Looking Back: McCabe and Mrs. Miller (1971)

First released in 1971, “McCabe and Mrs. Miller” was directed by Robert Altman after the success of his war comedy “M*A*S*H”.  Despite the western setting, Altman has described the film as an “anti-western” as it does not play on the conventions of one. The film stars Warren Beatty and Julie Christie in the titular roles, John McCabe is a gambler and a reported gunfighter while Constance Miller is a brothel owner with an addiction to opium. Together, they run a profitable business with a brothel near a mining town. Things go well until a private company offers MCabe to buy the business. A commentary on early 70’s America only disguised as a western. We also get to meet the people of the town and their everyday life. Behind the camera also is the late great cinematographer Vilmos Zsigmond, (Close Encounters of the Third Kind, Blow Out, The Deer Hunter) whose work on the film is beautiful to look at. Singer Leonard Cohen contributed three songs and his vocals fit perfectly with the film’s mood.

The combination of talent both in front and behind the camera, the production design, choice of music and period setting are what makes the film stand out. Westerns such as “The Searchers”, “Stagecoach” and “The Wild Bunch” came out before Altman’s film but many would not have imagine his vision. If you know Altman, then you would be familiar with his wondering camera, often not on the titular characters. Warren Beatty plays the character as a fool who acts like a businessman and it is a great performance. Julie Christie is the smart character in the film who advices McCabe to take the deal. Their scenes have great chemistry that demonstrate Altman’s approach of letting actors improvise.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PBAzBWYoR9U

The cinematography of film is different than we see in other westerns. At a screening of the film in 2014, Zsigmond tells the audience while discussing the look with Altman, he said "If they had movies in those days, they would look faded away, scratchy, grainy and very soft and no contrast." To achieve that, Zsigmond would lightly expose the film negative in open air or "flashing" as it was called before shooting. When looking at the finished film, it does have an old time feel to it. When showing the film to studio executives, they did not like the way it looked but there was no way to fix it which made Altman happy. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MxlTo0BbQlE

The late Leonard Cohen was chosen by Altman to perform after listening to his debut album “Songs of Leonard Cohen”. Cohen lent three of his songs to the film, “The Stranger Song” that opens the film, “Sisters of Mercy” and “Winter Lady”. The opening of the film introduces us to McCabe as a stranger going into town, perfectly setting up his role to come. Plus, the way McCabe is dressed with that bear fur coat is genius and his gold tooth. Though he states himself as a businessman, it is clear that he is a renegade. This type of personality also fits Altman and Cohen in their personality.

After this, Altman would move on to make a variety of films. The humorous neo noir “The Long Goodbye”, “Nashville”, “3 Women” and “The Player” are a few examples of what he has done. My first time watching it, I was left confused on the story and what unfolded. However, the second viewing helped out with things I missed in the second viewing. I think it helps watching films more than once to appreciate it more. In this case, the talent behind and in front of the camera made a film that that will be watched for many years to come.     

Sources

http://filmmakermagazine.com/87150-old-faded-pictures-vilmos-zsigmond-on-mccabe-mrs-miller/#.WYncRVWGPIU