McCABE AND MRS. MILLER

Warner Brothers

USA, 1971

Director: Robert Altman

Cast:

John Q. McCabe. . . . . . . .Warren Beatty

Constance Miller. . . . . . .Julie Christie

Sheehan. . . . . . . . . . . . . . Rene Auberjonois

Lawyer. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .William Devane

Smalley. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . John Schuck

Elliot. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Corey Fischer

Bart Coyle. . . . . . . . . . . . . Bert Remsen

Mrs. Coyle. . . . . . . . . . . . . Shelley Duvall

Cowboy. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Keith Carradine

Sears. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Michael Murphy

Hollander. . . . . . . . . . . . . .Antony Holland

Butler. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Hugh Millais

Journal topic:

When McCabe and Mrs. Miller was first released, many critics argued that its main purpose was to "counter the traditional Western's glorification of the American frontier." Gary Engle, for example, shows how Altman systematically exploits each of the themes and myths common to the genre, questioning, contesting and exposing them as a world of false ideals.

The film was re-released in the early 90s (hailed as a forgotten masterpiece), and critics now had a different "take" on it: a number believed McCabe and Mrs. Miller to be, in fact, a "classic"western, rather than an anti-western; that is, one which understands the myths embodied in the western film and redefines them--without parody or cynicism.

Where do you stand on this issue?