The Ox-Bow Incident (1943) Reviews

girl by locker says: While The Oxbow Incident is a solid movie with solid performers, it is another movie about mob psychology. Since we began Cinema Cram, this is our 3rd movie dealing with the subject with Fury even including trumped up charges against newcomers to town. While I can certainly appreciate the movie, I just really wasn't interested in watching it. It is a powerful topic, and one that obviously impacted early American culture. I assume that is why the subject keeps infiltrating movie themes. 


I did love the scene early in the movie when the two drifters roll into town and go to the bar for a whiskey. They observe a painting in which a man is reaching toward and scantily clad woman. One observes how he seems to be moving so slow and the bartender says he feels sorry for the guy - always reaching but never getting what he's after.

I give this movie 3 out of 5 stars on Netflix. The only reason I'm not giving it a 2 is because I would have liked it better if I hadn't watched the other movies. 

Juror #3 says: I would be interested in finding out the real-world events/policies that led to the flood of mob vengeance movies in the 1930's and 40's.  It was clearly a topic on the psyche (which makes me guess that racial inequality and/or class warfare was the subconscious parasite in this case).  The Ox Bow Incident is another example of citizens taking the law into their own hands, only to gain vengeance on the wrong men.  Of course it's always a compelling topic but in this case the twist is seen from a mile away.  

The Ox Bow is dialogue-heavy and I can't imagine it would have been considered a "classic" if it hadn't been for a young Henry Fonda.  The overall movie may have felt a little blah to me but, from a film study perspective, I always enjoy seeing actors and actresses that have "screen presence."  Henry Fonda proves worthy of that definition.  He becomes the focal point of every scene whether it's intentional or not.  How does that happen?  

Overall though the movie was a bit flat to me, too much passive dialogue and an obvious twist.  If you're searching for a mob vengeance movie I'd recommend sticking to "M" or "The Informer."  But good ol' Henry added enough flavor all by himself to compel me to rate The Ox Bow Incident 3/5 stars on Netflix.