High Plains Drifter (1972)

Director: Clint Eastwood Starring: Clint Eastwood, Verna Bloom Genres: US Classics, Western Origin: USA Certificate: M Running Time: 101 min

synopsis

The Stranger (Clint Eastwood) rides past the grave of former sheriff Jim Duncan into the 1870 Southwest frontier town of Lago. Owners of the Lago Mining Company, Dave Drake and Morgan Allen in a meeting, get the agreement of the townspeople to hire The Stranger to protect the community against the imminent return of three gunmen who had been sent to jail a year before on a trumped-up charge by the Drake/Allen Mining Company. The Stranger accepts the job on the condition that he has free reign in doing it. He plans a reception for the three men which will include an ambush in town and among other things, he orders the entire village to be painted a bright red and the name changed to "Hell". High Plains Drifter builds to a magnificent climax when the three prisoners arrive in town - with Clint Eastwood playing one of his most memorable roles.