The Ox-Bow Incident Page #5

Synopsis: Two drifters are passing through a Western town, when news comes in that a local farmer has been murdered and his cattle stolen. The townspeople, joined by the drifters, form a posse to catch the perpetrators. They find three men in possession of the cattle, and are determined to see justice done on the spot.
Genre: Drama, Western
Director(s): William A. Wellman
Production: 20th Century Fox Film Corporat
  Nominated for 1 Oscar. Another 5 wins & 1 nomination.
 
IMDB:
8.1
Rotten Tomatoes:
90%
NOT RATED
Year:
1943
75 min
871 Views


- No.

- Speak up, man.

You're taking it like a woman.

Keep your chin up.

You can only die once, son.

- No. He works for me.

- Uh-- U-Uh--

- I didn't do it.

I ain't even got a gun.

- Then who did?

Uh, uh--

The Mexican did it.

He told me so.

Eh, no--

Uh,

I-I saw him do it.

Juan couldn't have done anything.

I was with him all the time.

Uh, yes, he did,

Mr. Martin.

He was asleep,

and he didn't mean to tell me.

But I was awake, and...

I-I heard him

talkin' about it.

The old man's feeble-minded.

He doesn't know what

he's talking about.

He invents things.

Well, if you've

got to go through

with this filthy comedy...

-you can at least

let him alone, can't ya?

- Shut up!

Lay off,Mapes!.

First, he won't talk.

Now he talks too much.

What's his name?

Alva Hardwick.

- And the other?

-Juan Martinez.

No, it ain't.

Still don't remember me, eh?

I'm talkin' to you, mister.

- No sabe.

- The devil you don't.

Your name's Francisco Morez,

and the vigilantes would

like to get ahold of you.

He was a gambler.

They want him for murder.

- How about that?

- I don't know.

Stick together nice,

don't they?

Why do you keep asking me

all these questions? You don't

believe anything I tell you.

There's truth in lies too,

if you can get enough of them.

What do you know

about the old man?

I don't know,

he-- he was in the army.

- Confederate or Union?

- I don't know. He's not

clear about it himself.

Maybe both...

at different times.

A half-wit

in the army?

Attention!

- Oh, he's forgotten.

- Not that.

I'll make a deal

with you, Martin.

Tell us which of you shot Kinkaid,

and the other two can wait.

- None of us killed anybody.

- Then that's all, I guess.

- Bring 'em along.

- You don't mean you're

gonna do it, really?

- Pull!

- You got to wait, I tell you!

- You got to give us some time!

- [ Men Chattering ]

You've got to give us some time!

You got to listen to us!

- We haven't done anything.

- Throw the other rope up.

Remember,

the Mexican's mine.

My kids--

One of'em is just a baby.

Just a little baby,

and they haven't got a thing

to go on! Nothing!

I've got to write a letter!

If you're human, you'll give me

time to write a letter!

- That ain't askin' much.

- They're scared and trying

to put it off, that's all.

Yeah. You want Tyler

and the sheriff to get here

and the job not done?

- They won't come in time.

- I believe you're right, Mr. Davies.

Though I doubt

if you want to be.

What time is it?

Five minutes after 3:00.

All right. We don't want to give

anyone cause for complaint.

With your permission, gentlemen,

we'll wait... till daylight.

Bring 'em back.

That'll give you time, Reverend...

to finish your business at leisure.

Sure. And them time

to think it over.

- I can't write like this.

- Very well, untie them.

[ Speaking Rapidly

In Spanish ]

He's says he wants to eat.

He's much hungry

from so much of the talk.

Thank you.

Why, look!

Fresh beef.

Oh, Ma.

Fix up a spread for everybody.

Can't call it stealin',

because at the time of death

there won't be any owners.

[ Laughs ]

[ Chattering, Laughing ]

[ Chatter, Laughter Continue ]

olol[ Harmonica:
: ""Red River Valley'"]

olol[ Continues ]

What are you

thinkin' about?

The sheriff--

he's an awful long time

gettin' anywhere.

Suppose he don't

get here at all?

That's what

I'm thinking.

- olol[ Continues ]

- [ Murmured Conversations ]

[ Ma Cackling ]

[ Man Laughing ]

d There's a great camp meetin' d

d In the Promised Land d

d Walk together, children d

d Don't you get weary d

d Walk together, children d

d Don't you get weary d

d Walk together, children d

- olDon't you get weary ol

- [ Ma Cackling ]

ol There's a great camp ol

- olMeetin'in the Promised Land ol

- [ Cackles ]

olA line to meet your Savior ol

olDon't you get weary ol

olA line to meet your Savior--ol

I'm not disputing

that fact, Mr. Davies.

It may be a fine letter.

But if it's an honest letter,

it's none of my business to read it.

And if it isn't,

I don't want to.

- Is that my letter you're showin'?

- Yes.

What right have you got

to show my letter?

- Don't raise your voice, rustler!

- He's right, Smith.

-I told him I'd keep it for him.

-I asked you to make sure

that it was delivered.

I'm sorry. I was just trying

to prove that you were--

It's enough to be hanged

by bullying outlaws...

without having your private thoughts

handed round to them for a joke.

I said I'm sorry.

I was merely trying--

I don't care

what you were doing!

I didn't write that letter

to be passed around!

- It's none of these

murderers' business!

- I made no promise, son.

I thought there was

one white man among you.

But I was wrong.

- Give me my letter.

- I'll see that she gets it.

Oh, I wouldn't have her

touch it now.

In that case,

give him back the letter.

Your wife ought

to hear from you, son.

None of us could be as kind

and understanding as this letter.

She'll want to keep it...

for your children.

- I'm sorry.

- [ Ma Shouting ]

Hey, the Mex!.

- [ Gunshots ]

- Spread out! He might have a gun!

Mapes. Winder.

Keep an eye on those two.

[ Gunfire Continues ]

[ Gunshots Continue ]

[ Sound of Gunfire

Fades Into Distance ]

[ Gunfire Stops ]

- Where's he hit?

- In the leg.

Here's his gun.

Well,

I guess we know now, don't we?

Look.

- Say, that's Larry Kinkaid's gun.

- Where did you get this?

Somebody will take this bullet

out of my leg, I'll tell you.

Ha!

So he speaks American!

And ten other languages,

my dear.

But I don't tell anything

I don't want to in any of them.

My leg, please.

I wish to stand upright

when you come to your pleasure.

- Somebody lend me a knife.

I'll take it out myself.

- Don't give him no knife.

He can throw a knife better

than most men can shoot.

Better than any of you,

no doubt.

But if you're afraid, I promise

to give the knife back...

handle first.

I'll do it.

[ Fabric Ripping ]

He's very polite, but has

no stomach for blood, eh?

dd [ Singing, Indistinct ]

olol[ Continues ]

[ Grunts ]

That was very fine shooting,

my friend.

You should try again

with that one.

[ Murmuring ]

- Now where'd you get that gun?

- Found it.

- Where?

- Lying in the road.

- You're a liar.

- I thought we might find

somebody to send it back by.

You're a liar!

And you're a blind fool.

I asked you

where you got it.

No sabe.

- Well, that's the truth.

He did find it.

- Undoubtedly.

Won't you even read it?

Is it because you've

made up your minds?

Or you believe

everybody else has...

and you're afraid to stand up

for what you feel is right?

You heard what Martin said

about showing his letter.

What does it matter

to the man or his wife

who sees this letter...

if it saves him

from hanging?

It's a beautiful letter.

Read it, and you'll know...

- he's not the kind of man

who could steal or kill.

- Maybe.

But all that kind

of argument in the world

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Lamar Trotti

Lamar Jefferson Trotti (October 18, 1900 – August 28, 1952) was an American screenwriter, producer, and motion picture executive. more…

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Submitted on August 05, 2018

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