eastwood's often-overcriticized "macho" image.

    Aug 8, 2011 | Full Review…

    Dave Kehr

    Chicago Reader
    Top Critic

  • The screenplay is another one of those violence revues, with carnage production numbers slotted every so often.

    Jul 6, 2010 | Full Review…

    Variety Staff

    Variety
    Top Critic

  • [Eastwood] gets to the heart of the matter briskly, orchestrates his confrontations intelligently and gets off without lingering unduly over the resultant ugliness.

    Oct 26, 2008 | Full Review…

    Richard Schickel

    TIME Magazine
    Top Critic

  • Demonstrated Eastwood's ability to recreate his first starring role, as the mythic Man with No Name of the Italian Westerns, and to subtly undercut it through comedy and mockery.

    Jan 26, 2006 | Full Review…

    Phil Hardy

    Time Out
    Top Critic

  • Eastwood is such a taciturn and action-oriented performer that it's easy to overlook the fact that he directs many of his movies - and many of the best, most intelligent ones.

    Oct 23, 2004 | Rating: 3/4 | Full Review…

    Roger Ebert

    Chicago Sun-Times
    Top Critic

  • A soggy attempt at a post-Civil War western epic.

    May 21, 2003 | Full Review…

    Richard Eder

    New York Times
    Top Critic
View All Critic Reviews (38)

Audience Reviews for The Outlaw Josey Wales

  • Feb 04, 2014
    Clint Eastwood's portrayal of Josey Wales is exactly what you'd expect (stoic intensity along with terrifying one-liners) but the rest of the characters are all wonderfully strange and unique . . . so while Wales is a familiar character, the world he occupies is not. Ultimately, what makes "The Outlaw Josey Wales" far more complex and daring than your standard revenge story is that it actually portrays the negative effects of violence on individuals and communities.
    Alec B Super Reviewer
  • Nov 18, 2012
    One of the best westerns of all time. Another Eastwood Classic. Clint Eastwood is excellent, he delivers a thrilling performance and even more thrilling directional feature. A stunning and well-crafted western that delivers plenty of sensational shoot-ours and great humor. A fun and exhilarating action-packed adventure. A great cast in some wonderful supporting roles just add more to love about this movie.
    Al S Super Reviewer
  • Jun 23, 2012
    The Outlaw Josey Wales was a entertaining and smooth western that really is driven by a powerful performance from Clint Eastwood. Usually revenge films use the same formula and are predictable, but this film follows a much different path. We see a man conflicted by the death of his family, and he will stop at nothing to kill the men who killed them. A premise like this seemed like it would bore me, but it ends up being a deep film about a man who must redeem himself in life and finds a new group of friends. The film is also very likable with its humor and action, which really keeps this entertaining. The characters are fun and drive the story, and without enjoyable characters this would be a pathetic western. I loved the wide open spaces and how this man is known wherever he goes, giving us a sense of danger with whoever he meets. A western like this is hard to find because its done so well and keeps us entertained with great action, well written characters, and an interesting story that leads up to a beautifully directed climax. It does get very slow at times, but it all ends up being a huge payoff. The Outlaw Josey Wales is a beautiful and fun western that never fails to entertain.
    Bradley W Super Reviewer
  • Dec 18, 2011
    Clint Eastwood's The Outlaw Josey Wales is a near flawless Western with a great cast of actors. Directed by Clint Eastwood who also plays the lead role of Josey Wales, This is a classic Western that is packed with effective story telling, good action, memorable characters and above all, great directing. I very much enjoyed this film, and though it's not as legendary as Sergio Leone's Westerns, this is still a classic of the genre. Clint Eastwood delivers a great performance alongside Chief Dan George. The Outlaw Josey Wales is a great tale of revenge and payback. I think it's a subject that suits Clint Eastwood well, and he doesn't disappoint. This is a well crafted film with a great cast, great performances and an engaging story. If you're a Clint Eastwood fan, then you really should give this one a shot. This is a superb Western, and it will please fans of the genre. I really enjoyed John Vernon's performance as Fletcher, the man hunting down Josey Wales. Both Eastwood and Vernon light up the screen, and it's what makes this film so good. Combine that with a great story, and you have yet another Western classic. If you enjoy exciting Westerns, then this is the film for you. The cast is great, and the story is always exciting, and the performances are top notch. The Outlaw Josey Wales is a great film, and directed by Clint Eastwood, you can expect an excellent film for sure. If you love Eastwood's work, then don't miss out on this one. A must see for Eastwood fans.
    Alex r Super Reviewer
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