I’ll use a spoiler box just in case…
At the end of the movie, Mordecai says he never got Eastwood’s name. Eastwood says he did, and then the camera moves back to show that Mordecai is carving Jim Duncan’s name (the marshal who was whipped to death) on his tombstone. Did Eastwood’s character know Duncan? Is he related to him? I’ve searched all over and can’t figure this out…usually I’m not this dense. Thanks!
It’s strongly suggested (to say the least) that Clint Eastwood’s character is the ghost of the dead marshal.
In any case, it’s a weird movie.
Rather obvious, actually. The whole shimmering in, shimmering out as Eastwood appears and disappears, the whipping flashbacks, etc.
I suspect I don’t need to spoil my opinion that it is a bad movie, possibly Eastwood’s worst.
And sigh yes, I agree with your spoiler.
I agree; the invinceability, painting the town red and renaming it hell, everybody who gets killed pretty much has it coming, I think there’s a reference to the dead not resting in a unmarked grave.
But I think it’s a great movie, one of my favorite westerns
Thanks, everyone. The weird thing is…when…
…Stacey asks who he is, as Eastwood is silhouetted against the burning building, I could hear in my head, “I’m the ghost of Jim Duncan.” Isn’t that weird??
Also…and I forgot to put this in my op…
I think Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels has an homage to HPD.
When Eastwood sneaks up on the three…and ambushes them…It’s VERY similar to the scene when the bad guys in Lock go in to rob the pot growers’ house. There were two lines that the three bad guys in HPD say…one of 'em says, “He nearly shot my leg off.” The way he says it, it sounds like after the big guy with the huge gun in Lock says, “How do you think I’m doing…he nearly chopped me arm off.” And this is right after Stacey rammed that stick through Morgan’s throat…one of his gang says, “Oh, dog” which sounds like When Plank says that to Dog after he beats the guy’s head in with a golf club. Same look on his face; same voice intonation
As to whether it’s a good movie…Well, knowing he’s a ghost improved it, but not by much. It had a lot in common with Fistful of Dollars, but he was a likable character in that movie. He just seemed mean in this one (and if I were the ghost of Jim Duncan, I would be, too).
I got the identity thing from the first time I saw it, but I have to agree that it sucked. After watching it, I felt like my brain needed a bath.
From what I understand the first draft script had Eastwood as the late marshall’s avenging brother, but it was decided to go with the ghost angle instead.
I too like the movie a good deal.
Sir Rhosis
If I’m ever brutally murdered, I’d also like to come back as a pissed-off Clint Eastwood.