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The Ballad of Cable Hogue

Play trailer Poster for The Ballad of Cable Hogue R Released May 13, 1970 2h 1m Comedy Western Play Trailer Watchlist
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94% Tomatometer 17 Reviews 81% Popcornmeter 2,500+ Ratings
After he is abandoned in the desert without water, Cable Hogue (Jason Robards) wanders for days until he finds a supply of water in a muddy ditch. Determining that the spot is the only spring in the area, Cable decides to start a business offering water to passing stagecoaches. Aided by his new friend, Joshua (David Warner), and a prostitute named Hildy (Stella Stevens), Cable builds a successful business. However, when motorcars start to pass, Cable realizes his trade is down to its last days.
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The Ballad of Cable Hogue

Critics Reviews

View All (17) Critics Reviews
Roger Ebert Chicago Sun-Times A fine movie, a wonderfully comic tale we didn't quite expect from a director who seems more at home with violence than with humor. Rated: 3.5/4 Oct 23, 2004 Full Review Roger Greenspun New York Times Peckinpah's gentlest, boldest, and perhaps most likable film to date. Rated: 4.5/5 May 21, 2003 Full Review Marjorie Baumgarten Austin Chronicle Jason Robards shines in one of his most touching and humorous performances, and David Warner is memorable as a sinning preacher man. Mar 10, 2003 Full Review Justine Smith Vague Visages Hildy is not the broad stereotype you’d expect her to be either, she is strong willed and independent: she is the closest thing to a Hawksian heroine you’ll find in Peckinpah’s career... Nov 21, 2023 Full Review Matt Brunson Film Frenzy A wryly humorous, leisurely paced, and often overlooked Western. Rated: 3/4 Nov 8, 2021 Full Review Michael Ross Los Angeles Free Press Gentle, affecting, balanced and very funny. Jan 15, 2020 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Audience Member One of the many earliest westerners of the 1970s The late Jason Robards, the late Stella Stevens, and the late David Warner directed by Sam Peckinpah Robards plays Cable Hogue He’s a man left for dead in the Arizona desert He then finds water deciding to establish a spring water business to passing stagecoaches during the closing of the frontier in 1905 Cable then has the aid of his newfound friend Joshua and local prostitute Hildy Unfortunately motor cars become the way of the future of transportation so his business looks like it’s dwindling down to its last days Some of the sped up frame rates are just silly during certain scenes All 3 actors are really good learning to see where they belong in a time when you can be something or nothing Hildy is very strong willed and independent while Joshua is a man of the cloth just not in the most orthodox of ways while still sinning Robards gives a truly sincere, gentle performance as this former prospector Hogue only wants the one thing he feels he can call his own Will he stay forever or realize the world is far too vast to pass up? A man can make his own cathedral without ever going to church making an empire A more relaxed parable viewing in this genre that doesn’t contain too many shootouts or deep revenge plots centered on a man that wants to go out on his own terms whether good nor bad Rated 4 out of 5 stars 03/19/25 Full Review Ravenswood R Great entertaining movie with well assembled memorable scenes, humorous dialogue, good characterizations, scenic shots, good story with a rewarding plot, many heartfelt moments, and a message about the passing of time and progress whether good or bad. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review dave s Sandwiched between two of Sam Peckinpah's most controversial films (The Wild Bunch, Straw Dogs), The Ballad of Cable Hogue comes across as a sweet and often silly diversion. Cable Hogue (Jason Robards) is left alone to die in the unforgiving desert by two colleagues, only to find his fortune when he discovers water in an area where none was thought to exist. The first third and the final act of the movie are actually quite good, but the film loses its way in the middle portion as it often devolves into silly slapstick humor, including some fast-motion bits that are more likely to induce eye-rolling than laughs, making the whole thing feel like an apology for the intense violence that filled The Wild Bunch. One thing is certain – Peckinpah and comedy don't work well together. Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 03/30/23 Full Review Audience Member Nice tale in which Peckimpah forgets violence and talks about humour and tenderness. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 01/25/23 Full Review Audience Member One should see the Video. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/20/23 Full Review Audience Member One of the best movies ever ever Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/25/23 Full Review Read all reviews
The Ballad of Cable Hogue

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Movie Info

Synopsis After he is abandoned in the desert without water, Cable Hogue (Jason Robards) wanders for days until he finds a supply of water in a muddy ditch. Determining that the spot is the only spring in the area, Cable decides to start a business offering water to passing stagecoaches. Aided by his new friend, Joshua (David Warner), and a prostitute named Hildy (Stella Stevens), Cable builds a successful business. However, when motorcars start to pass, Cable realizes his trade is down to its last days.
Director
Sam Peckinpah
Producer
Sam Peckinpah
Screenwriter
John Crawford, Edmund Penney
Distributor
Warner Home Vídeo, Warner Bros.
Production Co
Warner Brothers
Rating
R
Genre
Comedy, Western
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
May 13, 1970, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
Jan 1, 2008
Runtime
2h 1m
Sound Mix
Mono
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