Unforgiven (Exclusive Series) (HBO Max)
- Matt Palmer
- Sep 19, 2021
- 3 min read
Initial release date: August 7, 1992
Studios: Warner Brothers/Malpaso Productions
Tagline: It’s a hell of a thing … killing a man
Plot: When prostitute Delilah Fitzergald is disfigured by a pair of cowboys in Big Whiskey, Wyoming, her fellow brothel workers post a reward for their murder, much to the displeasure of sheriff Little Bill Daggett, who doesn’t allow vigilantism in his town. Two groups of gunfighters, one led by aging former bandit William Munny, the other by the florid English Bob, come to collect the reward, clashing with each other and the sheriff.
Cast
Clint Eastwood (Cry Macho; The Mule) - Bill Munny
Gene Hackman (Welcome to Mooseport) - Little Bill Daggett
Morgan Freeman (The Hitman’s Wife’ Bodyguard) - Ned Logan
Richard Harris (Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets) - English Bob
Jaimz Woolvett - The ‘Schofield Kid’
Saul Rubinek (Amazon Prime’s Hunters) - W.W. Beauchamp
Frances Fisher (Netflix’s Holidate) - Strawberry Alice
Anna Thomson - Delilah Fitzergald
David Mucci - Quick Mike
Rob Campbell (Winter’s Tale) - Davey Bunting
Anthony James (The Naked Gun 2) - Skinny Dubois
Tara Frederick - Little Sue
Writer: David Webb Peoples (Hero; 12 Monkeys; Blade Runner)
Director: Clint Eastwood (Cry Macho; Richard Jewell; The Mule)
Rated R for language, and violence, and for a scene of sexuality (130 min)
‘Unforgiven’ is, without a doubt, one of the best Western dramas ever released. Featuring an incredible stellar cast, this gripping drama is beautifully shot and acted.
A good amount of the film can be slow-moving at times. But, the incredible performances that the actors provide are worth it. Out of all the amazing performances in this Western, Gene Hackman’s portrayal as Sheriff Bill ‘Little Bill’ Daggett is very memorable.
There are a couple moments between Eastwood and Freeman’s character that can be a little humorous. Some of the shooting scenes featured in the movie definitely reminds me of the good old-fashioned Western gunfights in the older Western films.
The last half hour or so of the film is extremely memorable and the shoot-out scene in the bar near the conclusion is great Western entertainment, and also very, very tense. The conclusion also shows how Eastwood’s character used to be an efficient murderer years ago before he gave it all up.
‘Unforgiven’ is most definitely one of Eastwood’s best films he’s ever done. If not, THE best. You can check out this Western masterpiece on HBO Max, or rent it through YouTube, Google Play, Amazon Prime, Apple TV or VuduFanfango.
FYI - ‘Unforgiven’ turns 30 NEXT YEAR!
Here are some interesting tidbits about ‘Unforgiven’:
The final screen credit reads, “Dedicated to Sergio and Don,” referring to Eastwood’s mentors, Sergio Leone and Don Siegel.
The script floated around Hollywood for almost twenty years. Gene Hackman read and rejected it, only to be later convinced by Eastwood (who had owned the rights for some time) to play a role.
This is the third western to win the Best Picture Oscar. The other two are ‘Dances with Wolves’ (1990) and ‘Cimarron’ (1931).
Richard Harris was watching Eastwood’s 1973 ‘High Plains Drifter’ on TV when Eastwood phoned him to offer the part of English Bob.
To maintain the authentic atmosphere, no motor vehicles were allowed on the Big Whiskey set.
It took Eastwood several years to actually get around to reading the script, as his script reader told him it wasn’t very good.
Ranked No. 4 on the AFI’s (American Film Institute) list of the ten greatest films in the genre “Western” in June 2008.
Writer David Webb Peoples credits Martin Scorcese’s ‘Taxi Driver’ and Glendon Swarthout’s novel ‘The Shootist’ as two of the major shaping influences of his screenplay.
The train sequence was filmed in Sonora, CA, as there was an operational 19th century standard-gauge railway track in the area.
Eastwood and Peoples didn’t set out to make an anti-violence movie. Eastwood said that he was interested in deconstructing the myth of the Old West, with its clear distinction between heroes and villains, and wanted to show an inglorious depiction of death.
In 2004, this film was added to the US National Film Registry of the Library of Congress as being deemed “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant.”
The film debuted at the top position in its opening weekend. It’s earnings of $15,018,007 on its opening weekend was the best ever opening for an Eastwood film at the time.
It spent a total of three weeks as the No. 1 film in North America. In its 35th weekend (April 2-4, 1993), capitalizing on its Oscar wins, the film returned to the Top 10. The film closed on July 15, 1993, having spent nearly a full year in theaters, having earned $101,157,447 in North America, and another $58 million internationally for a total of $159,157,447 worldwide.
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