Product Details

• Actors: James Caan, Jane Fonda, Jason Robards, George Grizzard, Richard Farnsworth
• Directors: Alan J. Pakula
• Writers: Dennis Lynton Clark
• Producers: Dan Paulson, Gene Kirkwood, Irwin Winkler, Robert Chartoff, Ronnie Caan
• Format: Closed-captioned, Color, NTSC
• Rated: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: MGM (Video & DVD)
• VHS Release Date: April 1, 1997
• Run Time: 118 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (19 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 6304429681
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #231,390 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Richard Farnsworth received an Oscar nomination for this 1978 film, directed by the late Alan J. Pakula. He plays an aging ranch hand in the late 1940s, working for Jane Fonda. She's being pressured by her greedy neighbor, Jason Robards, to sell him her land--this after he has had her father murdered to expedite the sale. Robards wants the land because he knows it's full of oil, but he's not about to tell her that. Rather, he relentlessly strong-arms her and the rest of his neighbors, resorting to violence and killing when he doesn't get his way, knowing he's already bought the cooperation of the law. But Fonda, aided by returning World War II veteran and cowpuncher James Caan, stands up to Robards, setting off an almost biblically violent confrontation. Comes a Horseman was sumptuously photographed by Gordon Willis, who captures the true sweep of the wide open spaces, and strong acting overcomes what charitably could be described as a stately pace. As for Farnsworth, he brings a tastily understated quality to the role of the old cowpoke who knows he's signed on for his last roundup but has the grit to stick it out. --Marshall Fine

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

21 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Western Movie Collectors Dream, August 14, 2000

By 

Anita C. Bryant (Moore Haven, FL USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Comes a Horseman (Widescreen Edition) [VHS] (VHS Tape)

This is an ideal movie for home theatre. I grew up on a working ranch and Richard Farnsworth, James Caan and Jane Fonda are totally convincing as cowboys and cowgirl. Jason Robards is utterly evil in this movie. I've liked them all in several other movies but none are as good as this one. The breathtaking backdrop and a really well written story combined with an excellent array of talent makes this one of the treasures of my western collection.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Comes a Horseman, September 24, 2004

By 

Steven Hellerstedt "SH" - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Comes a Horseman (DVD)

COMES A HORSEMAN is a romance wrapped in a western. The local cattle baron (Jason Robards) wants to drive out rancher Jane Fonda, who has hired on local wrangler James Caan to help her make it through one more hard year. Complicating things in this World War II era tale is the oil company that wants everybody's land.
With some truly beautiful wide angle photography, a plethora of establishing shots and a dearth of tight close ups, COMES A HORSEMAN is an more an actor's than an editor's movie that works as well as it does because it has an excellent cast at the top of their game. Director Alan Pakula often pulls the camera back and allows his actors room to discover their character and the meaning of the scene.
I only had two problems with this movie. I felt the ending, the final confrontation between bad guy Robards and good gal Fonda, was a bit contrived . The other problem was a puzzler - weren't their any doctors in cattle country America in 1945? A couple of characters get busted up pretty badly in the course of things and they're dumped into a bed with a damp handkerchief on the forehead with nary a doctor in sight. It didn't bother me much when Caan was laid up without professional medical care, but I hated to see poor Dodger (Richard Farnsworth) treated in such a manner.

19 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Compromises some Performances, December 12, 2001

By 

J. Michael Click (Fort Worth, Texas United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Comes a Horseman (DVD)

An okay movie that could have been a great one. Certainly, the cast is not to be faulted. "Julia" co-stars and co-Oscar nominees Jane Fonda and Jason Robards again ignite sparks as cattle ranchers battling nature, economic changes, and - most notably - each other in the closing years of World War II; James Caan offers one of his most sensitively understated performances as the newcomer who becomes embroiled in their conflict. And the supporting cast is beyond reproach. There's fine work from stage and screen veteran George Grizzard, Jim Davis (Jock Ewing on TV's "Dallas), and Mark Harmon; and a particularly touching performance by the marvelous Richard Farnsworth as Fonda's aging sidekick and former mentor. Other big plusses are some gorgeous locations and stunning set decorations, all beautifully photographed by cinematographer Gordon Willis.

Now ... if only the film editor had been more alert! Because Willis' breathtaking camerawork eventually turns out to be a near-fatal liability in the wrong hands. There are many instances in which the film needs to cut to a series of close-ups or at least a medium shot of the actors so that the audience can stay connected to the human drama; however, the editor remains resolutely focused on the grandeur of the scenery, leaving the viewer emotionally distant and uninvolved. This problem is compounded by the inappropriateness of Michael Small's musical score. Too often the music seems to be desperately competing for the viewer's attention, always at the expense of the actors and the screenplay. Halfway into the two-hour running time, the unrelentingly majestic visual and aural backgounds were becoming annoying irritations; before the closing credits they had developed into full-fledged nuisances.

On balance, I have to admit that the film is worth a look ... especially in the widescreen format offered on the DVD release. The disc includes the Original Theatrical Trailer (which, by the way, does offer some great editing!), and a very high quality film-to-video transfer with clear, crisp sound. If only the film could be recut and rescored, then reissued as a "Director's Special Edition". Unquestionably, there's a pony buried somewhere underneath this mess! **-1/2 stars