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The Misfits

The Misfits

Drama · Romance · Western · 1961

While filing for a divorce, beautiful ex-stripper Roslyn Taber ends up meeting aging cowboy-turned-gambler Gay Langland and former World War II aviator Guido Racanelli. The two men instantly become infatuated with Roslyn and, on a whim, the three decide to move into Guido's half-finished desert home together. When grizzled ex-rodeo rider Perce Howland arrives, the unlikely foursome strike up a business capturing wild horses.

Movie details

The Misfits

“It shouts and sings with life ... explodes with love!”

1961 Drama · Romance · Western 2h 4m

Critical arithmetic

One number, for now.

TMDB

7.0 / 10

Community rating

While filing for a divorce, beautiful ex-stripper Roslyn Taber ends up meeting aging cowboy-turned-gambler Gay Langland and former World War II aviator Guido Racanelli. The two men instantly become infatuated with Roslyn and, on a whim, the three decide to move into Guido's half-finished desert home together. When grizzled ex-rodeo rider Perce Howland arrives, the unlikely foursome strike up a business capturing wild horses.

CriticWise case file

What this film says about your taste.

Not a recommendation score. A measure of how closely the film’s taste signals resemble yours.

The archetype split

Who fights over The Misfits?

The split comes from the same five-axis model used by the test, not audience ratings or review sentiment.

Taste neighbourhood

Nearby on the taste map.

TMDB supplies the candidates. CriticWise reorders them by craft, strangeness, prestige, emotion, and pace.

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With his bronco-busting career on its last legs, Junior Bonner heads to his hometown to try his luck in the annual rodeo. But his fond childhood memories are shattered when he finds his family torn apart by his greedy brother and hard-drinking father.

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Far and Away

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Names above the title

The people responsible.

Directed by

John Huston

Written by

Arthur Miller

Clark Gable

Clark Gable

Gay Langland

Marilyn Monroe

Marilyn Monroe

Roslyn Taber

Montgomery Clift

Montgomery Clift

Perce Howland

Thelma Ritter

Thelma Ritter

Isabelle Steers

Eli Wallach

Eli Wallach

Guido

James Barton

James Barton

Fletcher's Grandfather

Kevin McCarthy

Kevin McCarthy

Raymond Taber

Court is in session

Put The Misfits on trial.

Two incompatible taste archetypes. One film. Read the arguments, then issue a completely binding cultural ruling.

The defence The Prestige Tourist

“Sincerity is not manipulation.”

The film risks embarrassment to make emotion communal, and that openness is harder than fashionable detachment.

The prosecution The Adrenaline Seeker

“The strings are showing.”

Every cue tells you exactly what to feel and when, leaving sentiment to do the work character should have done.