Clint Eastwood took over the direction of The Outlaw Josey Wales from its co-scenarist Philip Kaufman when the two men fell out over the character of Josey Wales. The result was Eastwood’s finest film to date, both as actor and director.
He plays a peaceable Missouri farmer whose family is murdered by Unionist guerrillas, led by Captain Terrill (Bill Mckinney). He takes his revenge as a Confederate guerrilla in a band led by a giant of man named Fletcher (John Vernon), and when the Civil War ends, he sets off for Texas with a bounty on his head, reluctantly acquiring a motley bunch of companions on the way, including an old Cherokee named Lone Watie (Chief Dan George) and a young Indian girl, Little Moonlight (Geraldine Keams).
They set up a commune that draws Wales back into the world of emotions. At the film’s climax, they must defend it against Wales’ pursuers.
This is a superb Western of epic scope and, thanks to John Surtees’ cinematography, great pictorial beauty.
Eastwood is supported by some spirited playing, notably from Chief Dan George as a self-mocking Indian ancient, and John Vernon as Wales’ compromised Civil War commander, Fletcher, condemned to hunt him down.
Josey Wales
Clint Eastwood Lone Watie
Chief Dan George Laura Lee
Sondra Locke Captain Terrill
Bill Mckinney Fletcher
John Vernon Grandma Sarah
Paula Trueman Jamie
Sam Bottoms Little Moonlight
Geraldine Keams Rose
Joyce Jameson Travis Cobb
Sheb Wooley Ten Spot
Royal Dano Kelly
Matt Clark Chato
John Verros Ten Bears
Will Sampson Sim Carstairs
William O’Connell Comanchero Leader
John Quade Senator Lane
Frank Schofield Abe
Len Lesser Lige
Douglas Mcgrath Bloody Bill Anderson
John Russell Zukie Limmer
Charles Tyner Yoke
Bruce M. Fischer Al
John Mitchum Grannie Hawkins
Madeleine Holmes Josey’s wife
Cissy Wellman Grandpa
Faye Hamblin Lemuel
Danny Green
They set up a commune that draws Wales back into the world of emotions. At the film’s climax, they must defend it against Wales’ pursuers.
