Rating: 
Summary: I get caught up in it every time!
Review: When I first saw this movie, on a friend's recommendation, I didn't know what to expect - and it completely blew me away! Good - we want a movie to engage us. And there are plenty that do the first time through. But I feel one test of a movie's power is its ability to touch us and get a reaction after multiple viewings. Each time I watch "The Ox-Bow Incident," I am on the edge of my chair, wanting to jump in and prevent the mob from making a tragic mistake. But I have to sit there, frustrated, knowing exactly what is coming but powerless to change it. Watch this movie; it will keep you human.
Rating:
Summary: Just another William Wellman masterpiece.
Review: When you place this film in the context of the time it was made, it becomes even more powerful. The country was in the grasp of the "Red Menace. We were placing Asian-Americans in what were nothing but glorified concentration camps. For William Wellman to make a movie dealing with the dark side of humanity and mob actions required enourmous courage. The reason it flopped was due to Americans having to look in the mirror and not liking what they saw. Great performances from a cast that included Henry Fonda and Harry Morgan.
Rating:
Summary: A not-so-famous gem!
Review: When, oh when will this movie come out on DVD? I often don't agree with "film critics", but this Western deserves all the accolades it gets. This movie speaks to the dangers of mob rule. Films so often become preachy and condescending when trying to tell a story with a 'moral' behind it such as this, but William Wellman pulls it off here with beauty and finesse.Henry Fonda is at his most believable in this role, much better in my opinion than in '12 Angry Men', where he single-handedly convinces 11 other jurors of a teen's innocence in a murder trial. Here, Fonda is far more human. He cusses. He drinks. He fights. And, most importantly, because suspicion has already been cast on him and cohort Harry Morgan as possible suspects in the murder/rustling case, he ultimately allows the execution of 3 innocent men to take place. Although he serves as the mirror for law, order, and justice, his own human weaknesses make him powerless to stop the lynching. The supporting cast is excellent. Morgan does a surprisingly good job as Fonda's buddy 'Art'. Jane Darwell is perfect as the untamed Ma Grier. And Leigh Whipper as the black preacher 'Sparks' gives the film some spice without going over the top. My only criticism is with Dana Andrews - his performance comes off as rather stagy, but not enough to reduce the powerful impact of the film. This movie was not shot 'on location' but in a studio, purportedly to give it a 'claustrophobic' effect. It does just that! There are a few interesting sub-plots too, such as Major Tetley's obsession with 'making a man' out of his less-than-masculine son, and Gil (Fonda) meeting up with former sweetheart Rose, who is now married to an obnoxious businessman from San Fransisco. This film has not a boring moment in it. On an emotional level it runs far deeper than most Westerns. And, if you're a Henry Fonda fan and have not seen this movie, do so. He is far more convincing as an 'average Joe' than in many of his 'hero' type roles. It may be his best performance ever.
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