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Ride the High Country

Ride the High Country

Western · Drama · 1962

An ex-lawman is hired to transport gold from a mining community through dangerous territory. But what he doesn't realize is that his partner and old friend is plotting to double-cross him.

Movie details

Ride the High Country

“Showdown in the High Sierra!”

1962 Western · Drama 1h 34m

Critical arithmetic

One number, for now.

TMDB

7.0 / 10

Community rating

An ex-lawman is hired to transport gold from a mining community through dangerous territory. But what he doesn't realize is that his partner and old friend is plotting to double-cross him.

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 Ride the High Country?

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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One-Eyed Jacks

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Run for Cover

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Western · 1955

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Western · 1959

A small-town sheriff in the American West enlists the help of a disabled man, a drunk, and a young gunfighter in his efforts to hold in jail the brother of the local bad guy.

Frontera

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Western · 2014

After crossing the border illegally for work, Miguel, a hard-working father and devoted husband, finds himself wrongfully accused of murdering a former sheriff’s wife. After learning of his imprisonment, Miguel’s pregnant wife tries to come to his aid and lands in the hands of corrupt coyotes who hold her for ransom. Dissatisfied with the police department’s investigation, the former sheriff tries to uncover the truth about his wife’s death and discovers disturbing evidence that will destroy one family’s future, or tear another’s apart.

Rancho Notorious

Rancho Notorious

Drama · 1952

A man in search of revenge infiltrates a ranch, hidden in an inhospitable region, where its owner, Altar Keane, gives shelter to outlaws fleeing from the law in exchange for a price.

The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance

The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance

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Last Train from Gun Hill

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Open Range

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A former gunslinger is forced to take up arms again when he and his cattle crew are threatened by a corrupt lawman.

The Naked Spur

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Western · 1953

A bounty hunter trying to bring a murderer to justice is forced to accept the help of two less-than-trustworthy strangers.

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Names above the title

The people responsible.

Directed by

Sam Peckinpah

Written by

N.B. Stone Jr.

Randolph Scott

Randolph Scott

Gil Westrum

Joel McCrea

Joel McCrea

Steve Judd

Mariette Hartley

Mariette Hartley

Elsa Knudsen

Ron Starr

Ron Starr

Heck Longtree

Edgar Buchanan

Edgar Buchanan

Judge Tolliver

R.G. Armstrong

R.G. Armstrong

Joshua Knudsen

Jenie Jackson

Jenie Jackson

Kate

Court is in session

Put Ride the High Country on trial.

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

The defence The Prestige Tourist

“Ambition earns the room.”

The film reaches for consequence and scale, accepting the risk of seriousness instead of shrinking from it.

The prosecution The Popcorn Loyalist

“Importance has entered the chat.”

The production keeps announcing its significance, as though awards-season posture were proof of insight.