MovieChat Forums > The Hired Hand (1971) Discussion > most underrated warren oates performance

most underrated warren oates performance


i love warren oates but i think this film gets underrated when people talk about his work. i never see this one mentioned in articles about his best work and it wasn't even mentioned in that oates documentary "warren oates: across the border" (even though they talk to peter fonda in the doc they only show that other movie they did together the even less seen-even by me- "92 in the shade") i think oates performance in "the hired hand" ranks with his best. people only seem to talk about his work with sam peckinpah and monte hellman(not that i'm complaining too much cause his work with them is awesome) like "two lane blacktop", "the wild bunch"(which isn't a good example cause he doesn't have a big part), "bring me the head of alfredo garcia" "cockfighter" or "the shooting". and the only things not by those directors that gets mentioned are "dillinger", "in the heat of the night" or "stripes".

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Race With The Devil (also with Fonda), Badlands and White Dawn also have great Oates performances too - we could go on, and on...

I agree that this film (and pretty much every other film he's had a role in) does sport a particularly fine turn from Oates. However, (nearly) all the films you mention feature better - or more significant - performances. I do agree that it's unusual that Fonda doesn't bring up The Hired Hand, but the lack of the film's mention owes more to the fact that the film was dwindling in obscurity for so long - it's only in the last few years that people have gone back to re-evaluate it... Perhaps the lack of recognition for his performance owes much to the fact that not many people have seen it? Don't forget that 'Across The Border' wasn't released until 1993; some time before the recent resurrection of Fonda’s western. If they made an updated version of the documentary tomorrow it would definitely be mentioned, I'm sure.

As for 92 In The Shade; Whoever owns the rights, release it on DVD post-haste!

It's good to find other people who dig the work of Warren Oates - spread the word!

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i would really like to see "92 in the shade'' a lot.

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It's definitely an acquired taste...

Try watching Rancho Deluxe if you can't track down a VHS copy of 92 In The Shade; it'll give you a reasonable indication of what awaits (both were written by Thomas McGuane). It's a similarly unusual character study.

I'm sure it'll rear its head in due course...

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i love acquired tastes!

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You know, Warren shows up for about three seconds in Rancho Deluxe-- he's the guy on stage playing harmonica during the bar scene.




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maybe peter fonda did,nt mention the hired hand when he did the interview in across the border ,because he was the director,just a thought

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[deleted]

92 in the Shade was released on DVD last year by Scorpion Releasing.

What do you think this is, a signature? It's a way of life!

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Warren Oates always delivered the goods. And this is one of his finest performances.

What do you think this is, a signature? It's a way of life!

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