Entertaining Western, notable for stunning scenery from wherever it was shot. It looks isolated, rugged, beautiful, cold. Robert Redford is very miscast in a role requiring Lee Marvin... his hair always looks like its been in a salon... but Redford is fine and conscientous and his casting would've helped make this a massive hit because he softens the material (when he gets given the woman it doesn't come across as rapey because he's a sensitive hunk).
Influences of The Searchers are felt - being given a wife who is killed. In Milius' original script there were more because in act three his son was not killed he was abducted and Johnson went looking for him. Which made more sense than a rampage which runs out of steam. Maybe Redford didn't want to age.
Acting is fine. Splendid costume design. It's Milius through a filter of gorgeousness. Sydney Pollack's direction is intelligent and clean as always.
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