Product Description

Western remake of Akira Kurosawa's Rashomon, involving a Mexican bandit who allegedly rapes the wife of a man who merely stands by.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #18232 in DVD
• Brand: WARNER HOME VIDEO
• Released on: 2009-02-17
• Rating: NR (Not Rated)
• Aspect ratio: 2.35:1
• Formats: Black & White, DVD, Widescreen, NTSC
• Original language: English
• Subtitled in: English, French
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 97 minutes

Amazon.com
This underrated 1964 film directed by Martin Ritt (Sounder, Norma Rae) features Paul Newman in a story influenced by the classic multiple-perspective film Rashomon, with an American spin. Newman (The Hustler, Hud) plays a Mexican bandit in the Old West accused of raping a frontier woman (Claire Bloom), but conflicting stories from the bandit, the woman, her husband, and others soon complicate matters and make finding the truth elusive. Newman has fun with his daring, over-the-top portrayal, and Ritt's socially conscious streak is in evidence here as he investigates whether the truth is left up to whoever defines it. The Outrage is a chance both to see a terrific cast of classic actors and yet another prime example of the influence of great international films. --Robert Lane

Customer Reviews

"Rashomon"...Newman Style...Updated Review With- DVD Details
This review refers to "The Outrage" (1964)...

"The Outrage" is Director Martin Ritt's Western version of Akira Kurosawa's classic masterpiece "Rashomon". Paul Newman stars as the ruthless Juan Carrasco. We already know that when Ritt and Newman team up for a Western/Character study ("Hombre"/"Hud") we are in for a cinematic excellence. This film is no exception.

Filmed in stark black and white, which is perfect for this story, the film opens at a gloomy railway station, in the pouring rain, while three men wait for the train. A preacher is so outraged by the events that unfolded at a murder/rape trail that he is fleeing town. Another wants to hear the story that could make a preacher run, and the third, witness to the events, begins to tell the tale.

Carrasco, who has a reputation for being the baddest of the bad, is on trial for the murder of a man(Laurence Harvey), and the rape of his wife(Claire Bloom). He says, it doesn't matter what I say,you will convict me for the crimes I have committed and even the ones you only think I have. He confesses and tells the story of how he tortured the couple. But, that's not the end, only the beginning, as there are 3 other versions of the story to be heard, each telling it through their eyes, with very different outcomes.

The viewer gets to witness these four very different but tragic stories, with the three principles taking on very different personalities in each version. One story even takes a comical turn at the events.

Ritt does an excellent job of taking the viewer through the four different scenarios. Newman, Harvey, and Bloom take on the changes impeccably. James Wong Howe's cinematography, and camera angles add greatly to the tenseness of the story. William Shatner, Edward G Robinson and Howard Da Silva round off this huge cast fabulously, as the fleeing preacher , the nosey con man and the prospector who "saw it all".

I was hoping to find a DVD edition of this wonderful film, but no luck. Hopefully it will be restored, and transfered in the original widescreen soon.

update:2/18/09 - My wish came true. I now own the DVD and here is a litle about the dvd:2/18/09 - Howe's b/w cinematography looked clean and crisp. Whites very white and the picture was clear. The railway station scenes, dark to start with seemed a little too dark at times and hard to see the faces ocassionally,but for the most part and the rest of the film, a nice sharp view in widescreen format. The rain sounded as if it was coming down right outside my window. Features: Warner Bros - you dropped the ball here. There were no special features at all.It doesnt even come with any insert. Not even a chapter menu. If you want to see a certain scene, you have to use your skip button and then fast forward or reverse till you find what you are looking for. Language is English only, but there are Subtitles in English and French only.

reviews for vhs and dvd mixed together if you are on vhs page and looking for the dvd here is the link:The Outrage


A fine film and must have for Newman fans....enjoy...Laurie
also recommended:Empire Falls (Every Small Town Has a Big Story) Vol. 1
Hombre

One of the better films of the 60's
Pay no attention to Maltin's dsimissive review: this is a fine film. The entire cast is in excellent form, with DaSilva's miner and Robinson's snake oil salesman particularly noteworthy. Newman's performance as the bandit is peculiar but fascinating, and often hilarious. An amusing and thought-provoking movie from the 60's, a decade that gave us some of our best films.

Waiting for the DVD version!
One of my all time favorites since it came out in the sixties. In my line of work, there has always been an axiom that in every controversy, there is my story, your story, and the truth. This film does the best job of presenting this age-old dilemma of searching for the truth through biased observers. Not only that, it is extremely entertaining as well, with a cast to die for, each one protraying their character four different ways within the same film. Newman, Bloom and Harvey are magnificent, doing exactly what each version requires. There is quite a bit of humor as well, and I suppose some reviewers were put off by that, wanting the work to be more serious. Well, this film is proof that a serious subject can be dealt with in an entertaining fashion. Wish they would release in DVD.