GoodWatchSign in

The Ballad of Cable Hogue

1970·Movie
2h 1min·R
84
GreatGoodWatch score
IMDb7.2Rotten Tomatoes94%81%
IMDb7.2Rotten Tomatoes94%81%

Watch

Not streaming in United States. Where it is:

The Ballad of Cable Hogue fingerprint

A touch of humor.

Energy

Calm and low-key

  • Adrenaline5
  • Tension5
  • Fast Pace4

Heart

Nostalgic and melancholic

  • Nostalgia8
  • Melancholy7
  • Catharsis7

Humor

Some sharp wit

Not a comedy at heart.

  • Wit & Wordplay5
  • Physical Comedy4
  • Situational Comedy3

World

History

  • World Immersion7
  • Dialogue Centrality6
  • Rewatchability5

Craft

Solid, not remarkable

  • Direction7
  • Acting7
  • Narrative Structure7

Style

Functional look and sound

  • Cinematography7
  • Music Composition7
  • Editing6

Who it's for

AdultsDate NightFriends NightPartner WatchPublic Viewing SafeSolo WatchTeensPure EscapismThought-Provoking

Find more like it

Bittersweet movies

Based on the GoodWatch fingerprint: our scores for 70+ attributes of every movie. Select a row to see all of them.

About

Cable Hogue says … “Do unto others … as you would have others do unto you.”

Double-crossed and left without water in the desert, Cable Hogue is saved when he finds a spring. It is in just the right spot for a much needed rest stop on the local stagecoach line, and Hogue uses this to his advantage. He builds a house and makes money off the stagecoach passengers. Hildy, a prostitute from the nearest town, moves in with him. Hogue has everything going his way until the advent of the automobile ends the era of the stagecoach.
WesternDesertRomanceSurvivalGreedMelancholyNostalgicCharacter Study

Crew

Directed by:
Sam Peckinpah, John Gaudioso
Written by:
John Crawford, Gordon T. Dawson, Edmund Penney
Produced by:
Sam Peckinpah, Gordon T. Dawson, George Templeton
Composed by:
Jerry Goldsmith, Dan Wallin, Tex Rudloff

Sequels and Prequels

No sequels or prequels available

Media

Questions about The Ballad of Cable Hogue

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Where can I stream The Ballad of Cable Hogue legally?

You can rent or buy it from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, and YouTube. All links in Where to Watch go to these licensed services.

Is The Ballad of Cable Hogue worth watching?

84
GreatGoodWatch score

Yes. It's widely acclaimed, with a GoodWatch score of 84/100 (IMDb 7.2 and Rotten Tomatoes 94%). The GoodWatch score combines critic and audience ratings.

What is The Ballad of Cable Hogue rated?

RViolence

It's rated R in the United States. Content advisories: violence.

How long is The Ballad of Cable Hogue?

2 h 1 min

The Ballad of Cable Hogue runs 2 h 1 min.

Do critics and audiences agree on The Ballad of Cable Hogue?

Critics94
Audiences77

Not quite. Critics rate The Ballad of Cable Hogue higher (94) than audiences (77). It may be more rewarding than it is crowd-pleasing.

Was The Ballad of Cable Hogue a box office hit?

Budget$4 million
Box office$5 million

Roughly broke even. It cost about $4 million to make and earned $5 million worldwide, 1.3 times its budget.

What language is The Ballad of Cable Hogue in?

English

It was made in English. Produced in United States.

In how many countries can I watch The Ballad of Cable Hogue?

35ARATAUBEBOCACHCLCOCRDEDKECES+21

GoodWatch finds legal streaming, rental, or purchase options for The Ballad of Cable Hogue in 35 countries. Pick any of them in Where to Watch to see the local services.

What tropes does The Ballad of Cable Hogue use?

Ballad of XBatman GambitCasual Danger DialogueCall-BackCovert PervertThe DeterminatorShoot the Shaggy Dog StoryWhy Did It Have to Be Snakes?Sliding Scale of Idealism Versus CynicismMale GazeTempting FateShown Their Workand 11 more

TV Tropes lists 23 storytelling tropes for The Ballad of Cable Hogue, including Ballad of X, Batman Gambit, Casual Danger Dialogue.