"Ain't had no water since yesterday, Lord. Gettin' a little thirsty. Just thought I'd mention it. Amen."
That touching prayer comes in the early moments of the movie, but those early 20 mins or so were the only excellent minutes. I'm a fan of all sorts of westerns. Don't have to be bloody, intellectual, comedic, whatever. They just have to be good. Overall Cable Hogue is borderline -- I'm sitting on the fence, so I rate it neutral.
The story is simple: Cable Hogue is left in the desert to die, finds water, and makes himself a rich man because of it. The most potential in the story is the revenge theme. What will Hogue do if he ever spots those dastardly devils again? Slaughter them? Make them beg for their lives and then slaughter them? Or is he capable of forgiveness? Unfortunately, the revenge issue was ignored at times and rushed at others, so by the end I felt a little ripped off. The love story was solid. No complaints there.
Final complaint... I feel like a loner for saying this, but I thought the weakest link in this flick was the directing! Yes,I know this was Peckinpah. And no, I'm not kidding. The Wayne's World Extreme Close-Ups, the awkward slow motion, the sped up portions. The result is a very dated 60s movie where actors dress up in western garb. Doesn't have the authenticity of say The Wild Bunch, Unforgiven, or Once Upon A Time In The West.
Rent it. But if you're like me, and received the Sam Peckinpah Westerns Collection Box Set, be thankful you own The Wild Bunch.