The Ballad of Cable Hogue (1970)

Director:

Sam Peckinpah

Writers:

John Crawford (writer)
Edmund Penney (writer)

Release Date:

22 May 1970 (Finland)

Genre:

Comedy | Romance | Western

Tagline:

Cable Hogue says..."Do unto others... as you would have others do unto you."

Plot:

A hobo accidentally stumbles onto a water spring, and creates a profitable way station in the middle of the desert.

Plot Keywords:

Stagecoach | Desert | Water | Revenge | Reverend

Awards:

1 win

Cast

Jason Robards	...	Cable Hogue
Stella Stevens	...	Hildy
David Warner	...	Joshua
Strother Martin	...	Bowen
Slim Pickens	...	Ben Fairchild
L.Q. Jones	...	Taggart
Peter Whitney	...	Cushing
R.G. Armstrong	...	Quittner
Gene Evans	...	Clete
William Mims	...	Jensen
Kathleen Freeman	...	Mrs. Jensen
Susan O'Connell	...	Claudia
Vaughn Taylor	...	Powell
Max Evans	...	Webb Seely
James Anderson	...	Preacher

Also Known As:

Balladen om Cable Hogue (Finland: Swedish title) (Sweden) [sv]
Çöl seytani (Turkey: Turkish title) [tr]
A Morte Não Manda Recado (Brazil) [pt]
A pap, a kurtizán és a magányos hõs (Hungary) [hu]
Abgerechnet wird zum Schluß (West Germany) [de]
Ballada o Cable Hogue (Poland) [pl]
Ballade von Cable Hogue (West Germany) [de]
Balladi Cable Hoguesta (Finland) [fi]
Cable Hogue - præriens tørstige mand (Denmark) [da]
Gypes pano apo tin erimo (Greece) [el]
La balada de Cable Hogue (Spain) [es]
La balada del desiertio (Mexico) [es]
La ballata di Cable Hogue (Italy) [it]
Un nommé Cable Hogue (France) [fr]

Runtime:

121 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

UK:PG | Singapore:NC-16 | West Germany:12 (re-rated) | West Germany:16 | Australia:M | Finland:K-16 | Norway:16 (1970) | USA:R | Iceland:12

Filming Locations:

Apache Junction, Arizona, USA

Company:

Warner Bros. Pictures

Trivia:

This was the favorite film of the director. Often, when asked to speak about his work, he brought a print of this film to show, instead of one of his more famous works.

Goofs:

Anachronisms: When the Rev. Sloan is comforting Claudia and unbuttons her blouse, it is obvious that her skirt has a zipper. The movie takes place in 1908, but the modern zipper that would be used on clothing wasn't designed until 1913 and patented in 1917.

Quotes:

Cable Hogue: I always thought you bankers stole for the rich. I didn't know you'd talk to shirttail trash like me.
Cushing: We don't steal.
Cable Hogue: Well, lend, borrow, invest and mortgage and repossess. What the hell else do you call it?

Movie Connections:

Referenced in The Ladiest Damn'd Lady: An Afternoon with Stella Stevens (2006) (V)

Soundtrack:

A Soothing Hand

Tremendous movie reflecting heavy theological message

The beginning of this movie is very much like the 40 years in the wilderness experienced by the Jewish People and recorded in the Old Testament. A vicious cycle of dependence, repentance, and rebellion. The movie carries a heavy theme about the attitude of religion of the times and today. The most godly people of the film are Cable and Hilde. The scene between Cable and the Banker is one of most powerful scenes in the movie. The music and songs are very appropriate and memorable. I have been singing "Butterfly Morning" for over 30 years. My children love the movie and watch it all them time. I used it in a class I taught on the History of Religion at the college level. The movie examines religious values, hypocrisy and piety in a very interesting way. This is by far one of the best films ever made. A timeless classic. Everyone should see this movie.