I’ve lived by my own ordinances for a long time now, and I intend to disregard all others. – The Shanghai Gesture (1941)
Walter Hill’s Best Movies Ranked (You Might Disagree)
Today, I am going to look at 10 films by Director Walter Hill that were likely profoundly important to people coming of age in the mid-1970s. I will discuss each film in chronological order. However, the IMDb.com score will be used to rank the films by popularity. Of course, I will be throwing in my own opinions as well.
Walter Hill is an American director, writer, and producer known for many widely popular films. Raised in California, Hill had a decidedly working-class family and upbringing as illustrated in this quote – “Hill’s family had originally come from Tennessee and Mississippi, ‘one of those fallen Southern families, shirtsleeves to shirtsleeves in three generations'”.[1] [2]
From the mailroom at Universal, Hill was accepted into the Directors Guild of America training program. This allowed him to apprentice on television Westerns such as Gunsmoke and Bonanza. He served as second assistant director on The Thomas Crown Affair (1968) and later on Bullitt (1968), both Steve McQueen projects. Hill used screenwriting to get to the director’s chair. His first film was Hard Times (1975), and he was off to the races.
I saw Hard Times (1975) at the theater, and I freely admit it had a profound effect on my life. This film stars Charles Bronson as Chaney, a Depression-era paid street fighter. But the real magic of this movie is the teaming of fighter Chaney, with showman/promoter Spencer ‘Speed’ Weed, played by James Coburn, and trainer/spiritualist Poe, masterfully performed by Strother Martin. The city of New Orleans also works as another character. This film is only weakened by the inclusion of Bronson’s then-wife, Jill Ireland, as the love interest.
On IMDb.com, this film has a 7.2[3], placing it in second place among the ten films on this list. I have no problem with that placement, but if you view Chaney as a problem fixer, the film can be seen on a higher, and probably unintended, level. Chaney came into town and interacted with three people. When he left, he had improved all of their lives. Visiting angel?
The Warriors (1979) is a traveling movie. The fairly small street gang, the Warriors are cutoff far from their home as every other gang in the city hunts them with a death warrant. Michael Beck as Swan and James Remar as Ajax vie for control as the gang moves across the city.
The gang action is exciting, though it’s toned down compared to the violence in the book. Two other performances are of note. These are David Patrick Kelly as Luther, the beer bottle-clicking bad guy, and Lynne Thigpen as the D.J., who was only shown as a close-up pair of lips, with bright red lipstick, as she narrated the search.
IMDb.com has this film rated at 7.5[4]. This places the film in 1st place in terms of popularity on this list. And I am fine with that, although I think Hard Times (1975) or Crossroads (1986) could hold that spot just as well.
The Long Riders (1980) is a decent Western based on the real-life outlaw brothers who roamed the West after the Civil War. The idea came from actor Stacy Keach, who was also a co-writer. Here’s what makes this movie unique. The three Younger brothers were played by brothers David, Keith, and Robert Carradine. Frank and Jessie James were played by brothers Stacy and James Keach. Ed and Clell Miller were played by brothers Dennis and Randy Quaid. Brothers Charlie and Bob Ford were played by brother Christopher and Nicholas Guest.
Sadly, James Remar, who played Sam Starr, was not related to Pamela Reed, who played Belle Starr. Veteran cowboy actor Harry Carey Jr. appeared in the film, connecting it to the earlier Western film tradition.
IMDb.com has this movie rated at 6.9[5], placing it in a tie for fifth place with 48 Hrs. (1982), I’ll talk about how I feel about this in the 48 Hrs. (1982) section. This movie is worth watching.
Southern Comfort (1981) is an interesting film concept. A group of hapless National Guardsmen is on a weekend exercise in the Louisiana swamp. Their sheer buffoonery and superior attitude bring them into conflict with a group of Cajun swamp dwellers.
Newest member Hardin, played by Powers Boothe, teams with savvy member Spencer, played by Keith Carradine, and works hard to survive the weekend.
IMDb.com has this movie rated at 7.1[6]. On this list, this film is tied for third place with Crossroads (1986). I enjoy Southern Comfort (1981), and it’s always good to watch. However, you have to keep in mind that it really just The Warriors (1979), with the gangs being replaced with National Guardsmen and Cajuns.
48 Hrs. (1982) is a dang good buddy cop movie, although they are not both cops. After criminal Albert Ganz, played by James Remar, escaped from prison, hard-drinking cop Jack Cates, played by Nick Nolte, has 48 hours with paroled convict Reggie Hammond, played by Eddie Murphy, to stop Ganz’s rampage. David Patrick Kelly appears again as a criminal, again, with the name Luther.
IMDb.com has this movie rated at 6.9[7] , which I think is a crime. Eddie Murphy was a riot in this film, rapid-firing one-liners, and Nick Nolte works as the straight man. For some reason, this movie has a reputation for not being that funny. It’s funny. So, it should be clear that I feel this film being tied with The Long Riders (1980) is a crime against film rating.
I feel a little ashamed, I didn’t know this movie like all the others on the list. I guess I wasn’t ready for the dystopian future. YET! Streets of Fire (1984) shares a lot with other Walter Hill films. Like in The Warriors (1979), they have to move through hostile territory while being chased by gangs and cops. The Bomber’s club is called Torchies, just like the redneck bar in 48 Hrs. (1982).
There are a lot of good, and at the time, up-and-coming stars in this film. These include Michael Paré, Deborah Van Valkenburgh, and Lynne Thigpen from The Warriors (1979). Others are an 18-year-old Diane Lane, Rick Moranis, Amy Madigan, the always-great Willem Dafoe, and Bill Paxton. I still miss him.
IMDb.com rates the movie at 6.7[8]. This places the film in a two-way tie for seventh place with Extreme Prejudice (1987). Based on my limited experience with the two films, Streets of Fire (1984) seems the better movie. It certainly has a better soundtrack.
Crossroads (1986) is another journey film, but this time the chaser is the Devil and his hounds. Ralph Macchio as Eugene Marton leads the crew as he searches for the lost song of Robert Johnson. His traveling companions are Willie Brown, played by Joe Seneca, a blues player who regrets the deal he made with Scratch many years before, and Frances, played by Jami Gertz, who simply wants to be safe. Harry Carey Jr. shows up in this film as well.
IMDb.com has this film rated at 7.1[9]. This places the film in a two-way tie for third place with Southern Comfort (1981). While I really enjoy fighting Cajuns in the Swamp, Crossroads (1986) is a bit deeper in its subject matter. If it wasn’t for the guitar face.
Extreme Prejudice (1987) is a tough-guy-and-gal extravaganza starring Nick Nolte, Powers Boothe, Michael Ironside, Maria Conchita Alonso, Rip Torn, Clancy Brown, and William Forsythe. Nolte is a Texas Ranger, and Boothe is a drug dealer. Maria Conchita Alonso is the woman in the middle. Ironside leads an irregular military team of shadow soldiers. Of course, Boothe was the lead in Southern Comfort (1981). Possible as an homage to director Sam Peckinpah’s The Wild Bunch (1969), the movie ends with a massive, bloody shootout.
IMDb.com has this movie rated at 6.7[10]. As I said before, this places the film in a two-way tie for seventh place. It is a good movie to watch, but the story has been told a million times. This time with the writing of director John Milius of Red Dawn (1984) fame. Another film that featured Powers Boothe. But on this list of ten, this one should be nine.
I really like Geronimo: An American Legend (1993), although the film is not super popular. With writing by John Milius and a cast of legends, this film should receive more love. The crew consists of Jason Patric, a reluctant former Confederate serving with the Union, and the great Gene Hackman, who was Brig. Gen. George Crook, known historically by the natives as Nantan Lupan, the Grey Wolf; arguably one of America’s greatest actors, Robert Duvall, as a civilian scout, largely channeling Guy from “Lonesome Dove” in the 1989 miniseries, the Native American who excels at playing angry guys, Wes Studi as Geronimo, and a young Matt Damon as a shavetail lieutenant.
IMDb.com has this movie rated at a very low 6.6[11]. This puts it in ninth place on this list, but to me it could easily be moved to fourth behind Crossroads (1986) and ahead of Southern Comfort (1981).
The final film on today’s list, in terms of being the most recently released and the lowest rating, is Wild Bill (1995). The tale of the famous lawman is told in flashback from his funeral. Jeff Bridges plays the lead, and he is always good to watch. Interestingly, Ellen Barkin is Calamity Jane. John Hurt tells most of the story as Wild Bill’s friend, Charley Prince. Diane Lane, who we saw in Streets of Fire (1984), was a former lover and the mother of his would-be killer.
Others include Keith Carradine as Buffalo Bill Cody. Of course, he was in The Long Riders (1980). Christina Applegate plays a young opium smoking prostitute. And for rugged old guys, Bruce Dern and James Gammon round out the cast.
IMDb.com has this movie rated at an abysmal 5.8[12]. This puts it at ten out of ten on this list. And I am just fine with that. The amazing cast in this movie can’t make up for the revisionist story, which is historically fairly well known.
So, there you have it. My list of 10 films by director Walter Hill. What are your favorites, and which film would you have moved to the top? Let me know in the comments.
Beware the moors.
[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walter_Hill
[2] French, Philip (November 1, 1981). “The Storyteller”. The Observer. p. 30.
[3] https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0073092/
[4] https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0080120/
[5] https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0081071/
[6] https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0083111/
[7] https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0083511/
[8] https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0088194/
[9] https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0090888/
[10] https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0092997/
[11]https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0107004/
[12] https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0114938/
